The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy, formerly known as the United States Information Service (USIS), handles all aspects of "public diplomacy" for the United States Government and the United States Embassy in Tokyo. Public Diplomacy covers a wide range of programs and activities in the fields of press, information, culture, and education.  The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Japan works to strengthen and develop U.S.-Japan relations by:

• Enunciating and explaining U.S. policies, while presenting American society in all its complexity so that others can understand the context of U.S. actions.
• Creating, promoting and administering educational and cultural exchange programs which improve relations and increase understanding between the people of Japan and the United States.

The Public Affairs Section is headed by the Country Public Affairs Officer and carries out a broad variety of activities in support of these goals. They include:

• The American Centers in Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka, which provide a wealth of information concerning American society, culture, and government, and arrange and support events focusing on aspects of American culture. The American Centers also operate American Center Reference Services which are open to the public.  The Naha Consulate-General also has a public affairs section.
• An Information Office ("the Press Office") in Tokyo, which arranges press conferences, briefings and interviews and provides texts and explanatory articles to clearly state and explain United States policies.  The Press Office is headed by the Press Attache/Embassy Spokesman and manages the Embassy's website content.
• A Cultural and Programming Office in Tokyo, headed by the Cultural Affairs Officer, which develops and manages an array of exchange programs between various segments of Japanese and American society, and administers United States Government involvement in cultural and educational activities between the United States and Japan.

The State Department has prepared information describing the Mission and Functions of American Embassies Overseas.  More information on the Public Affairs Section may be obtained in other sections of the U.S. Embassy Home Page, or by contacting the Embassy:

American Embassy Tokyo
10-5 Akasaka 1-Chome,
Minato-ku, Tokyo
107-8420 Japan

Tel: (03) 3224-5000

Tokyo Subway Stations nearby: 
Tameike-Sanno; Toranomon; Akasaka; Kamiya-cho