U.S.–Japan Council Toshizo Watanabe
The U.S.–Japan Council (USJC) introduced the U.S.–Japan Council Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship on Feb. 18.
The scholarship is for undergraduate American and Japanese students in a term or a year-long study abroad program in the United States or Japan.
During the inaugural program year (2016–2017), the scholarship will be used to assist Japanese students studying in the United States. In the future years, it will support American students who study in Japan. It is for students with leadership potential, who cannot study abroad without financial assistance.
The scholarship is made possible through a $10 million endowment from Toshizo Watanabe, president of the Toshizo Watanabe Foundation. This is the largest donation USJC has ever received.
Watanabe offered this donation partly because of his experience as a student. When he was a student, he received a scholarship from the Japanese government. He also received other awards, which helped him study at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. After building his successful career at a Japanese company, he wanted to pay it forward.
USJC is a nonprofit educational organization working on strengthening the connection between America and Japan.The council was founded in Washington, D.C., in 2008, and the Japanese headquarters was created in Tokyo in 2013. (end)
For more information or to apply for a scholarship (due April 1), visit usjapancouncil.org/watanabe_scholarship.