When Eleanor Hadley sailed from Seattle to Japan in 1936, she began a career that would shape U.S.-Japan relations for decades. Ninety years later, Jackson School Ph.D. student Kiwa Tashiro flew the reverse route, bound for Seattle with her own commitment to that same work. She now bears Hadley’s name as the recipient of the 2026 Dr. Eleanor Hadley Scholarship from the Mortar Board Alumni/Tolo Foundation.
Kiwa Tashiro
The scholarship is given in honor of economist and Seattle native Eleanor Hadley. Known for her significant contributions to the study of East Asia, Hadley served as a key adviser on the Japanese economy for General Douglas MacArthur after World War II and received the Sacred Treasure of the Third Order award from the Emperor of Japan.
“I am sincerely honored to have been nominated by the Jackson School and to have been chosen as a recipient of this wonderful award,” Kiwa said, adding that “the parallel feels almost fated and serendipitous, and I am deeply grateful for the connection that I feel with her across time and place.”
Kiwa’s research, overseen by Jackson School Professor Robert Pekkanen, examines the political economy and institutional dynamics of contemporary Japan, focusing on structural conditions that perpetuate intergenerational inequality and promote systems that contribute to the emergence of gerontocracies. Her work addresses demographic decline, economic stagnation, and long-term opportunity — pressing issues for Japan as it navigates an aging population and shifting economic landscape.
Before graduate school, Kiwa worked as a news reporter in Japan. She later served as a reference specialist at the University of Washington’s Tateuchi East Asia Library, where Hadley once conducted research. Today, Kiwa moves from documenting change to shaping it as a Sister City commissioner between Edmonds and the city of Hekinan, Japan.
Bearing a name, building a bridge
For Kiwa, her name (希和) carries intention: “ki” meaning hope or desire, “wa” representing peace and the essence of Japan. That aspiration now guides Kiwa’s own path.
“Whether through teaching, research, or policy-oriented work, I aspire to contribute to hope, peace, equality, and meaningful change for future generations,” she said.
Multiple honors mark this trajectory, including the Japan Studies Merit Award and Kristen Kawakami Dean Fellowship from the Center for Japanese Studies and the 2024 Betty and Hiro Ogawa Award from FIUTS (the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students).
“Following in the footsteps of Dr. Hadley, who dedicated herself as a scholar and public servant to the betterment of the U.S.- Japan relationship and humanity as a whole, I hope to carry forward her vision and strive to make meaningful contributions throughout my own life,” Kiwa said. “This recognition further motivates me to dedicate myself to my research and work at the University of Washington.”
