On 9–10 October 2025, UNU, the Japan-United States Sister City Association, and California Sister Cities will co-host the Japan-United States Leadership Summit.
At a time when cities bear the brunt of global challenges — from climate change and economic disruption to social inequality and declining trust in governance — local leadership has never been more important. When national governments falter in forging consensus, city mayors and city council members must find practical solutions to safeguard communities, foster resilience and sustain democratic values.
As the United States and Japan confront shared pressures at home and abroad, this Summit will bring together municipal leaders to reimagine cooperation, strengthen local governance and demonstrate that leadership closest to the people can chart a path where higher levels of government stall.
The Summit will convene approximately 15 US city mayors, city council members and county supervisors, together with Japanese municipal leaders, for discussions under the theme “AI and Smart Cities for a SustAInable World”.
For this Summit, UNU will welcome keynote addresses by Shigeru Ban (Pritzker Prize–winning architect), Taro Kono (former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and former Minister for Digital Transformation), Yuriko Koike (Governor of Tokyo), Paul Tange (Chairman of Tange Associates) and UNU Rector Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala. The Summit will also include presentations by US mayors, council members and county leaders, along with opportunities for informal dialogue and networking.
Key questions to be explored include: How can technology, design and people-to-people diplomacy shape the future of our cities? How can ties be strengthened between Japanese municipalities and their US sister city partners? What is the role of cities in responding to technological change?
Please note that this event will be held in English. Advance registration (by 8 October at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page.
Programme
9 October
14:00–18:00
- Keynote: Shigeru Ban, Pritzker Prize–winning architect
- Presentations by US mayors, city council members and county leaders
- Keynote: Taro Kono, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and former Minister for Digital Transformation
10 October
10:30–12:30
- Opening greetings
- Keynote: Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo
- Keynote: Paul Tange, Architect and Chairman of Tange Associates
- Tribute to Kisho Kurokawa, pioneer of sustainable architecture
14:00–17:00
- Plenary: Moderated by Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of UNU and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
- City and county initiative presentations by US delegates
