Aiko Harris

Background

About Aiko Harris

Director of Programs | U.S-Japan Council As Director of Programs at the U.S-Japan Council, I lead strategic initiatives that strengthen U.S-Japan global partnerships through leadership development, annual conferences, and endowment scholarships. I bring deep expertise in program management, spanning planning, budgeting, procurement, logistics, and multi-stakeholder collaboration; and have successfully secured state and national grants to fund impactful, mission-driven programs. Bilingual | Bicultural | Bridge-Builder A Japanese-English bilingual and bicultural professional, I hold an M.A. in English and a teaching certification in writing. Prior to USJC, I was a Lecturer at a four-year university where I designed and taught workforce-aligned writing curricula and published scholarly work in rhetoric and composition. I’m passionate about cross-cultural exchange, language education, and building programs that empower future leaders. My work is rooted in service, impact, and community-building—values I carry into every project and partnership.