Irene Hirano Inouye

Ms. Hirano Inouye is President of the U.S.-Japan Council, where she oversees the organization and administers the TOMODACHI Initiative. She is the former President and founding CEO of the Japanese American National Museum, a position she held for twenty years. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and an honorary doctorate degree from SMU. Ms. Hirano Inouye has extensive experience in non-profit administration, community education and public affairs with culturally diverse communities nationwide. Her activities include serving as Vice Chair, Smithsonian Institution Asian Pacific American Center; Trustee and past Chair, Ford Foundation; former Trustee and past Chair, Kresge Foundation; and Trustee, Washington Center. She was married to the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii.