The key to prosperity for both U.S. and Japanese nonprofit organizations may be collaboration with appreciation for cultural differences, according to 12 American interns who have completed one-month internships at Japanese NPOs.

The Nichibei Pathfinding Opportunity Program, organized by the Japan-U.S. Community Education and Exchange, an intercultural NPO, is to end today, although some interns will continue to work at their host organizations.

During a public forum, held Friday in Tokyo to wrap up the program, participants underlined the importance of networking with and learning from other NPOs.

The forum, titled "That's Bizarre — Unique U.S.-Japan Volunteerism — An In-depth Comparison," attracted an audience of more than 230.

Founded in 1995, JUCEE has been operating as a coordinator, bringing together individuals and grassroots organizations from the two countries to work on issues of common concern.

JUCEE's Nichibei program started in 1997 to allow for an exchange of information on management styles, culture and social issues through face-to-face interaction.

"When we talk about NPOs, the general belief seems to be that information flows mostly from the United States to Japan," said Naoko Okada, JUCEE's program coordinator. "But we're working to fix that balance through this program."

Every summer, the Nichibei program sends students, nonprofit representatives, and other professionals to Japan for a one-month internship at organizations that focus on such issues as the environment, education, development, human rights and public health.

At Friday's forum, cosponsored by the Japan Foundation, some interns said that while NPOs in both countries are dedicated and enthusiastic, Japanese NPOs tend to have less lobbying power or influence over government policies.

The advantage of having systems such as tax exemptions for donations in the U.S. was also cited as a key difference.

"Japanese say they are not very involved in volunteering, but I think they do it unconsciously," said Ivan Small, a disaster worker at American Red Cross in Los Angeles, who spent his internship working on Indochinese refugee issues at the Sotoshu Volunteer Association.

Small noted that most Japanese students take part in an after-recess clean-up period in school, during which they clean not only their own classrooms but common areas such as bathrooms. He added that such cultural differences should be considered when discussing volunteerism.

Participant Elvira Williams, meanwhile, stressed the importance of encouraging service-learning opportunities at an early age. "When we think about the future, it is important to educate young people," she said.

Williams — an executive director of Maryland-based Adventures in Health, Education and Agricultural Development, which tries to improve nutrition and health care in developing nations — was hosted by the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning.