One of the goals of the Commission is to increase the number of American undergraduates studying in Japan.  In 1998 there were over 47,000 Japanese students in the US every year studying at American universities, compared to around 2,000 US students in Japan. The Commission is committed to ensuring that America’s young people are prepared to assume leadership roles in all aspects of trade, security, cultural and educational relationships between Japan and the US.

In order to encourage and assist students to study in Japan, the Commission established the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, a 501(c)(3) private foundation, to accept contributions.  The Foundation's five-year goal is to provide individual student scholarships of $5,000 each for 400 students -- a total of $2 million.  In 2003 the Foundation reached its  initial goal.   With the demand of many more students seeking scholarships to go to Japan for study than the Foundation could award each year, the Board increased the goal to continue awarding scholarships to deserving students.

The first round of 46 American undergraduate students selected began studies in Japan for one year beginning in the fall of 1999.  Since that time the Foundation has sent on average 100 students to study in Japan each year.  At the end of 2009, over 969 students were awarded scholarships. 

With continued interest and support from the US corporate community, travel to Japan to study may indeed become a true “study abroad” alternative for all American undergraduate students.

The Commission acknowledges the importance of creating public/private partnerships.  US Senator John D. Rockefeller IV is “pleased to serve as a Commissioner [of the Japan-US Friendship Commission] and would like to recognize the work of the Commission to establish public/private partnerships through the Bridging Project and the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation.” 

Dr. Richard Wood, former chairman of the US-Japan Bridging Foundation, said: “corporate, foundation and individual support of the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation will go a long way in helping our students experience the culture and language of Japan firsthand.  It is an investment in our future – an opportunity to educate the next generation of scholars, policy-makers and businessmen to make better choices by raising the level of understanding and cooperation between the United States and Japan.” 

The Commission has set up the initial infrastructure to assist American undergraduates in Japan.  To date, English-speaking programs have been established at more than 20 Japanese universities.  The Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ), based at the University of Colorado at Boulder, provides an information clearinghouse and student recruitment center and is responsible for student selection and disbursement of funds.