Japan-United States Friendship Commission

The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission is a U.S. federal government agency. The Commission was established as an independent federal government agency by the [United States Congress (P.L. 94-118)](https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-89/pdf/STATUTE-89-Pg603.pdf) in 1975 to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship through educational, cultural, and intellectual exchange. The Commission is a grant-making agency that supports research, education, public affairs and exchange with Japan. Its mission is to support reciprocal people-to-people understanding, and promote partnerships that advance common interests between Japan and the United States. The Commission also serves to maintain expertise on Japan Studies throughout U.S. academic and professional institutions. It generally does not operate its own programs. It supports academic and non-profit organizations that conceptualize and execute U.S.-Japan training, research and exchange programs. The Commission operates its grant-making activities in four areas: Arts and Culture; Education and Public Affairs; Exchanges and Scholarship; and Global Challenges. The Commission receives no funds from general revenues from the United States budget. It operates entirely from the Japan-United States Friendship Trust Fund. The Fund originated from payments by the Government of Japan for post-war assistance provided by the United States. These funds remain in the U.S. Treasury in a separate account. The United States Congress established the Commission to manage this Trust Fund. The Commission’s enabling legislation allows it to accept gifts and in-kind contributions, which it may disperse at its own discretion within its approved budget authority. [A board of 18 Commissioners](https://www.jusfc.gov/about/jusfc-members/) makes decisions on the expenditure of the Commission’s earnings. The Commissioners are a group of nine private citizens and nine U.S. government officials who meet annually to consider all institutional grant proposals submitted to the Commission. Among the government officials are four bi-partisan Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives who serve in a non-voting capacity. Pursuant to the enabling legislation, the Members of the House of Representatives who serve on the Commission are appointed by the Speaker of the House per 22 USC §2903 (a) (2). Senators who serve on the Commission are appointed by the President Pro Tempore per USC §2903(a).