Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) records

The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is a non-profit educational and cultural exchange program for university students from the United States and Japan. The first Conference was held in 1934 in Tokyo and was initiated by a small group of Japanese university students concerned about the deterioration of relations between the United States and Japan. The Conference was held each year until the Second World War forced a postponement; it was revived in 1947 by American and Japanese students then living in Japan. After a second interruption beginning in the mid 1950s, the 16th JASC was held in 1964 in the United States and has alternated betweeen the U. S. and Japan every year since. The collection consists of publications, conference materials, brochures, posters, planning documents, and administrative files. Also included are photographs and scrapbooks collected by JASC members and alumni. Notable JASC alumni include Kiichi Miyazawa, the former Prime Minister of Japan (JASC 1939 and 1940) and Henry Kissinger, the former U. S. Secretary of State (JASC 1951).