About Us
Project Vision
JAPAN HOUSE seeks to foster awareness and appreciation for Japan around the world by showcasing the very best of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, technology, and more. An innovative project of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JAPAN HOUSE is comprised of three hubs—London, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo.
JAPAN HOUSE LOS ANGELES occupies two floors in the popular Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex and brings various aspects of Japan to American and international audiences.
On the second floor, the facility spans more than 6,000 sq. ft. and features an exhibition gallery and a sub-gallery suitable for intimate gallery talks and smaller exhibitions. The fifth-floor space spans 8,000 sq. ft, and features a relaxing library, a multi-purpose event venue, and simply spectacular views of Los Angeles.

JAPAN HOUSE Leadership

Yuko Kaifu
President
Prior to joining Japan House in January 2016, she was Managing Director in the Corporate Communications Department of MUFG Union Bank, owned by the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, where she was charged with media relations, internal/external publications of the bank, and with CSR activities for the Japanese and Japanese American communities and for the US-Japan relations.
She started her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Her past assignments include the Embassy of Japan in Canada, North American Affairs Bureau, Economic Cooperation Bureau, Foreign Policy Bureau, and Cultural Affairs Department, where she was Deputy Director in Tokyo. During her service at the Ministry, she was appointed official interpreter for Her Majesty the Empress, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Japan.
After she served as Consul at the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles from 2001 to 2007, she left the government to work as Vice President of the Japanese American National Museum. She has sat on the boards of various community organizations including Nisei Week Foundation and International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, and is the Executive Vice President of Japan Business Association of Southern California, and is honorary advisor for the Japanese Flower Arrangement Association of Southern California, the Omote Senke Tea Ceremony Association of Southern California and the North American Calligraphy Association.
She graduated from Nara Women’s University and received Master’s degree in Sociology from Queen’s University in Canada.

Honorary Advisor
Larry Ellison, Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer, Oracle
Steering Committee
Akira Muto, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles
Douglas G. Erber, Former President, Japan America Society of Southern California
Gil Garcetti, Photographer, Los Angeles County District Attorney (1992-2000), UNESCO-IHE Cultural Ambassador (2014-2017)
Thomas Iino, Founding Chairman, US-Japan Council; Director, First Choice Bank
Gary N. Jacobs, Chairman Emeritus, AJC Asia Pacific Institute
Mickey Kantor, U.S. Secretary of Commerce (1996-1997); U.S. Trade Representative (1993-1996); Partner, Mayer Brown LLP; Chair, Lexmark International, Inc.
Beth Marlis, Vice President, Musicians Institute; Chair Emeritus, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
Yuichi Mitsumori, President, Japan Business Association of Southern California
Peter O’Malley, President, Los Angeles Dodgers (1970-1998)
Palmira Perez-Najarian, Journalist
Kaoru Shoji, Executive Director, Japan National Tourism Organization
Osamu Taki, Chief Executive Director, Japan External Trade Organization JETRO Los Angeles
Yasuko Uchida, Director, Japan Foundation Los Angeles JFLA
Patricia Wyatt, President & CEO, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Jeff Yamazaki, Former President, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California