The Cotler Fellowship Program prides itself of the relations it maintains with many of its alumni. One of the most notable among them is Moses Toshimasu (2022-2023), who is currently in an officer training school for the Japanese Air Force. In September 2024, Moses organized, together with his Church in Osaka, the pro-Israeli Higashisumiyoshi Christian Assembly, a three-hour seminar on Israel and the Middle East. It was attended in-person by about 80 members of the Church, with several hundred members watching the event across Japan through live stream.

Prof. Uriya Shavit, head of the Cotler Institute, gave a lecture on the Bible and Israel, discussing the enduring relevance of the Bible in Israeli education and culture, as well as addressed the current security situation in Israel and the Middle East. Dr. Yonker spoke about Christians in Israel and on regional developments in Syria and Iran. Following the seminar, ideas were exchanged on possible ways to promote the relations between TAU and the Church. Mr. Toshimasu offered the translation to Japanese.

Later, Prof. Shavit and Dr. Yonker met in Tokyo with seven leading Japanese journalists and scholars to discuss the current situation in the Middle East. The roundtable was organized in coordination with the Israeli Embassy and provided a forum for important dialogue and exchange on Israeli society and politics, the war in Gaza, and Japan-Israel relations. In attendance were: Prof. Ezaki Chie, an associate professor at the National Defense Academy specializing in the Middle East; Ms. Kanaya Misa, a senior analyst at Mitsui & Co. Global Strategic Studies Institute specializing in the Middle East; Dr. Nagao Satoru, a non-resident fellow at Stanford University’s Hudson Institute specializing in strategic studies and international relations; Dr. Nomura Akifumi, an associate professor at Takushoku University specializing in Shari‘a law; Ms. Okada Mizuki, a political staff writer at Sankei Shimbun covering Japanese security and foreign policies; Mr. Sugita Hiroki, a professor at Meiji University and journalist with Kyodo News, specializing in international politics; and Mr. Kawakita Shogo, a senior writer and editorial board member  at Kyodo News.

Following the successful visit, Mr. Shogo interviewed Prof. Shavit on the Gaza deal and the situation in Israel. The interview was published by a number of leading Japanese media organizations.