In order to examine the gap between Asian American over-representation in higher education and their under-representation in leadership positions in United States society, this study examined leadership in a Japanese American college student organization, the "Tomo No Kai (Tomo)." In particular it examined the role of personal qualities, cultural values, and generational status in students' conceptions and practice of leadership. The study used a qualitative approach with data collected primarily through naturalistic observation techniques and interviews. The study included observation of various meetings and activities of the group and surveys of and semi-structured interviews with a selected sub-set of nine participants. Data analysis revealed that the organizational context of Tomo was bounded by students' reasons for joining the club, which was often to establish their own ethnic identity. According to participants, effective leadership was caring and nurturing, yet also hierarchical, a model with strong roots in Japanese-American culture. Interestingly, few Tomo members were involved in activities aimed at the student population as a whole, raising the question of whether these ethnic organizations hamper students' progress in the wider societal context. Includes a copy of the survey. (Contains 23 references.) (JB)