News
2026.01.20
International House of Japan Joined International House Association as a Founding Member, held a signing ceremony on January 19.
Tokyo, Japan – The International House of Japan (IHJ) has announced its formal induction as a founding member of the International
House Association (IHA), a significant move that strengthens the global network of historic International Houses committed to advancing peace through intercultural exchange.
The milestone was formalized at a signing ceremony held on January 19 at IHJ in Tokyo, bringing together leaders from IHJ and IHA to mark a shared commitment to the mission of the International House movement.
IHA represents a growing network of historic International Houses, including IHJ, International House at UC Berkeley, International House at the University of Chicago, India International Centre and International Students House in London, with additional Houses joining as the Association continues to expand.
Founded in 1952 by Shigeharu Matsumoto and John D. Rockefeller 3rd with support from numerous private institutions and individuals, IHJ has peace at the center of its mission. For more than seven decades, it has served as a platform for cultural and intellectual exchange, convening leaders, scholars and practitioners to address global challenges through dialogue and shared understanding. Its role as a founding member reinforces IHA’s mission to connect and amplify I-Houses worldwide as neutral spaces for engagement amid rising global division.
I-House Chairman and IHA president comments.
■ “International House of Japan has always believed that peace begins with understanding built through human connection,” said Kondo. “As now a founding member of International House Association, we are eager to strengthen ties across the global I-House network and expand opportunities for meaningful exchange across borders.”
■ “The I-House movement has always created places where people from different backgrounds can live and learn together with openness and respect,” said Shaun Carver, President of IHA and CEO of International House at UC Berkeley. “International House of Japan brings a deeply respected voice and a long history of international engagement, strengthening our shared work to advance peace.”
Following the signing ceremony, IHJ hosted the Japan event of IHA’s Global Forum Series. The event was held within the Association’s Pathways to Peace: Lessons in Reconciliation program and focused on Lessons from the Hibakusha, featuring a panel discussion with leaders of Nihon Hidankyo, the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize laureate organization representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Japan and Kondo, in partnership with IHA, the Nobel Peace Center, and the American Friends of IHJ.
About International House Association
International House Association (IHA) is a nonprofit organization uniting a global network of International Houses – residential and cultural centers founded on the Rockefeller–Edmonds vision of advancing peace through intercultural living. First organized in 1939 with Rockefeller family support and relaunched in 2025, IHA amplifies the mission of its member Houses through shared programs, global convenings, alumni engagement and support for new I-House development. With more than 500,000 alumni worldwide, including Nobel laureates, ambassadors, business leaders and changemakers, IHA is shaping the next century of global leadership and understanding. Learn more at https://www.ih-assoc.org/.
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