Leadership Circle
History of Leadership Circle
The JSNC Leadership Circle, established in 2010 as part of the Society’s Vision 2020 initiative to set the course for the Society over the coming decade, is a select group of individual Japan Society members with a special affinity for Japan and Japan America interaction. The Leadership Circle includes leaders in Japan US relations and business in both the United States and Japan, including former recipients of the Japan Society Award of Honor.
Leadership Circle members provide invaluable counsel and financial support to the Society. Our programs, classes and the pursuit of our mission of furthering US Japan ties in a changing world would not be possible without their generous support. Individuals who joined the Leadership Circle in 2010-2011 are recognized as Leadership Circle Charter Members. All Leadership Circle Members are listed below.
* Charter Member
Today’s Leadership Circle
Today, the Leadership Circle of the Japan Society of Northern California is made up of a dynamic group of individuals from Japan and the Bay Area. Today’s Leadership Circle members include experts in fields such as: U.S.-Japan international relations, finance, international business, education and government officials. Former recipients of our prestigious “Japan Society of Northern California’s Award of Honor” have joined the Leadership Circle as well.
Our Leadership Circle members provide invaluable counsel and financial support to the Society. Clearly, the pursuit of JSNC’s mission of strengthening U.S.-Japan interactions via our programs, language classes and events would not be possible without their generous support.
Membership Tiers
JSNC Leadership Circle membership is available at four different donor levels. Entry into the Leadership Circle group is for the individual or at the corresponding Couple level when joining with your spouse/significant other. Our two top tiers, Partner and Sustaining, always include two named members for Leadership Circle membership as well as extra exclusive benefits. See below for more information.
Patron Circle
Individual Members $1000, Couple Members $1500
Japan Society of Northern California Leadership Circle Patron member for one calendar year, renewable annually. Includes the following benefits:
● Admission to all GENERAL JSNC programs
● Early registration opportunities for selected JSNC and partner events
● Member Discounts where applicable
● Invitations to exclusive VIP dinners/receptions with program speakers
● FREE ticket discount to annual Japan-US Innovation Symposium held at Stanford University
● Invitation to the Japan Society’s annual Chairman’s ‘Thank You’ Reception
Benefactor Circle
Individual Members $2500, Couple Members $3000
Japan Society of Northern California Leadership Circle Benefactor member for one calendar year, renewable annually. Includes the following benefits:
● Admission to GENERAL JSNC programs
● Early registration opportunities for selected JSNC and partner events
● Member DISCOUNT where applicable
● Invitations to exclusive VIP dinners/receptions with program speakers
● Invitation to selected events hosted by the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
● 2 free tickets for annual Japan-US Innovation Symposium held at Stanford University
● Invitation to the Japan Society’s annual Chairman’s ‘Thank You’ Reception
Partner Circle
Members $5,000
Japan Society of Northern California Leadership Circle Partner Membership is a distinguished membership for two named members for one calendar year, renewable annually. Includes the following benefits:
● Admission to all GENERAL JSNC programs included
● Early registration opportunities for selected JSNC and partner events
● Member Discounts where applicable
● Invitation as a Preferred member to small VIP dinners/receptions with program speakers
● Invitation to selected events hosted by the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
● 4 Tickets to annual Japan-US Innovation Symposium held at Stanford University
● Invitation to the Japan Society’s annual Chairman’s ‘Thank You’ Reception
● Includes GALA tickets for two at Japan Society’s Annual Gala ($1000 value)
Sustaining Circle
Member $10,000
Japan Society of Northern California Leadership Circle Sustaining Membership is a distinguished membership for two named members for one calendar year, renewable annually. Includes the following benefits:
● Admission to all GENERAL JSNC programs included
● VIP Member DISCOUNT where applicable
● Early registration opportunities for selected JSNC and partner events
● Invitation as a Preferred member to small VIP dinners/receptions with program speakers
● Preferred invitation to selected events hosted by the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
● 4 Tickets to annual Japan-US Innovation Symposium held at Stanford University
● Invitation to Japan Society’s annual Chairman’s‘ Thank You’ Reception
● Includes a GALA Table at Japan Society’s Annual Gala ($3500 value)
● Recognition as a sponsor for one Japan Society event per calendar year (in collaboration with the Society)
More Questions?
For more information, please contact the Japan Society of Northern California.
Become a Leadership Circle Member today!
2023 Leadership Circle Members
All Current Leadership Circle Members are listed below in their respective donation categories:
Benefactor Circle Membership
KAZUHIKO ABE
JEFFREY & BRENDA BOHN
DREW & TAKAKO EDWARDS
KENTON KING
YALE KOFMAN
Patron Circle Membership
TAKAHIDE AKIYAMA
SUZANNE BASALLA
NOBUKO SAITO CLEARY
DR. RICHARD DASHER
CHRISTINE & MARK FISHER
WILLIAM P. FULLER
LARRY GREENWOOD
RAY HATOYAMA
EMIKO HIGASHI
KEIKO HORKAN
GEN ISAYAMA
KATHLEEN KIMURA, MBE*
HIROAKI KUWAJIMA
JON METZLER
MIKA NISHIMURA
MICHAEL O’BRYAN
ROBERT PEARLSTEIN
STEVE POLLOCK
DAVID SALTZMAN
PAUL & NENE KALU SCHAFFERT
IAN SCHMIDT
JOHN THOMAS
MARSHA VANDE BERG
EMI YOSHIKAWA
HAMID & MARYAM ZARRINGHALAM
*Special Thanks
Thank you to all our 2010 Charter members who made today’s Leadership Circle possible. An asterisk* indicates a Charter Member.
Join us
Members will be listed alphabetically by last name. Those who are listed as couples should state which name they wish to be listed first. Members who wish to remain anonymous should state their preference when applying for membership.
JSNC Newsletter
Leadership Circle members will be subscribed to our newsletter to help you stay up to date on upcoming Japan Society programs and events.