Bridging Cultures Through Diplomacy with Trailblazer Yuko Kaifu

On Tuesday, Marlborough’s Global Futures Institute (GFI) welcomed Yuko Kaifu, President of Japan House Los Angeles, as their first featured speaker of the year for the Diplomacy Speaker Series. The GFI Diploma Program is the first-of-its-kind high school program that combines a traditional Global Scholars program with the burgeoning field of Futures Studies. Through the Diplomacy Speaker Series, GFI explores the global decline of democratic systems and the tension between democracy as an ideal and as a reality by bringing thought leaders directly to students.

Mrs. Kaifu has had a distinguished career as a leader in cultural diplomacy for Japan. She has held roles in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs; as an official interpreter for Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, and Her Majesty the Empress Emerita; followed by leadership roles at the Japanese American National Museum and MUFG Union Bank. Today, she continues championing Japanese culture globally as President of Japan House Los Angeles.

Having witnessed and facilitated diplomacy at the highest levels, Mrs. Kaifu shared her path with GFI Scholars, from her early interest in international affairs to the systemic challenges she faced as one of a few female diplomats in Japan’s diplomatic service decades ago. 

Reflecting on those early years, Mrs. Kaifu noted, “I had to work hard, doubly hard in order to prove myself. The general perception was that if you're a man, you must be good. If you're a woman, you may not be as good.” 

But she emphasized that there has been much improvement since that time, adding, “Today, almost half of our new recruits are women. Now, if you're good, if you do well at the exam or interview, you get recruited. So I am very optimistic about the situation, the conditions of female diplomats and female business executives going forward into the future.” This hope resonated with GFI Scholars, as they consider their own desire to be the next generation of leaders shaping global issues and protecting democratic institutions. 

As they evaluate that possibility through the GFI program, students had the valuable opportunity to ask Mrs. Kaifu questions. Nico R. ’28 asked, “As you are someone who is multilingual and has worked in translation and interpreting, do you think effective collaboration between nations is possible with language barriers? And how much does sharing a common language benefit different information?”

Mrs. Kaifu drew on her wealth of experience working as an interpreter. She shared anecdotes about her career translating for a Japanese Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Her Majesty the Empress Emerita, describing how language, practice, confidentiality and care were crucial to successfully communicating across cultures on behalf of government officials. 

As Mpambo Wina, Performing Arts Department Head and GFI Architect, observed: “Her distinguished career stands as a testament to the idea that diplomacy is not confined to formal negotiations.” 

Clarissa Z. ’28 asked Mrs. Kaifu, “What are the key elements that make cultural engagement effective and meaningful?” Mrs. Kaifu discussed her current work at Japan House Los Angeles as the culmination of her passion for diplomacy. She has the opportunity to actively promote Japanese culture, innovation, and understanding to a global audience. “We are mission driven and we are passionate that culture plays a powerful role in the international society,” she added.

Ms. Kaifu closed with remarks on her hope for future leaders like Marlborough’s GFI Scholars, emphasizing that the responsibility for fostering diplomacy does not lie solely on governments.  

Mrs. Kaifu left the Scholars with a rousing sentiment offering inspiration and hope: “We should do something together to nurture the next generation of young leaders like yourself because it takes years and years to nurture that kind of leadership, leaders who fall in love with Japan, who fall in love with the United States, who believe in the power of friendship, people-to-people diplomacy. That makes me even more excited to be here. Because our future is you.”