In conjunction with the A50 Project, celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the US-Japan Peace Treaty, a delegation from Japan will address this joint session of the Albuquerque Committee on Foreign Relations and the Japan America Society of New Mexico. Several issues confront Japan as it struggles to maintain a global leadership role in the future: educational reforms in Japan to encourage innovation; environmental issues including global warming; the aging of Japan's population, and associated cultural and economic implications; regional and global security concerns including the future of the US-Japan military alliance. Each member of the A50 delegation will discuss perceptions from their own particular backgrounds concerning the future identity of Japan.

Mr. Shizuo (Ricky) Fukada, Advisor, Corporate Communications HQ, Omron Corp.  Omron is a pioneer in automated control equipment, and is particularly strong in ATMs, public transportation systems, and healthcare products such as digital blood pressure monitors. Additionally, they are known as an excellent company for corporate philanthropy, particularly for disabled persons, senior citizens and environmental issues. Mr. Fukada is a chairman of the Planning Committee of the Council for Better Corporate Citizenship, and has led several missions to learn corporate philanthropy and corporate/ NGO partnerships.

Dr. Eiichi Katahara, Associate Professor of International Relations, Kobe Gakuin University  Mr. Katahara has been Associate Professor of International Relations in the Faculty of Law at Kobe Gakuin University, and Lecturer at Osaka University of Foreign Studies. He was a visiting scholar at Stanford University (1998 - 99), and at the Australian National University (1999 - 2000). He received his Ph.D. in Asian International Studies from Griffith University. Dr. Katahara's recent publications include “Japan's concept of Comprehensive Security in the Post cold War World” in Susan L. Shirk and Christopher P. Twomey (eds), Power and Prosperity: Economics and Security Linkage in Asia-Pacific (1996), and “Japan's Plutonium Policy and Nuclear Nonproliferation” in Masashi Nishihara (ed.) Old Issues, New Responses: Japan's Foreign and Security Options (1998)

Ms. Junko Usuba, Chief, PR & Market Unit of Peace Winds Japan  Peace Winds Japan is a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian and development assistance in 9 regions/countries such as Mongolia, Kurdistan and Sierra Leone. Ms. Usuba works on the organization's nonprofit marketing strategies and activities, focusing mainly on fund raising from the general public. She also has field experience in East Timor and Sierra Leone. Prior to Peace Winds Japan, Ms. Usuba was with the Coca-Cola Japan Company, Ltd. as a marketer of Georgia Coffee, the number one non-carbonated soft drink brand in Japan. She has worked on the development of Georgia's new product advertising and campaigns. Ms. Usuba graduated from the International Christian University in Tokyo in 1996.