A Bishop Scholar’s Journey
As his time as the first Bishop Memorial Scholar draws to a close, we sit down with Matthew Trani to learn about the experience and how he hopes to maintain his ACCJ connections.
As his internship ends, Matthew Trani shares impressions of the ACCJ and a message for future recipients.
Following the tragic deaths of Bill Bishop, his wife Izumi, and their daughter Sophianna on Christmas morning 2022, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) and the United States–Japan Bridging Foundation came together to honor their legacy. Launched in July 2023, the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund brings US students to Temple University, Japan Campus, where Bishop was a lecturer and board member. It also provides an internship at the chamber.
The ACCJ Journal interviewed the first recipient, Matthew Trani, last December, two months into his internship. As his time as a Bishop Memorial Scholar draws to a close, we again sat down with Trani to learn about the experience and how he hopes to maintain his ACCJ connections.
How do you feel about your internship ending?
Odd, because it almost feels like I’m leaving the community that I’ve been attached to—almost to a point of dependency—for the past eight months. There aren’t many places where you can have a working relationship and be able to just casually talk to people in Japan as a foreigner. That feeling hasn’t changed since our first interview.
How will you maintain your ACCJ relationships after you leave?
A lot depends on if I can convince my new company to become a member. If that were to happen, then I would potentially be back within a relatively short time.
But I think I can still connect regardless, as I’ve met as many members outside the chamber as I have through the chamber; they’re all in the same circles. When I get invited to somebody’s house, there will be a professor from Temple there, or someone from Tokyo American Club or the embassy. The network is so tight that they’re never more than one connection away.
Did making connections remain your number one goal?
A little bit. The priority did change from the beginning of the year. Making connections was great, but I needed a job to continue living here. A lot of the companies to which I was thinking of applying are ACCJ members, but I needed to figure things out on my own, which I did. The biggest difficulty is switching from a student visa to a work visa. I was very lucky to find a company that had the patience to do that.
Now, it should be a lot easier to use those connections in the future. So, I would say my goal didn’t change, but now that I’ve achieved my secondary goal, I can go back to my primary goal, which is to continue making and maintaining connections.
Beyond connections, what did you gain most from this experience?
I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to work in a corporate environment where I interacted with so many executives all at once. It’s kind of [remarkable] seeing somebody where it’s like, “Oh, you’re the CEO of Bloomberg Japan, which is the same company my dad works for in New York.” But this is someone that my dad would not usually be able to talk to. And it’s very different having Victor Osumi, as the president of Delta in Japan, saying hi to you and being on a first name basis.
Matthew Trani with ACCJ Executive Director Laura Younger
Where were you most involved at the ACCJ?
That changed over the course of the year. When I started, I was going to a lot of events and getting most of my networking connections early on. Then it shifted to more back-office work, and I worked a lot in Membership and we did some assignments on the competitive advantage of the ACCJ. That project took time to flesh out and get it to how we wanted it for the board.
On the whole, I definitely preferred the administrative work, with the exception of spreadsheets. I think with networking and helping at events it becomes much of the same routine, but when you deal with administrative materials, you can think a lot more critically. I really like jobs in which you can think deeply and try to solve problems.
What was your favorite event?
I learned so much from attending committee meetings. Often, I would think, “I didn’t know that, but that’s very interesting.” Or they would discuss things I’ve noticed in Japan but didn’t have the opportunity to say out loud.
We were at a meeting of the Tourism and Hospitality Committee and they were talking about how Japanese people aren’t going abroad, so domestic airlines are empty. Typically, it’s Japanese people who take those airlines, while foreigners take airlines from their home country.
It’s really crazy that a lot of the time you don’t have the opportunity to voice things like that, but the committees do so and work toward resolving those issues through advocacy papers and other things.
What would you tell future Bishop Scholars?
This is the best opportunity in Japan for a college student, one you never imagined you’d get. That’s what it was for me; I never expected that I would have the opportunity to do this during my time in Japan, and I never planned around it when I originally booked my study abroad. You can’t plan on where you’re going. I would say to all the Bishop Scholars who come after me, I’m sure you probably feel the same, so just roll with it and see where this opportunity takes you.
Trani completed his internship with the ACCJ in late April and is expected to begin working in Japan in mid-June, after having graduated from Hofstra University in late May.
Bishop Scholar
Matthew Trani, the first recipient of the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund, arrived in September. The Long Island native shares his path to Japan and where he hopes the opportunity will lead him.
Matthew Trani, the first recipient of the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship, shares what the opportunity means to him.
Trani performing at the ACCJ Charity Ball on December 2 at the Hilton Tokyo. (Photo: MediaSense K.K.)
Last year, on Christmas morning, Bill Bishop, his wife Izumi, and their daughter Sophianna lost their lives. The tragic death of Bishop, a longtime member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), shook the community. Over 50 years, the South Dakota native became a key part of the US business community in Japan and a devoted leader of the chamber’s Healthcare Committee.
In his memory, the ACCJ and the United States–Japan Bridging Foundation launched the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund in July. The scholarship supports students who will come from the US to study at Temple University, Japan Campus, where Bishop was a lecturer and board member.
The first Bishop Scholar, Matthew Trani, arrived in September and, in addition to studying at Temple, began his internship at the chamber. The ACCJ Journal sat down with Trani to learn about his path to Japan and where he hopes the opportunity will lead him.
Tell us about your background.
I’m from Long Island, New York, and have been living there for the past 21 years. I went to high school and college about 15 minutes from my home.
Originally, I enrolled in Hofstra University to study music and political science. I got into music about 13 years ago, being strongly suggested to do so by my parents. I joined a chorus and learned to sing. That turned into an overall love of music. In high school, my voice matured, and it was good, so I ended up singing at a lot of functions. I performed at Carnegie Hall and sometimes on TV. And just this month I got to perform at the ACCJ Charity Ball.
When it was time to enter university, I was shopping around for scholarships and got a decent-sized one, along with a grant, from Hofstra. So, I went there. But other than the fact that I was a performance major, I really didn’t know what my plans were from there.
What got you interested in Japan?
I had to choose a language course, and my mom had taken Japanese at Villanova University. She recommended that I take it. I ended up studying Japanese for three semesters. In my third semester, I decided to switch to a double major in Japanese and music while keeping my minor in political science. I intended to study abroad or work in Japan after college anyway, but I wasn’t sure how it was going to line up.
I was thinking about applying to several places like the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Waseda University, and Keio University, but I ran into Temple University, Japan Campus and ended up going there because the college transfer between US universities is much easier.
How did you become a Bishop Scholar?
My major adviser in the US recommended that I apply for the Bridging Scholarship through both the American Association of Teachers of Japan and the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, which partners with other organizations in Japan, including the ACCJ. I got a notice of acceptance in mid-June. With it came an intriguing email from Tom Mason, executive director of the Bridging Foundation. He said: “I have an opportunity that I think you might like. Reply back with a time either tomorrow or the day after so that we can do a Zoom call.” There were no other details.
I thought, “What else could this be?” I already knew that I had been awarded the Bridging Scholarship. On the call, [Mason] explained that the ACCJ was looking to establish a new scholarship in remembrance of Bill Bishop. Because of Bishop’s activity as a board member and lecturer, the scholar was to be a Temple University student in Japan, and they wanted to award me the scholarship.
What are your first impressions of the ACCJ?
I would say the interactions are very community focused, even among staff. Everybody looks out for each other, and they want you to push yourself, but not too hard. I can learn a lot and be able to work in ways that I hadn’t previously. And I like that the chamber is not really partisan in any way. They’re about what they can do to best support member businesses in Japan and the lives of foreigners as a whole.
What do you want to focus on?
I have been very involved in assisting at events but, given my background in political science, I would like to be more involved in external affairs. Generally speaking, I want to get more people’s opinions on the organization and the greater business community in Japan. Events are the best way to do that, and I think I’m already there in some respects.
Has there been a favorite event?
I really enjoyed the How Technology is Driving Innovation in Healthcare event. I found it interesting despite not being involved in that industry at all. I think, sometimes, not being involved makes it more interesting, because you don’t really know what the new innovations in those industries are. The event gives you a glimpse into what’s being worked on that you otherwise wouldn’t know about.
What do you most want to gain from the internship?
Number one is making new connections. I think I’ve been doing that and, fortunately, I have a lot of time to continue doing so. Second is an understanding of day-to-day operations. I had never worked in an office environment before the ACCJ, and I want to get a sense of how that works.
Trani will intern at the ACCJ until April 2024 and is expected to graduate from Hofstra University in May after completing his studies at Temple University, Japan Campus.
The Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund
On June 12, the ACCJ and the United States–Japan Bridging Foundation gathered at Tokyo American Club to honor the family and launch the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund at an event entitled Lives Lived for Bridging the United States and Japan.
Honoring the legacy of ACCJ leader Bill Bishop and his family through education
As a typhoon slammed Yokota Air Base in July 1974, a plane rocked its way down to the runway. Onboard was navy photographer Bill Bishop. That first night, he also experienced his first earthquake. It was a dramatic start to a five-decade relationship with Japan that would lead the South Dakota native to become a key part of the US business community in the country.
Last December, on Christmas morning, Bishop, his wife Izumi, and their daughter Sophianna lost their lives, killed by their neighbor at their family home in Saitama Prefecture.
Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) remember Bishop for his kindness, humor, friendship, and dedication to the chamber, where he served as chair, vice-chair, and board liaison of the Healthcare Committee over the years.
On June 12, the ACCJ and the United States–Japan Bridging Foundation gathered at Tokyo American Club to honor the family and launch the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund at an event entitled Lives Lived for Bridging the United States and Japan.
In attendance were US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, representatives of Tochigi Prefecture Governor Tomikazu Fukuda, and ACCJ members and guests.
“We hope creating a fund that will support students who will come from the US to study in Japan, at Temple University, will be an incredible way to support Bill and his family’s legacy.”
Tom Mason, the foundation’s executive director, said, “We hope creating a fund that will support students who will come from the US to study in Japan, at Temple University, will be an incredible way to support Bill and his family’s legacy.”
Bishop studied in Japan himself and received a bachelor of arts degree from Sophia University. He earned a master’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, and later became a lecturer and board member at the Japan campus.
The event also marked the 25th anniversary of the United States–Japan Bridging Foundation, which provides US undergraduates—especially those from historically underrepresented communities—with scholarships to study abroad in Japan. It also offers mentorship and networking opportunities to build a Japan-related career, fostering the next generation of US leaders with connections to the bilateral relationship. Since its founding in 1998, the group has supported more than 2,000 students.
Some of this year’s Bridging Scholars, as well as alumni, also joined the event to share their experiences studying in Japan thanks to the foundation’s support.
The Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund will be based at, and managed by, the US–Japan Bridging Foundation, which will administer and manage the scholarship and its programs—including the recruitment of students. Logistics, fundraising, and community support will be provided by the ACCJ.
Education Committee Vice-Chair Thierry Porte, who is also chairman of the United States–Japan Bridging Foundation, is happy to be a part of this.
“I knew Bill Bishop well,” he told The ACCJ Journal. “He and I worked together in the late 1990s to early 2000s at the ACCJ, and he was an active member of the American community in Japan. As [he was] someone who was very active working with students, there was quite a bit of movement in the community to remember Bill and his family.”
Porte said the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund will be a “living memorial to Bill, his wife, and his daughter and the logical place to collaborate would be the ACCJ, where Bill was very active and his daughter interned.”