The Japan Afro-American Friendship Association (JAFA) was founded in Tokyo in 1981 to foster friendship, mutual respect, and deeper understanding between people of African descent and the Japanese community. At a time when cross-cultural engagement between these two communities and Japan was still rare, JAFA emerged as a pioneering organization committed to connecting these vibrant cultures through people-to-people diplomacy, cultural exchange, and shared educational experiences.
Founded by a small group of Japanese and foreign residents living in Japan, JAFA began as a grassroots effort to bring Black culture—its music, history, academic scholarship, and lived experiences—to Japanese audiences. The organization facilitated lectures, cultural presentations, and social gatherings that featured Black and Japanese professionals, artists, and educators living in or visiting Japan. These events created opportunities for meaningful dialogue and laid the foundation for cross-cultural friendships that endure to this day.
In 2023, more than 40 years after its founding, JAFA was officially established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in San Francisco, California. This concept was sparked by a renewed urgency to expand the legacy of the African Diaspora and Japanese cultural exchange in the 21st century. Operating as JAFA USA, the organization honors its historical roots in Tokyo while building new bridges across the Pacific.
Founded by a small group of Japanese and foreign residents living in Japan, JAFA began as a grassroots effort to bring Black culture—its music, history, academic scholarship, and lived experiences—to Japanese audiences. The organization facilitated lectures, cultural presentations, and social gatherings that featured Black and Japanese professionals, artists, and educators living in or visiting Japan. These events created opportunities for meaningful dialogue and laid the foundation for cross-cultural friendships that endure to this day.
JAFA’s mission is inspired by the longstanding, though underrepresented, history of solidarity between Black American and Japanese communities. This includes cultural intersections dating back to the mid 19th century and meaningful relationships forged in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Before World War II, these coastal cities were home to early interactions—social, academic, and professional—between Black American and Japanese American communities. In the aftermath of war and civil rights struggles, JAFA continues to champion collaboration and cultural exchange rooted in justice, dignity, and mutual empowerment.
Today, JAFA USA is working with universities, cultural institutions, travel organizations, and civic leaders to cultivate meaningful partnerships that benefit both the African diaspora communities and Japanese. Signature programs from 2026 will include educational exchange trips to Japan, support for Black-owned businesses in Japan, and the continued planning for the 2027 Centennial Negro League Baseball Tour—commemorating the historic 1927 visit of the Philadelphia Royal Giants to Japan.
As we look to the future, JAFA remains committed to its founding values: friendship, exchange, education, and cultural celebration. Our past informs our progress, and our shared history lights the way forward