10th Trilateral Symposium
2026
Overview
The 10th U.S.–Japan–Korea Trilateral Symposium, held on January 9, 2026, in Washington, D.C., brought together students and experts to examine shared social challenges shaping trilateral cooperation. Hosted at Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the program featured two panels focused on democratic participation and civic engagement and aging societies and social safety nets, highlighting how the United States, Japan, and South Korea can learn from one another’s policy, social, and technological approaches to building more inclusive and resilient societies.
Schedule
10:00 AM - Venue Opens
10:15 AM - Welcome remarks
10:30 AM - Panel 1
11:30 AM - Refreshments break
11:45 AM - Panel 2
12:45 PM - Closing remarks
1:00 PM - Networking reception
2:00 PM - End
Panel 1: Democratic Participation and Civic Engagement
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
What lessons can we learn from current trends in civic engagement and approaches to increasing democratic participation among youth and marginalized communities in the U.S., Japan, or Korea?
Speakers
Sayuri Romei, Senior Fellow, Indo-Pacific Program, German Marshall Fund U.S.
Tami Overby, Partner, DGA Government Relations
Lynn Lee, Senior Director, East Asia and Strategic Partnerships, National Endowment for Democracy
Kazuyo Kato, Executive Director, Japan Center for International Exchange
Student Moderators:
Risa Ueda, Executive Committee Member, Japan-America Student Conference
Gabrielle Drinkwine, Executive Committee Member, Korea-American Student Conference
Panel 2: Aging Societies and Social Safety Nets
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
What effective policy, social, and technological strategies have the U.S., Japan, and Korea developed to support aging populations, and how can each country adapt lessons from the others to improve the quality of life for the elderly and people with disabilities?
Speakers
Reiko Nishida, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Comparative Law, Waseda University
Kirsten Colello, Health and Aging Policy Specialist, Congressional Research Service
Hoda Selim, Senior Economist, Asia Pacific Department, International Monetary Fund
Student Moderators:
Maya Sasaki-George, Executive Committee Member, Japan-America Student Conference
Hyein Kim, Executive Committee Member, Korea-American Student Conference
Thank you to Korea Foundation USA, Japan Foundation NY, and Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA for their generous support of the Trilateral Symposium.
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