The Society is a tax-exempt organization whose mission is to provide an organizational framework within which individuals, institutions, schools, community groups, industry & commercial organizations, and the public sector may collaborate to promote and enhance the ties between citizens of the USA and Japan through:

• the active support of the Sister City relationship between Fairhaven/New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA and Tosashimizu, Kochi, Japan (birthplace of Manjiro)
• support and operation of the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House Museum and Activity Center
• other similar objectives which might be approved by the Board of Directors from time to time.