Annual Report
Report for Fiscal 2022
April 2022 - March 2023

Annual Report

Report for Fiscal 2022
April 2022 - March 2023

CONTENTS
Message from the President・ ・・・・・・・・・ 2
The Challenges the Toyota Foundation

Tackled in FY 2022・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 4
The Special Subject Co-Creating New
Society with Advanced Technologies・・・・・・ 6
The Special Subject Migrants andJapanese Society・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 10
The Research Grant Program・・・・・・・・・ 15
The International Grant Program・・・・・・・ 19
The Grant Program for Community Activities

in Japan・ ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 27
The Initiative Program・ ・・・・・・・・・・・ 29
Accounting Report・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 30
Officers and Trustees・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 32

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge stands out in silhouetteagainst sunset skies. The photo was taken when I walked
alongside the Akashi Strait with Cambodian youths
visiting Japan as their first overseas destination. It wasa fleeting twilight moment between day and night, orgolden hour.
Photo taken by Hideo Tone.

Message from the President

As we usher in the fiscal year 2023, I would like to take thisneed to address a number of wide-ranging issues, going for-have been able to predict accurately 50 years ago what Japanoccasion to extend my greetings to you. The Covid-19 out-

ward. The Foundation seeks to play an active role in organiz-and the rest of the world look like today? I presume no one

break, a pandemic of historic proportions that has lasted foring events such as this and communicating socially signifi-

could have done that. Likewise, it is almost but impossible toa little more than three years since early spring in 2020, ap-

cant outcomes to encourage dialogue with the pubic.

foresee what Japan and the rest of the world will be like 50

pears to be finally coming to an end. With a number of re-years from now. Yet, we should not be resigned to the idea

strictions on our everyday life being lifted gradually, we now

In this fiscal year, we will focus on planning and preparations

that there is not much we can do. Trying to quickly deter-

frequently see the return of foreign visitors to Japan, whether

for the 50th anniversary of the Toyota Foundation’s incep-

mine where things are headed from now, using our foresightfor business or pleasure, walking down the streets. All thesetion to be marked in 2024. Internally, discussions have al-

to deal with social issues, and disseminating future-orientedchanges make the arrival of spring, which in the past was

ready begun over leading proposals for deploying several

outcomes for problem-solving. Doing all of these is the very

simply taken for granted, feel all the more meaningful thisprojects centering on a commemorative grant program.

reason why the Toyota Foundation has been around to thisyear.

Over the past few years, the Foundation has gained insights

day, i.e., its own raison d’être. To make yet another step inand expertise from its grant making activities based on vari-that direction, the Foundation continues to discuss and ex-

We, at the Toyota Foundation, continue to maintain its basic

ous themes: Co-Creating New Society with Advanced Tech-plore what needs to be done to execute its planned commem-

grant-making structure -- two Special Subjects, Co-Creating

nologies, Migrants and Japanese Society, Fostering the Au-

orative grant program.

New Society with Advanced Technologies as well as Mi-

tonomous Society, Interlinkages and Innovation for Future

grants and Japanese Society, along with three key programs,

Societies, Fostering Mutual Learning Across Cultures among

Behind the scenes, we would like to cautiously overview

the Grant Program for Community Activities in Japan, theAsian Countries. By leveraging a wealth of such knowledge,changing of the time of the world and Japan as well, with a

Research Grant Program, and the International Grant Pro-

the Foundation looks to define a theme for the planned com-panoramic perspective and take a look at social issues trig-

gram –- and to provide grants accordingly. Each of thesememorative grant program and design an overall program

gered by the change. Also, we are determined to seriously

grant programs keep the same themes from the previous fis-framework.

and incessantly deliberate over the design of our grant-mak-cal year because the Foundation has completed an overhaul

Dr. HANEDA Masashi
President
The Toyota Foundation (Public Interest
Incorporated Foundation)

ing activities to make a difference.

of its grant program concepts over the past few years. Thus, it

Now, let’s look back on 1974, the year when the Toyota Foun-looks to focus more efforts on building networks of grant re-dation was established. At the time, the main means of com-

Lastly, as the Toyota Foundation works strenuously on its ac-

cipients and further disseminating research outcomesmunication was either telephone or post mail. Communicat-

tivities this fiscal year and in the lead-up to the 50th anniver-through holding symposiums, among other initiatives.

ing messages, even domestically within Japan, was bothsary next year, I would like to solicit strict but warm-hearted

time-consuming and costly. What’s more, the infrastructure

guidance from all of you.

As a prelude to a series of such efforts, the Foundation held afor disseminating information internationally was terribly

symposium titled “Let’s think about our mental health – aunderdeveloped. Now, 50 years since then, technological ad-case of athletes and their lives” at Tokyo International Forumvances enable us to contact anyone instantly online. Whoin late February. This meeting was intended to facilitate anknows you may communicate with not a real person but an

exchange of information and opinions, with main focus on

artificial intelligence chatbot called ChatGPT? Societal trans-presenting outcomes of the projects supported by the Initia-

formation, triggered by advances in communication tech-tive Program. It was the first in-person gathering in a few

nologies over the past few decades, is nothing less than re-years for the Toyota Foundation to hold at a physical location

markable.

since the start of the pandemic. Researchers of various fields,

2

athletes and officials people involved gathered at the venue

Over the past 50 years, however, our planet has seen a signif-and engaged in lively discussions, which highlighted theicant degradation in its environment. How many of us could

April, 2023

3

［April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023］

T h e C h a l l e n ge s t h e
To y o t a Fo u n d a t i o n
Tackled in FY 2022
In fiscal 2022, the Toyota Foundation (the TF/the Foundation) made grants under the frameworks of the twoSpecial Subjects: “Co-Creating New Society with Advanced Technologies” and “Migrants and Japanese Society,” and of the three grant programs: the “Grant Program for Community Activities in Japan,” the “Research

Looking Back the Toyota Foundation’s FY 2022

［April 1 to June 4］

The International Grant Program
Call for Proposals［April 4 to June 10］

The Research Grant Program
Call for Proposals［April 4 to June 6］

The Grant Program for Community Activities in Japan
Call for Proposals

2022

4

2023

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1

2

3

Grant Program,” and the “International Grant Program,” as well as of the “Initiative Program” – all for the sakeof achieving greater happiness of people.

［September 5 to November 19］

Migrants and Japanese Society Call for Proposals

To overcome issues laid bare by the Covid-19 pandemic at home and abroad, our society must envision once
again what people’s connection and exchanges should be like and put that into actual practice by implementing［September 26 to November 30］

Co-Creating New Society with Advanced Technologies
Call for Proposals

new industrial technologies including information technology (IT) in an appropriate manner. In this fiscal year,
too, the Foundation made grants in all its programs, with emphasis on this viewpoint.

Below is the outline of the respective grant programs:

Programs with closed
application process

Programs with a public call for proposals

The Specific Subject

Co-Creating New Society with
Advanced Technologies

Society

The TF called for research projects

Th e T F ma d e g r a nt s t o p ro j e c t s

dealing with changes of the times

involving investigations, surveys,

and social challenges caused by new

and practices that were expected

technologies such as artificial intelligence

to contribute to building an overall(AI). In addition, a new framework was

system for accepting foreigners.

put in place for supporting exploratory
individual research projects.

4

The Specific Subject

Migrants and Japanese

The Research Grant Program

The International Grant Program

Th e T F l a u n c h e d t w o p r o g r a m s

The TF made grants to projects fordesigned to contribute to fostering andexchanges and problem-solving acrossUn d e r t h i s p ro g r a m’s two g r a n t

grants to projects that it found deemed

supporting young researchers. One wasnational boundaries by local practitioners

categories, the TF worked to further

worthy of its support and its voluntary,a collaboration in partnership with anfrom more than two countries,” which deal

explain the focus of autonomy-fostering

proactive engagement.. Moreover,outside organization (the Institute forwith common issues in East Asia, including

activities and further clarify expected

the TF provided a grant to the project

Future Initiatives (IFI), the University

Japan, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Since

outcomes of research projects, among

intended to disseminate and spreadof Tokyo). The other one was intended

real, in-person exchanges were expected toother things, with a view to inviting

the outcomes and methods of the past

to support joint research projects

be possible to a certain extent, the TF also

more project proposals directly linked

grant-awarded projects to society in an

conducted mainly by young researchers.

called for projects predicated on direct, face-to the theme.

impactful way.

The Grant Program forCommunity Activities in JapanThe Initiative Program
The TF actively sought out and madeto-face exchanges.

5Grant Results() Fiscal 2021

Number ofApplications

Number of Grants

Value of Grants(¥ Million)

Budget(¥ Million)

Acceptance Rate(%)

Joint Research

19

5

35.0

35.0

26.3

Individual
Research

12

5

7.0

5.0

41.7

Total

31
（22）

10
（5）

42.0
（33.0）

40.0（40.0）

32.3（22.7）

Since fiscal 2020, the spread of the new coronavirus has ac-

project designed to adopt a unique and ambitious approachcelerated the use of digital technologies at a rapid pace in so-

to various issues surrounding advanced technologies. More-ciety, adding to the importance of dealing with issues relating

over, the requirements were such that an exploratory research

to society and the use of these technologies, a trend seen as

project should factor in research’s impact on society; should

characteristic of the past few years.

not be about making an individual’s achievement in terms ofresearch purpose and content; and hold the potential for be-

In fiscal 2022, the framework for grant-target projects was

ing developed into joint research.

partially revised. Specifically, a new framework was put in

Mr. Osamu Saito, the representative of a grant-awarded project in fiscal 2020, working on his project“Research on Practical IoT
Education Curriculum at Kosen).”

The Special Subject

Co-Creating New Society with
Advanced Technologies
Overview

Program Title
Co-Creating New Society with Advanced Technologies
Call for Proposals
September26 to November 30, 2022
Project Period
One to three years, beginning April 1, 2023
Total Amount of Grants
40 million yen

place for offering support to exploratory individual research

At the time of public calling for proposals, the Foundation

projects, with the aim of discovering young researchers. As in

held online briefing sessions, paid visits to key universities

the preceding years, application requirements were such thatand research institutions, posted notices on relevant NPO/the representative of a project should have his/her main place

NGO portal websites, and notified to groups of interested re-of residence in Japan, regardless of their nationality and expe-

searchers on social network, in order to inform and explain

rience, and the main purpose of a project should not be about

the purpose of the new individual research project grant. As

technological development per se.

such, the TF made efforts to widely disseminate information
about public calling for this grant program.

The application requirements for the joint research grantwere such that the project’s representative must be 45 years

In the end, the number of applications totaled 31, and theold or younger, as specified in the previous year. Also, a joint

number of grant-awarded projects was 10 – five out of 19 ap-

research project should be cross-sector and cross-discipline

plications for the joint research grant and five out of 12 appli-in terms of team member composition, research purpose andcations for the individual research project grant. This time,

content, contribute to international research and activities,

too, many of the selected projects showed a tendency to fo-

and state clearly methods for disseminating research out-

cus on the use of and application of cutting-edge technologies

comes.

to meet the demands of the times. In the individual research
category, projects, including those challenging ones in which

The application requirements for the individual research proj-

researchers themselves attempted to go beyond their own“Co-Creating New Society with Advanced Technologies” is a

ect grant were set out as follows: applicants should be 40

disciplines, were selected.

grant program which covers research projects that address

years old or younger and engage in an exploratory researchsocial issues concerning cutting-edge science and technology,
particularly digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence(AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Robot, and Blockchain.. As such, the program has called for high-minded projects aimed at tackling issues -- how to better use digital technologies including AI, how such technologies transform oursociety, and how humans and society should be like in theComments

Comments by Selection Committee Chairfuture.
This year marks the sixth call for proposals on “Co-Creating

6

Yasuo Kuniyoshi

like has advanced into another realm.

This program was launched in fiscal 2018 as a Special Subject

New Society with Advanced Technologies,” a Special Subjectof the Research Grant Program. In the following year, howev-

launched in 2018. Over this period, digital technologies have

Given this remarkable social change, the program called for

er, the Special Subject was upgraded to a new grant program,increasingly penetrated our lives. Needless to say, this pene-

individual research project proposals as a new initiative start-and “Co-Creating New Society with Advanced Technologies”

tration accelerated rapidly through the COVID-19 pandemic,

ing from this year. While in the past we have awarded tohas since become independent of the Research Grant Pro-and it seems awareness of the issues surrounding the ques-

grants to joint research proposals led by young researchers,

gram and has been operated as such.

tion of what advanced technologies and society ought to be

we have added support for individual research projects be-7cause we considered there may also be a need to support

This project aims to use advanced technologies to create alatter type of project, ideally, I would have preferred morebudding research based on even greater free thinking in ordermechanism for medication management based on mutual as-

persuasive explanations about how the involvement of ad-

to address the use of rapidly diversifying advanced technolo-

sistance among the elderly. The combination of the elderly

vanced technology is inevitable in the issues set out. As thegies and the new issues that accompany these technologies.

with the metaverse and NFC is very surprising. However, arelationship between advanced technologies and human be-Partly because it is the first year, there were a total of 12 indi-demonstration involving 100 people is already underway,

ings deepens, I hope there will be more and more ambitious

vidual research applications, which is not very high. However,making it a unique and effective initiative. The advantage of

projects that rock the very framework of the existing social

the proposals came from diverse fields, and also included

metaverse space is that it is possible for people to interact

some ambitious proposals which went beyond the research-without revealing their identities. In the future, this project iser’s own field of expertise to tackle ideological issues aroundexpected to contribute to important discussions, such as thethe use of advanced technologies.

fields in which this advantage can be applied.

The Special Subject received 19 joint research project applica-

List of Grants*Note: The project titles among other things on this list are those at the time of grant approval.

Individual Researchtions, and selected five projects. Five projects were also selected from among the 12 individual research project applica-

D22-ST-0006 Keita Kusunose

tions. The number of applications tended to be somewhat(Visiting Researcher, Research Organization for Regional

lower than in previous years. However, the research projects

Alliances, Kochi University of Technology)

that were selected were all characterized by an awareness ofProject Title: Construction of a Local Cultural Resource In-

the problems arising from the current situation.

heritance Support Model Using a Digital Platform: ThroughJoint Research
Grant Number

D22-ST-0013

Practical Activities Using Public Participatory GIS
Below, I will introduce two joint research and two individualThis is an ambitious project which aims to construct a sup-research projects from among the selected projects.

port model for cultural resource inheritance in a local area
using an open-sourced GIS. It is a unique project that will try

Joint Research

to address an important challenge faced in the study of histo-

D22-ST-0016

D22-ST-0019

ry in the past, namely citizen collaboration in cultural re-

D22-ST-0013 Fumiya Akasaka

source inheritance, by utilizing low- budget data that can be(Researcher, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Sci-

easily accessed by anyone.

D22-ST-0028

ence and Technology)
Project Title: Infrastructuring Living Labs: Building Infra-

D22-ST-0007 Masanori Kobayashi

structure to Support Living Lab Practices(Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sci-

The “living lab” approach in which diverse stakeholders try toence, Yamagata University)

solve issues facing local communities through “co-creation” isProject Title: Cost and Benefit of Technology Use on Hu-

gradually increasing in Japan. As an approach that does not

man Cognition

focus solely on corporate and technical perspectives, it is ex-

It is no longer unusual for technology to replace human cog-

pected to be particularly effective in the provision of social

nitive functions, such as saving a photograph instead of mak-services using digital technology. However, the process of dis-ing a memo or automated driving. Therefore, this project will

cussion by small numbers of people, which forms the core of

attempt to identify the impact that the use of digital technol-

the Living Lab, is not a familiar approach in Japanese society.

ogies has on human cognitive functions, both in terms of mer-This research project will focus on this point and is a pioneer-

its and demerits. The project is unique in examining how cog-

ing attempt to clarify the Living Lab practices that suit Japa-

nitive functions change depending on the amount of trust

nese society and to build Living Lab infrastructure with theplaced in assistive technologies such as computers and in

aim of using digital technologies. The project will refer tostudying more comprehensive cognitive functions such as

democratic processes in Northern Europe, which is consid-

memory, attention, and thought. It is hoped this study will

ered the birthplace of the Living Lab approach.

develop into a larger research project aimed at the creative

D22-ST-0030

Grant Number

Science, Gunma University)ects involved in specific utilization of advanced technolo-

Project Title: Basic Research on a Medication Assistancegies. On the other hand, there were also several projects

System Using Metaverse Space and NFC to Establish a Re-

questioning the relationship between advanced technolo-

lationship of Mutual Assistancegies and society and the new changes. With regards to the8

Project Leader Position, Organization

Infrastructuring Living Labs: Building Infrastructure to Support Living Lab Practices

Fumiya Akasaka, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Researcher
Building a New Giving Economy: Through Verification of the Social Utility of Blockchain
Technology

Kenji Daikoku, DAIKOKU Co., Ltd., CEO
Basic Research on a Medication Assistance System Using Metaverse Space and NFC to Establish
a Relationship of Mutual AssistanceKenji Nakamura, Center for Mathematics and Data Science, Gunma University, Lecturer
New Concepts of Free Will and Responsibility in the Near Future Society

Kiichi Inarimori, Graduate School of Humanities and Human Sciences, Hokkaido University, Phd
Student

Science for Artificial Intelligence and Fiction: Extending the Imagination for Future Society with AI

Hirotaka Osawa, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Science andTechnology, Keio University, Associate Professor

Grant
Amount(Yen)

8,000,000

8,300,000

7,700,000

3,000,000

7,700,000

Project Title

Project Leader Position, Organization

Grant
Amount(Yen)Construction of a Local Cultural Resource Inheritance Support Model Using a Digital Platform:
D22-ST-0006

Through Practical Activities Using Public Participatory GIS

Keita Kusunose, Research Organization for Regional Alliances, Kochi University of Technology,

1,300,000

Visiting Researcher
D22-ST-0007

Cost and Benefit of Technology Use on Human Cognition

Masanori Kobayashi, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Yamagata University, Associate
Professor

1,700,000

Investigation of Problems for Patients and Medical Workers Regarding the Diffusion, Continuation
D22-ST-0009

and Utilization of PHR Applications in Diabetes Care

Hisato Tatsuoka, General Incorporated Association Kansai Healthcare Science Informatics,

1,200,000

Representative Director / Medical Corporation Hajime-kai Yuki Naika Clinic, Medical Doctor

Can Science and Technology Solve Poverty? : GIS (Geographical Information System) - based

D22-ST-0019 Kenji Nakamura
This year, as in previous years, there tended to be many proj-

Project Title

Individual Researchutilization of technology based on the knowledge obtained.
(Associate Professor, Center for Mathematics and Datasystem in the future.

D22-ST-0012

Spatial Analysis for Poverty and Public Assistance in Okinawa

Keita Sakurai, College of Social Sciences Department of Social Sciences, Ritsumeikan University,

1,800,000

Associate Professor
D22-ST-0023

An Eastern Perspective on Co-creating Human and Life Views with Technology

Taeka Matsubara, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, The University of Tokyo, Project
Assistant Professor

1,000,000

9Grant Results

Participants are seen talking to each other in the grant-awarded project by the representative Ms. Yu Shinagawa,“Research andAnalysis of Changes in Mindset and Behavior of International Students and Human Resources in Companies through Mutual Mentoringand Systematization of Training Model.”The Special Subject

Migrants and Japanese Society
Overview() Fiscal 2021

Number ofApplications

Number of Grants

Value of Grants(¥ Million)

Budget(¥ Million)

Acceptance Rate
(%)

44
（50）

5
（7）

47.5
（50.0）

50.0（50.0）

11（14）

search, or practices that are expected to contribute to build-

September and October in 2022. On each occasion, theing a comprehensive system for accepting foreigners. The

grantee presenters from two grant-awarded projects provid-

program also aims to achieve the following three targets

ed an overview of their projects in line with these two key

through the implementation of the selected projects.

concepts – “Financial Inclusion and Changing Awareness” and-To study any changes and impacts on various aspects of“Employment Support and Human Resource Development”

Japanese society due to an increase in foreign migrants, and– and they talked about some challenges facing them along

consider what kind of response measures are possible.

the way and engaged in discussions with comments from the-To identify factors behind various issues facing foreign mi-commentators. These presenters also received comments

grants, and present and implement improvement mea-

and questions from online viewers during the live streamingsures.

sessions. The TF also created about 10-minute-long digest-To create a common platform for solving problems by con-versions of each online session, and ones dubbed in English

necting those grassroots supporters of foreign migrants

with English subtitles. Furthermore, the Foundation pub-with other stakeholders such as researchers, government

lished a report in Japanese and English for the sake of dissem-

workers, local community members, and other parties con-inating information globally about lesser-known situations incerned.

Japan.

In fiscal 2022, the Foundation started accepting applications

In fiscal 2023, the fifth year of this program’s operation, thein September, and held online briefing sessions twice andTF will continue to accept applications under the same theme.

conducted prior consultations more than 20 times. As a re-While continuing to monitor the progress of the already-grant-

sult, the TF received 44 proposals from around Japan by theed projects individually, the TF plans to share insights anddeadline in mid-November, and five projects were selected

effects generated from these projects as well as expectations

and approved for grants through deliberations by the Selec-

for future outcomes, among other things, through compilingtion Committee and the Board of Directors.

them all into a report for public release.

Moreover, the Foundation organized two-part debriefing sesProgram Title
Migrants and Japanese Society
Call for Proposals
September 5 to November 19, 2021
Project Period
Two or three years beginning May 1, 2023
Total Amount of Grants
50 million yen

The Special Subject “Migrants and Japanese Society,” a grantsions online by the grantees of the grant-awarded projects inprogram launched in fiscal 2019, entered its fourth year infiscal 2022.
The Japanese government formulated a policy in the spring of2019 to accept approximately 340,000 foreigners over a fiveyear period. With discussions about accepting more foreigners to make up for a labor shortage in certain areas, particular-

Comments

Comments by Selection Committee Chairly nursing care and construction, , the policy quickly shifted

Shigeto Sonoda

the focus of discussions from whether or not to accept themThis fiscal year, Mr. Akihiko Tanaka, who has been Chair of the

be included in the countries. In the Special Subject, on theto how to accept them. Following this government’s decision,

Selection Committee for this Special Subject since fiscal

other hand, it is required that projects focus on foreign resi-

the Toyota Foundation recognized that creating an environ-

2019, has stepped down and I have been appointed, taking

dents in Japan. This is a major difference from the Interna-

ment enabling everyone to demonstrate their abilities to theover this very important job. I have been the Internationaltional Grant Program. The key point for the application is how

fullest would lead to the well-being of all people living in Ja-

Grant Program Selection Committee Chair since fiscal 2018.

to interpret the “Japanese society” as in the subject title, “Mi-pan, including foreign migrants. Based on this recognition,

Thus I hold two concurrent jobs this fiscal year.

grants and Japanese Society” and envision the future.

environment allowing foreign migrants to fully utilize their

In the International Grant Program, we have been receiving

As in previous years, we issued a call for proposals on any ofabilities.

proposals on the theme of migrants and foreign human re-

the five themes below.

the TF defined five challenges including the creation of ansources. Proposals in the program need to identify social isThis program is thus designed to make grants to surveys, re-10

sues that involve at least two countries in Asia. Japan may not(1) Creation of an environment for maximizing the skills and11potential of foreign talent

tions that had not been removed, reading all of the applica-

companies be selected by foreign workers. There is a trend of

support for students and cooperation with companies. The(2) Minimizing gaps among foreign residents in their access totions partly because the number was low. The Selection Com-emphasizing the negative aspects of the issue of foreign work-

project is carefully planned to involve not only university

information

mittee members carefully selected the projects which would

ers’ human rights, including criticism of companies that doteachers, but also NGOs, businesses, government agencies(3) Examination of human and other resources in support ofbe awarded grants. The committee members asked the repre-

not protect the foreign employees’ human rights. However,and foreign embassies in Japan to support international stu-

the care and support systems for foreign residents

sentatives of projects that could possibly be selected ques-

the project plans to highlight the consistent good practices ofdents.

(4) Attracting skilled human resources from abroad

tions and took their answers into consideration.

companies and carry out awareness-raising activities, which(5) Lessons from insights and experiences gained throughJapanese companies’ overseas operations

was highly evaluated by the committee members.

D22-MG-0039 Tamotsu Nakasa, Chair, SHARE (Services
for the Health in Asian & African Regions)

A meeting of the Selection Committee was held on February
1, 2023. The committee’s discussion lasted almost three

D22-MG-0018 Hirotake Mori, Associate Professor, De-“Supporting migrant workers in accessing health informa-

Overview of the Situation and Details of Application

hours and it selected the five projects below as grantees. Let

partment of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jun-tion, developing pathways to health services, and strength-

me concisely describe the projects. The descriptions below

tendo University

ening partnership”

The proposal submission period was from September 5 toinclude comments about their selection.

“Development of a platform to support overseas doctors

The proposal is related to themes (2) and (3). The project willwith various backgrounds work in Japan”

strive to disseminate the health handbook for Vietnamese

November 19, 2022. During this period, we held two online
briefing sessions, and nearly 50 people participated in the

D22-MG-0015 Yukiko Furuya, Board Chair, CSO Network

This proposal is related to themes (3) and (4) and it plans toworkers working in Japan which is a deliverable of the project

sessions. About 20 project representatives consulted us be-Japancreate a platform that will help foreign medical doctors be-“Supporting migrant communities in accessing information

fore applying, compared with about 30 project representa-“Survey for improving labor and human rights issues ofcome qualified in Japan and overcome the difficulty of practic-

and developing pathways for testing, diagnosis and treatment

tives in the previous year.

foreign workers through dialogue and development ofing medicine over the long term. Specifically, the project plansof COVID-19,” which received a grant under this program in

guidebook for utilizing dialogue”

to (i) post information about national exams for medical prac-

2020. The handbooks will be distributed first to the Vietnam-

There were a total of 68 registrations and 44 of them applied

This proposal is related to themes (1) and (5). It pays atten-

titioners and life in Japan on its website, (ii) interview foreign

ese communities and then to people from other Asian coun-in the end. This number is six lower than the previous year,

tion to the fact that some Japanese companies that have sup-doctors, (iii) hold seminars on national exams for medical

tries, including Myanmar, Nepal and Indonesia, in Japan. The

when we received applications for 50 projects.

ply chains overseas (affiliates engaging in processes from thepractitioners and create a platform to exchange information

handbook was published during the COVID-19 pandemic.

procurement of raw materials to the sale of products) haveregularly, and (iv) do consulting related to training hospitals,

Not only the dissemination within the Vietnamese communi-

The 44 grant requests were for a median of 9.22 million yen

successfully solved labor issues and human rights issues relat-

post-training work, and careers as doctors. It is expected thatties, the project also plans to disseminate information to peo-(the minimum amount was 4.00 million yen, and the maxi-

ed to foreign workers through dialogue with local workers.

doctors from different countries working and conducting re-ple who have come to Japan from parts of Southeast Asia

mum amount was 10.00 million yen). Only ten projects re-

The project aims to contribute to solving a range of labor andsearch at Juntendo University, where the project’s representa-

other than Vietnam. This sustained effort was highly evaluat-

quested a grant of 7.00 million yen or less, and it was difficult

human rights issues impacting foreign workers by creating ative is working as an associate professor, will participate in

ed by the Selection Committee.

to increase the number of the grantees, even if we had adjust-guidebook based on interviews with people involved. The

the project. The project is expected to contribute to the cre-ed the total amount of the grants.

project will have bases in Hiroshima and Hamamatsu andation of an environment where foreign doctors can live with-plans to cooperate with private-sector companies. It plans to

out worries despite strict regulations on doctor licensing in

Looking at the attributes of the representatives, 12 university

hold workshops in Tokyo. In the workshops, a guidebook thatJapan.

researchers and 11 NPO/NGO staff members stood out. There

will be edited based on interviews in Thailand will be used.

were 26 respondents to a survey of the project representa-

The project will collaborate primarily with CSO Network Ja-

D22-MG-0032 Keiko Ikeda, Professor, Kansai University

mittee has decided to award grants to the five projects above.

tives that indicated that more than half of the respondents, 14

pan and also with lawyers and ILO in Japan. Practical activi-“Establishment of an innovative employability enhance-

This decision was based on the following reasons: 1) If grants

representatives, had applied previously. Assuming that all 18

ties are expected.

ment support scheme for science and engineering interna-

had been awarded to seven projects, the grant amount per

representatives who did not respond to the survey had not

Conclusion
The Selection Committee discussed whether it would award
grants to five projects or seven projects. In the end, the com-

tional students in post-graduate English track programs inproject would have been reduced and the initial plans would

applied for a grant, the representatives who had previously

D22-MG-0017 Hisano Hori, Representative of a board ofJapan”

have had to be changed significantly, 2) The evaluation of theapplied were 31.8% of applicants. We assume that many rep-

directors, Global Human Resources Hamamatsu

The project is related to theme (4) and focuses on science andfive projects was higher than the remaining two projects, andresentatives have repeatedly applied for grants.

“Survey and research on the audit and evaluation systemengineering students who aim to earn a degree in English af-3) It was difficult to select one of the remaining two projects

for employment of foreign workers and development ofter coming to Japan leveraging the Global 30 Project: Estab-since they were considered equally valuable. It is a pity that

Many of the 20 projects which were awarded the grants in themodel projects”

lishing University Network for Internationalization or the Su-

the total amount of the grants is lower than initially planned.

previous years are related to themes (1) and (2). Only a smallThis project is related to theme (1) and is based on an aware-

per Global University (SGU) Creation Support Project, which

number of projects were related to themes (4) and (5). The

ness of problems that are similar to those addressed in theare internationalization support projects of the Ministry ofHowever, the fact that all five themes are related to at least

applications this fiscal year showed a similar trend.

project above in that the issue of foreign workers’ human

Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

one of the five projects which received grants should be high-rights is a theme in both projects. Specifically, the projectThis project is an industry-academia collaboration to help

ly regarded. In the past, the number of applications related to

Selection process and results

aims to set up a council consisting of people from business,more students be hired by and continue to work for Japanesethemes (4) or (5) have been small, therefore, few grants wereexperts and other members, and evaluate the protection of

corporations. The number of science and engineering stu-

awarded to projects related to them. However, this time, I amFirst, program officers (POs) reviewed submitted documents

foreign workers’ human rights leveraging the audit and evalu-

dents who are hired by Japanese corporations is lower thanglad to see that grants have been awarded to projects related

and removed those that had deficiencies or were judged asation systems of employers. The project will carry out aware-

expected because of constraints on the time for earning a de-to them. There are many elements where selected projects

not meeting the application requirements. Three Selection

ness-raising activities, including the presentation of best

gree and their insufficient Japanese language proficiency. The

can learn from each other. I hope that they will collaborate

Committee members then reviewed primarily the applica-

practices at companies to the public, and it will offer to help

goal of the project is to improve the situation through online

with each other.

12

13

All of the representatives of the projects which received the

How will we change Japanese society to accept foreign na-

grant have a wealth of experience at universities, NGOs andtionals? Going forward, I hope many people will make specificNPOs. In that sense, I think that the selection results are rea-

proposals to make changes.

sonable. However, I wish I could have seen proposals not only
from people who support them, but also from foreign residents themselves. The children of the Asian immigrants whocame to Japan in the 1990s have already become old enoughto apply for this program to change Japanese society.

List of Grants*Note: The project titles among other things on this list are those at the time of grant approval.

Grant Number

Project Title

Project Leader Position, Organization

Survey for improving labor and human rights issues of foreign workers through dialogue andD22-MG-0015 development ofguidebook for utilizing dialogue

Yukiko Furuya, CSO Network Japan, Board Chair
Survey and research on the audit and evaluation system for employment of foreign workers andD22-MG-0017 developmentof model projects

Hisano Hori, Global Human Resources Hamamatsu, Representative of a board of directors

D22-MG-0018

Development of a platform to support overseas doctors with various backgrounds work in Japan
Hirotake Mori, Medical Doctor, researcher, NGO staf, Associate Professor

Establishment of an innovative employability enhancement support scheme for science andD22-MG-0032 engineeringinternational students in post-graduate English track programs in Japan
Keiko Ikeda, Kansai University, Professor

Supporting migrant workers in accessing health information, developing pathways to health

D22-MG-0039 services, andstrengthening partnership

Tamotsu Nakasa, SHARE (Services for the Health in Asian & African Regions), Chair

Grant

Amount(Yen)A photo shows the process of digitally archiving photographs in November 2022 at Bukkyo University as part of the fiscal 20198,500,000

10,000,000

10,000,000

grant-awarded project headed by the representative Mr. Tatsushi Nemoto,“Toward Heterogeneous Solidarity with Minorities:
Reevaluating the Dalit Liberation Movement in Contemporary India and Digitally Archiving Shurei Sasai’s Collection.”

The Research Grant Program
Overview

9,000,000

10,000,000

Program Title
Interlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies:
Reevaluating Social Issues and Forging New Solidarity in
the New Normal Era

terlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies,” the Research Grant Program provided two frameworks that help
nurture and support young researchers engaged in research

Call for Proposals
April 4 to June 10, 2022
Project Period
Two years beginning October 1, 2023
Total Amount of Grants
50 million yen

As in the previous fiscal year, under the overall theme of “In-for transforming social systems. The first one is intended toprovide a stable research environment enabling promising
young researchers, who are expected to become next-generation leaders, to work on their research topics for five years.
This is a collaboration in partnership with the Institute of
Future Initiatives (IFI), the University of Tokyo. The otherone is designed to support two-year joint research projects
conducted mainly by young researchers. In addition to themain theme, this second framework comes with the subtheme of “Reevaluating Social Issues and Forging New Solidarity in the New Normal Era” and is also developed to meetthe demands of the times.
[The New Partnership Program for Nurturing Professionals]
Under this new partnership program, two young researchers started their own research projects in April. It was origi-

14

15

Grant Results

nally intended to select three researchers, and thus publicly() Fiscal 2021

Number ofApplications

Number of Grants

Value of Grants(¥ Million)

Budget(¥ Million)

Acceptance Rate
(%)

82
（130）

9
（9）

50.0
（48.0）

50.0（40.0）

10.9（6.9）

called for another researcher. Just as in the previous fiscal

As in the previous fiscal year, application requirements wereyear, application requirements were as follows: (1) holding asuch that a joint research project should be conducted by adoctoral degree in a relevant field or expected to obtain suchteam of two persons or more and that a project representa-

a degree by the time of assuming the researcher post; (2)tive must be 45 years old or younger with his/her residential

having a record of achievements in science and technology;

address in Japan. Moreover, the requirements also statedtrends that suddenly came to the surface. Two years after(3) having a clear awareness of issues in transforming socialthat selected researchers would be required to disseminate

the pandemic began, COVID-19 has not abated completely,systems and having the will and ability to tackle those is-their research outcomes to society and beyond the boundar-

but I believe society has been settling down gradually. How-

D22-R-0036 Tohru Nakajima (Assistant Professor, Grad-sues; (4) being capable of doing research with a broad per-ies of academia and to take practical measures including

ever, this does not mean we are returning to the pre-pan-uate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The Univer-spective based on academic expertise and being willing tothrough drawing up policy papers.

demic world. After going through the experience ofsity of Tokyo)

COVID-19, a new normal seems to be taking hold. For ex-“The Practical Fusion of the Physical and Cyber Worlds

As for public calling for proposals, the Foundation held on-

ample, doing things online as and when necessary has be-

by Combining Field-based Measurements with a Large-

line briefing sessions to publicize the new grant programs

come a routine option, even for holding meetings. Of

Scale Computing Network in the Post-Covid Word”

Ideal candidates are expected to be Japan’s future leaders

widely, organized an online roundtable discussion withcourse, we have learned that there are limitations to online

This project will connect logging and other data from thewho have a broad perspective and backgrounds in science

three grantees and the Selection Committee Chair, and pub-communication and that direct, face-to-face conversations

shrine forest to a supercomputer at the University of Tokyoand technology and can play an active role not just in univer-lished on its website a report about the roundtable discus-

have a value that cannot be replaced. Nevertheless, the fact

via a communications network and manage forest condi-

sity and research institutions but also in other sectors rang-

sion as a reference material. There was a total of 82 applica-that online communication, which was previously unthink-tions in the cloud to continuously improve the efficiency of

ing from business and industry to central and municipal gov-

tions, and nine proposals were selected. Although the total

able, has become a routine option is perhaps the most strik-

timber production for Ise Jingu shrine, which has beenernments to international organizations. This time, the job

number of applications declined slightly from that in theing example of the new connections.

maintained through the shikinen sengu every 20 years. This

title of Project Lecturer was also included as part of the ap-

previous year, these selected projects were proposed by re-plication requirements, along with Project Researcher andsearchers from various organizations including research in-This year, nine projects were adopted from among the 82

science, combining the maintenance of traditional culture

Project Assistant Professor. This was intended to invite ap-

stitutions, companies, and non-profit and non-governmen-

applications. The number of applications was down fromwith forest management and digital technology.

plications from people with professional working experienc-

tal organizations.

130 last year, but we felt that the quality of the applications

disseminate research outcomes widely to society and to
make social and political proposals, among other things.

of criticism through the media.

is an innovative study, which is a fusion of humanities andwas comparable to the previous year, and there was a great-

D22-R-0046 Haruka Ono (Associate Professor/Advisor to

In August, a mid-term report-back meeting for fiscal 2021

er variety in the fields of study. This can be understood as

the President, Department of Architecture and Civil Engi-

grantees was also held to check on the progress of the se-reflecting a growing awareness about seeking new “connec-

neering, Toyohashi University of Technology)[ Joint Research Program]lected projects, and there was an active exchange of opin-

tions” compared with the previous year when our attention“Designing Community Self-governance in the New Nor-For the joint research program, the Foundation called forions with input from the Selection Committee members.

was focused on responding to the situation under COVID-19.

mal Era: Conducting a DX Social Experiment for Neigh-research projects addressing issues highlighted by the

The Foundation held “café meetings” online since 2020, but

We believe another positive change is the fact that the ratio

borhood Associations”

Covid-19 pandemic from a wide range of fields and without

it was the first time to hold café meetings in person. Theseof male and female project representatives is now almost

The dysfunction of neighborhood associations, which had

limiting the scope of research area or domain, under the“café meetings” served to facilitate interaction among grant

fifty-fifty. We hope these trends will continue in the future,

been progressing in tandem with changes in social structure,

theme, continued from the previous year, of “Interlinkages

recipients across different grant programs.

and, at the same time, we would also like to see proposals

was exacerbated by the cancellation of events due to theand Innovation for Future Societies” with the sub-theme

that lead to solutions not only for issues that are closely re-

COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating the decline in local auton-“Reevaluating Social Issues and Forging New Solidarity inlated to our immediate society but also for global-scaleomy. This study seeks to address this by exploring the po-

the New Normal Era.”

problems. Below we introduce several of the selected re-tential for new neighborhood associations and community

search projects.

self-governance activities using ICT tools. Researchers, pub-es. Of 17 applicants, one additional candidate was selected.

lic-private partnership organizations and companies will

The following is an outline of the candidate projects.

Comments

Comments by Selection Committee Chair

Hiroshi Nakanishi

Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University)“Constructing a Social System to Undertake the Logistical Support of Child Guidance Centers”

ibly shutdown by COVID-19, which swept across the world

Criticism of child guidance centers (CGCs) is not uncom-

the Research Grant Program based on the theme of “Inter-at the beginning of the year before last. As a result, people

mon whenever child abuse is widely reported in the media.

linkages and Innovation for Future Societies: Reevaluating

could no longer engage in interactions and activities like

However, as CGCs themselves face the problems of staffing

Social Issues and Forging New Solidarity in the New Normal

they did in their daily lives before, creating problems of divi-

and budget shortages, child protection requires cooperationEra.”sion and isolation right across society. However, it seems

between CGCs and the public. This research will explorethat in many cases these were not new problems broughtways to gain trust in CGCs through a study of appropriate

about by the COVID-19 pandemic but preexisting social

methods of communication and mechanisms for diffusion

16

region in what is expected to be a thought-provoking study.

D22-R-0005 Eiichiro Watamura (Associate Professor,

This year, we selected the applications for the second year of

The networks underpinning society were suddenly and forc-

work together on a social experiment in the Higashi-Mikawa

17

List of Grants*Note: The project titles among other things on this list are those at the time of grant approval.

Partnership Program
Grant Number

D22-RC-0001

Project Title

Grant
Amount(Yen)

Project Leader Position, Organization“Interlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies” Research ProjectKensuke Fukushi, Director, Institute for Future Initiatives, the University of Tokyo

20,000,000

Joint Research Program
Grant Number

D22-R-0005

Project Title

Grant
Amount(Yen)

Project Leader Position, Organization

Constructing a Social System to Undertake the Logistical Support of Child Guidance Centers

Eiichiro Watamura, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

6,500,000

The Possibilities of Consumption Spaces and the Relationship with Leisure Activities: A MultiD22-R-0022

Perspective Approach to the Media Environment and Urban Industrial Organization of the Anime
Fan Experience

5,800,000

Shintaro Matsunaga, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Informatics, Nagano University
D22-R-0031

Constructing an Urban Community Utilizing Vacant Houses and Shops: A Place for Creative Laborand Cooperation among Young Self-Employed People

Kyoko Tominaga, Associate Professor, College of Social Science, Ritsumeikan University

An aerial view of the city of Phnom Penh

1,600,000

The Practical Fusion of the Physical and Cyber Worlds by Combining Field-Based Measurements
D22-R-0036

with a Large-Scale Computing Network in the Post-Covid World

Tohru Nakajima, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The

7,200,000

University of Tokyo

From Maldistribution to Ubiquity: Development of a Training Platform for Sharing Medical Procedures
D22-R-0038

Across Hospitals Using AR and ICT

Yuri Nagayo, Graduate Student, Doctoral Course, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of

5,200,000

Tokyo

The International
Grant Program

Designing Community Self-governance in the New Normal Era: Conducting a DX Social Experiment
D22-R-0046

for Neighborhood Associations

Haruka Ono, Associate Professor/Advisor to the President, Department of Architecture and Civil

Overview

7,000,000

Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology

Program Title

Support for Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities: Development, Social
D22-R-0063

Implementation, and Effectiveness Testing of Self-Help

Eri Ishikawa, Project Lecturer, Comprehensive Research Organization, Institute for Global Health,

6,200,000

Waseda University
D22-R-0079

Research on the Causes and Amount of Food Loss in Major Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable
Markets in Tokyo, and Research on How to Effectively Utilize These Losses
Koji Shimoya, Representative, Food Loss 0 Project

3,500,000

Sequestration：Verification in Aso, the Largest Burning Grassland in a Temperate Zone
Reiko Machida, Professor, Department of Regional Regeneration Science,
Agriculture

70 million yen in total

Neighbors:Practitioners' Exchange on Common Issues in

One-year project: JPY 5,000,000

Asia

Two-year project: JPY 10,000,000
Required elements for ProjectTransnational, Cross Sector, Mutual Learning, Foresight＊1 ・East Asia: Japan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea,
Mongolia
・Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,

Carbon Offsets for Conservation of Semi-natural Grasslands through Mainstreaming Carbon
D22-R-0083

Total Amount of Grants

Cultivating Empathy Through Learning from Our

Tokyo University of

Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste,

Target Countries
4,000,000*1

East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia

Vietnam・South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka

Call for Proposals
April 1 to June 4, 2022
Project Period
One-Year Grant (Nov 2022 – Oct 2023)
Two-Year Grant (Nov 2022 – Oct 2024)

18

19

Grant Results
Number ofApplications

Number of Grants

One-Year Grant

17（23）

0（3）Two-Year Grant

81（93）

9（7）

Total

98（116）9（10）Value of Grants(¥ Million)

Budget(¥ Million)

70.0

70.0

70.0

70.0

(

) Fiscal 2021

Acceptance Rate(%)

Comments0（13）Comments by Selection Committee Chair

11.1（7.5）

Shigeto Sonoda

9.2（8.6）

This is the fourth time for me to provide commentary on theselection results, which I started to do in fiscal 2019. Each

Overview of the Situation and Details of Application

In fiscal 2022, the International Grant Program continued

discussions was compiled in Japanese and in English and isyear, we made minor changes in calling for applications for

The open call for proposals started on April 1, 2022, and ap-

with its basic theme from the previous year, “Cultivating Em-

available on the Foundation’s website.

the International Grant Program.

plications were accepted until June 4. Forty-five applicants,

Exchange on Common Issues in Asia,” and made grants to

Although the pandemic significantly affected many of the

The category of prioritized area, which was introduced in fis-(POs) online before submission. Of the 242 projects that reg-

projects aimed at “cross-border exchanges among on-the-grant-awarded projects, people werebeginning to movecal 2019, was abolished in fiscal 2020, making the program

istered in advance, 98 (40.5%) of them applied for a grant.

ground practitioners from more than two countries and find-around domestically and internationally in the second half ofcompletely open to applications on various issues. In fiscal

ing solutions to common challenges facing East Asia.” As in

fiscal 2022 and grantees have since resumed mutual on-site

2021, we introduced the One-Year Grant to call for innovative

Seventeen of the 98 applications (17.3%) were for the One-the previous fiscal year, the program’s grant amount totaled

visits to each other’s country. While higher fuel prices andproposals focusing on online activities, which can be carriedYear Grant. In fiscal 2021, there were 23 applications for the

70 million yen.

other factors continue to have an impact, the Foundation will

out without cross-border movement of people. In fiscal 2022,

One-Year Grant, accounting for 19.8% of the total number of

25 of whom used Zoom, consulted with program officers

pathy Through Learning from Our Neighbors: Practitioners’

continue to use online tools for exchanges among grantees

we called for applications for the One-Year Grant in the con-applications, so applications decreased slightly both in abso-

There were two changes made to this grant program: Southand support mutual learning through mutual visits and ex-

ventional way, without treating it as a separate category, andlute number and percentage of the total.

Asia was added to the program’s target area regions, alongchanges about common issues facing Asia in this dynamical-

newly added South Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, In-with East Asia and Southeast Asia . Meanwhile, the Founda-

ly-changing world.

dia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) to the targeted

The distribution of nationalities of applicants is shown in Ta-

countries.

ble 1. The number of Japanese applicants drastically increasedtion did not conduct grant-making for a new “online ex-in 2019 when we added the condition that the representativechange” category (one-year grant period with a grant amountof up to three million yen per project) for projects focused on

However, the key points of the International Grant Program

must be a resident of Japan. In fiscal 2022, however, slightly

online mutual learning, which was introduced in fiscal 2021

remain unchanged. Its purpose is to support proposed proj-

above 62% of applicants were Japanese, having declined fromdue to the pandemic’s travel restrictions.

ects that are aimed at solving common issues in Asia throughthe previous ratios of around 70%. This time, the number oflearning from each other and which include the following

applicants of US nationality increased, and so did the number

Four Elements.

of applicants from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal because theIn fiscal 2022, mutual learning through actual site visits wereSouth Asian countries were added to the targeted countries.

made as mandatory requirement, as before, and the grantamount per project was capped at five million yen for that of(1) Transnationality: The project must cover at least two

On the other hand, there was a decline in the overall number

a one-year period and 10 million yen for a two-year period.

countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, andof applicants of East Asian nationalities.

The Foundation accepted applications for two months fromthe project members must also be from at least two coun-

April to June, and received a total of 98 applications and se-tries. In addition, any achievement made through the project

Fig. 1 shows the distribution of countries/regions stated in

lected nine proposals in the end.

or an effect produced by it must cover multiple countries.

the proposed projects and Fig. 2 shows the number of the

As in the previous fiscal year, the Foundation held a series of(2) Cross Sectoral Approach: A sufficient number of experts

number of applications decreased, the numbers declined indialogue sessions between grantees for mutual learning andfrom multiple sectors (such as researchers, NPO staff, busi-

almost all the categories. It is good news, however, that 15,

sharing insights from grant-awarded projects, and released

nesspersons, and government officials), who are to solve the13, and 11 applications were from India, Bangladesh, and Ne-

those videos for the public. Under the title “Let’s Talk aboutproblem, must be participating in the project under an organ-pal, respectively, as these numbers are comparable to those

Empathy -- Conversations Between the Grantees,” the grant-

ic relationship.

for the East Asian and Southeast Asian countries/regions.

countries/regions covered by the project. Because the total

ees from two grant-awarded projects talked about the outlineof their projects in each of this three-part series: Session 1 on

(3) Mutual Learning: Project participants must have built a

Education, Session 2 on the Power of Design, and Session 3

relationship of mutual learning to carry out the project.

Selection process and results
The selection committee was made up of four members in-

on Health and Care. These grantees discussed their views on
empathy through their projects and how to use it to solve(4) Foresight: The project must have a clear vision of its out-cluding the committee chair, half of whom are new memberssocial issues and improve the situation, among other topics.

comes and must consider the impact it will have after the end

who joined the committee this fiscal year.

Some 15-minute digest versions of these 90-minute discus-of the grant and the possibility of its future development. It

sion sessions each were created and their English-dubbed

must also cover problems that could occur in the future andFirst, three POs closely reviewed the 98 applications. They

versions were also available for viewing on the Toyota Foun-reflect a new perspective beyond conventional frameworks.

eliminated incomplete application forms and applications

dation’s YouTube channel. In addition, a report about these

20

that were judged not to include the Four Elements described21

Table 1: Distribution of the nationalities of project
representatives for fiscal 2019-2022
Nationality

2019

2020

2021

2022

above, before they asked each committee member to evaluate

Third, many successful applicants had received grants fromthe remaining applications. (For example, as Fig. 2 shows,

the Toyota Foundation before, which was also pointed out inone application in fiscal 2022 covered only one country,

preceding years. Specifically, 19.4% of all applications submit-

which was eliminated from subjects of the evaluation.)ted this year were from applicants who had received grants

Japan

105

103

70

61

United States

1

1

3

6

The four committee members read the applications carefully,

up to 33.3% when confined to the successful applications.

Indonesia

8

6

5

5

selected the applications that they could recommend, weigh-Furthermore, many successful applicants received sugges-

Malaysia

9

4

12

4

ing the evaluations of some of the projects. If a member of thetions and advice from POs in their prior consultation. We may

selection committee had any question about the content,safely say that projects planned meticulously by those appli-

Vietnam

0

0

3

4

schedule, budget plan, or other matters, or found room forcants who can write applications skillfully were more likely to

India

0

2

0

3

improvement in the dissemination of the achievements andbe selected.

United Kingdom

2

1

2

2

POs communicated the questions/concerns to the applicants,

The common issues in Asia to be addressed by the selected

Bangladesh

1

1

1

2

received their replies and communicated the replies to theprojects include issues in the same areas as the projects se-

Nepal

0

1

0

2

committee members. Then, the results of the reviews by thelected last fiscal year, such as climate change, cancer protec-

four committee members were merged before a selectiontion, and international migration. They also include issues in

Singapore

1

0

0

2

committee meeting was held.

areas where proposals have rarely gone, such as the promo-

Thailand

1

2

5

1

Taiwan4

32

their outcomes, he or she informed the POs to that effect. Thetion of the integrity of research and the development of reAt the beginning of the meeting, the committee eliminatedmote education programs online. Such new proposals are1

applications that had not been recommended by anyone. All

enormously welcome.

members commented on applications that at least one of the

Chaina0511South Korea

6

4

1

1

Czech Republic

0

1

1

1

Italy

0

0

0

1

Iran

0

0

0

1

The Philippines

2

1

2

0

Canada10

20

Tajikistan

0

0

1

0

members had recommended, and examined the replies from

Funds granted per project is smaller than in previous years

the applicants before deciding whether to accept each appli-

because of the large number of winners receiving a Two-Yearcation or not. They made the final decision on the winning

Grant. I hope that successful applicants will effectively use

projects by checking for overlap in the countries/regions cov-

their grant.

that the total amount would not exceed 70,000,000 yen.

Introducing Adopted Projects

The nine projects selected for this fiscal year have the follow-

The following introduces one of this fiscal year’s winning proj-

ing characteristics.

ects, which was highly evaluated by the selection committee

74

Indonesia

29

Thailand26

Malaysia

22

South Korea

15

Taiwan

15

India

15

Cambodia

13

Bangladesh

13

Philippines

11

Vietnam

11

Nepal

11

members.

10

Laos

9

Singapore

8

Myanmar

8

First, all nine of the winning projects are for Two-Year Grant,

0

0

1

0

and none were selected from applications for One-Year Grant.

Masako Tanaka,” Mother tongue and national language edu-

Egypt

0

0

1

0

In my commentary on the selection results for fiscal 2021, I

cation for transnational migrant children: Roles of the hostAustralia

0

0

1

0

pointed out that “There were many applications filled withcountry for Non-Formal Education Classes run by migrantGermany

0

0

1

0

enthusiasm among those for the Two-Year Grant. Many con-communities in Japan”

veyed a strong message, such as ‘A project like this is all theCountries: Japan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the Unit-

Bolivia

0

0

1

0

more necessary for the COVID-19 pandemic.’” A similar trend

ed States

Unknown

0

2

0

0

was seen again this fiscal year.

This project helps Nepalis, Bangladeshis, and Burmese living

Sudan

0

1

0

0

Second, the number of countries/regions covered by the win-where their children learn their first languages, and increases

Myanmar

2

1

0

0

ning projects increased. As Fig. 3 shows, 44.9% of all pro-the visibility of the classrooms in local communities. Specifi-

Mongolia

1

1

0

0

posed projects covered two countries, while only 22.2% of

cally, the goal of the project is to create an environment thatthe selected winning projects covered two countries. Among

facilitates the involvement of local governments, NPOs and

Sri Lanka

2

0

0

0

successful applications, those covering many countries were

volunteers through interactions with teachers from the class-

Chile

1

0

0

0

the majority. We can tell by information given in the applica-

rooms and local children and through the provision of open

tion forms that many of the applicants already have good re-classes. The project also includes research exclusively for Ne-

Total

147

140

116

98

lationships for specific collaborations in those regions andpalis, as there are many Nepali children residing in Japan. In

have maintained these relationships through online commu-

this research, these children’s reintegration into Nepali soci-nication even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ety will be investigated and some policy recommendations for

project representatives by nationality for fiscal 2022.

Japan

Chainaered and project themes, adjusting the amounts of grants so

Belgium

Note: Countries/regions are listed in descending order of number of

22from the Toyota Foundation before, and this number will go

Fig. 1: Targeted countries/regions that were stated inapplication forms for fiscal 2019- 2022

in Japan. It focuses on classrooms teaching remedial classes

Mongolia

3

Bhutan3

Hong Kong

2

Sri Lanka

2

Maldives2■ 2019 ■ 2020
■ 2021 ■ 2022

Brunei1

East Timor

Note: Targeted countries/
regions are listed indescending order of number
of applied projects covering
them for fiscal 2022. This
figure does not include data
for South Asian countries
in fiscal 2021 and before
because they were notincluded in the targetedcountries previously.

1

Pakistan

1

Macau

0

0
0

20

20

40
40

60

60

80
80

100
100

120
120

23

the Nepalese government will be explored. The project also

Fig. 2: Number of targeted countries/regions that were stated in application forms in 2019-2022

intends to summarize the achievements of the activities in
the form of a documentary video and release it on YouTube
with Japanese and English subtitles to attract a broader audi-

2countries

ence.

44
3countries

This project was highly evaluated for its novel idea of viewing

28

immigration not as a one-way flow of people but as a two-

4countries

way flow of people who come and go between two countries,

11

and for its targeting both the sending countries and the recipient country. This proposal could also be a good candidate

5countries
7

project for the Migrants and Japanese Society Special Subject
program. We look forward to the future development of this

6countries
3

9countries
and more

project.

Conclusion

2

7countries1■ 2019 ■ 2020 ■ 2021 ■ 2022
Note: Numbers of targeted countries/
regions are listed in descending order of
number of applied projects for fiscal 2022.
This figure does not include data for South
Asian countries in fiscal 2021 and before
because they were not included in thetargeted countries previously.

1country1

8countries
10

Since 2019, when I became the selection committee chair, thetotal number of applications has been gradually decreasing.
Applications targeting South Asia began to be accepted thisfiscal year, but this change has yet to stop the gradual decline
in the total number of applications. To increase the number ofapplications, we need to take some measures to encourage

10

20

30

40

those who pre-registered to submit their applications as well50

as our ongoing efforts to advertise our program. In fact, thenumber of those who pre-registered is slightly more than 2.4
times the number of applicants.
Fig. 3: Numbers of targeted countries/regions that were stated in the applications: Ratios to the number of
selected projects and the total number of applications (%)

11.1

3countries
4countries

11.2

5countries
11countries
others0start a new project when we are recovering from thetions written by applicants who have been able to receive suggestions and advice from the POs are more likely to be accepted.

22.2
33.3

You can also get some suggestions and inspiration throughthe reading of published reports by the Toyota Foundation.

11.1

1

44.9
28.6

7.1

the POs of Toyota Foundation, because it is a good time to
COVID-19 pandemic. As I have already pointed out, applica-

22.2

2countries

I strongly encourage those who have some ideas to contact

For example, you can obtain some concrete advice for the
preparation of the application from the report “Ethics and

7.1

Logics of International Collaborative Projects” (June 2022),■ Accepted ■ Total

pp. 21-25. I strongly recommend that those who are seriously
considering lodging an application for the grant read it.
(https://www.toyotafound.or.jp/english/international/2022/
toyotafound/data/ihs_report_en.pdf ).

24

25

List of Grants*Note: The project titles among other things on this list are those at the time of grant approval.

Grant Number

Project Title

Project Leader Position, Organization

Grant

Amount(Yen)

Project for Developing Human Resource Capacity in Pathology for Breast Cancer Diagnosis in
D22-N-0008

Cambodia and Laos

Yurie Soejima, Junior Associate Professor, GraduateSchool of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo

7,000,000

Medical and Dental University

Development of Joint Distance Education Program to Prepare for International Cross-border
D22-N-0010

Telework Dissemination Through Mutual Learning among Japan and Asian Countries

Takashi Sekiyama, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in

7,000,000

Human Survivability, Kyoto University
D22-N-0011

Mother tongue and national language education for transnational migrant children: Roles of thehost country for Non-Formal Education Classes run by migrant communities in Japan
Masako Tanaka, Professor, Faculty of Global Studies, Sophia University

10,000,000

Construction of an International Framework for Promoting Research Integrity in Asia andD22-N-0021

Development of Expert Human Resources

Jun Fudano, Member, Board of Directors, Association for the Promotion of Research Integrity

7,000,000(APRIN)

Participants were seen attending the second social gathering on March 18, 2023, organized by the alumni of the Grant Program forCommunity Activities in Japan.

Promoting International Exchange and Building Education Platforms to Train Asian University
D22-N-0034

Students to become Changemakers

Miki Inui, Professor/Assitant to the President, School of Human Science and Environment,

7,000,000

University of Hyogo
D22-N-0038

D22-N-0042

D22-N-0047

D22-N-0087

Establishing countermeasures for climate change adaptive agriculture in the Bengal region
Tetsuo Tsutsui, Chairperson, Share the Planet Association

Rediscovery and Effective Reuse of Hidden Regional Assets by Holding Citizens’ Workshops in
Asian Historical Cities － For Restoration and Strengthening of Social Ties

Masafumi Fujino, Chairperson, Public Interest Incorporated Association Nara Machizukuri Center
Survey on the psychological burden of children with difficulties in accessing social protection and an
empirical study of cross-border care methods in Bangladesh and Japan

Ryosuke Sugaya, CEO and Founder, Certified Non Profit Organization very50
Advancing indigenous wild gardens for healthy and biodiverse food systems in Asia: A
transboundary and transdisciplinary platform for science and ethnic minority collaboration

Hart N., FEUER, Associate Professor, Faculty/Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University

8,000,000

8,000,000

The Grant Program for Community
Activities in Japan

8,000,000

Overview

8,000,000

Program Title

In fiscal 2022, the Foundation made grants in the frame-

Fostering the Autonomous Society under “New Normal”

work consisting of “(1) Creating a System that Can Contrib-

Based upon the Inventive Ideas*This program is limited to activities in Japan.

Grant Category

ute to Greater Promotion of Autonomous Society in Japanand Developing Human Resources” (hereinafter (1) Japan)and “(2) Building a Capacity for Promoting Autonomy in Lo-

1)Inventing Systems and Development of Human

cal Neighborhoods” (hereinafter (2) Local Neighborhoods)

Resources Conducive to Foster Autonomous Society inunder the theme of “Fostering the Autonomous Society un-Japander ‘New Normal’ Based upon the Inventive Idea,” a new2)Building the Base to Foster Autonomy in Local
Neighborhoods

theme introduced in fiscal 2021.
To invite more applications of project proposals directly re-Call for Proposals
April 4 to June 6, 2022
Project Period
1)Three years, beginning November 1, 2022
2)Two years, beginning November 1,2022
Total Amount of Grants

lated to the theme of “Fostering the Autonomous Society
Based upon the Inventive Idea,” the Foundation further clarified what were considered as important points and what
were expected outcomes concerning “autonomy” building
initiatives. At the same time, the TF kept emphasis on practices in various places facing the need to shift from conven-1)Up to 10 to 20 million yen per project2)Up to around six million yen

2627

Grant Results
Number ofApplications

Number of Grants

Value of Grants(¥ Million)

Budget(¥ Million)

Acceptance Rate
(%)

1）

30

3

57.27

70.0

10.0

2）

107

8

39.49

40.0

7.5

Total

137

11

96.76

110.0

8.0

The Initiative Program
Overview
概 要

tional methods and values as well as on an approach to an

logue between the participants and to prompt exchanges

As a private grant-making organization, the Toyota Founda-

effective use of digital technology and information commu-

and networking among them, which in turn served as yettion makes grants to projects deemed worthy of support

nication technologies (ICT).

another reminder of how positive such face-to-face meet-

and/or to projects aimed at disseminating and spreading theings were. On top of that, alumni-related meetings wereoutcomes of the past grant-awarded projects to society.

Moreover, in the category of (1) Japan, the Foundation con-held twice in person for launching a Toyota Foundation

tinued its identify-potential-project approach, made prior

grantee alumni network (which aims at sharing the out-

With this in mind, the Foundation decided to host in thisconsultation a mandatory requirement, and introduced

comes and insights of the projects among the past grantees

fiscal year a joint symposium by Dr. Yasutaka Ojio (grantee

making a presentation at the Selection Committee as part ofand facilitating exchanges and collaboration among them), a

in fiscal 2022) and Dr. Shinichi Yamashita (grantee in fiscal

the final selection process. Through these initiatives, the TF

new initiative starting this fiscal year, adding to enthusiasm2019), titled “Let’s Discuss Our Mental Health – A Case ofsought to enhance the quality of proposed projects and se-

among all stakeholders of this grant program.

Athletes and Their Lives,” at Tokyo International Forum on

lection process itself.

February 22, 2023. There were about 130 people in attenFollow-up operations for grantees were conducted with thedance at the venue, including current athletes, former pro-

As for a public call for proposals, online briefing sessions

support of outside lecturers and/or advisors in this fiscal

fessional athletes, people engaged in sports-related work,

were held three to four times for each of (1) Japan and (2)year, too. At the same time, the Foundation started to assess

students, researchers, and medical experts. Moreover, ap-

Local Neighborhoods categories. Information sessions for

grant programs conducted between fiscal 2014 and fiscal

proximately 150 people watched this webinar event from at(2) Local Neighborhoods were held in collaboration with

2020, and designed a questionnaire in collaboration withhome and abroad.

NPO support intermediary organizations in Tokyo, Osaka,outside experts and conducted a survey of target grantees

and five prefectures of the Chugoku region, with two target

from the first year of that period. By employing effective

groups: (1) applicants and (2) intermediary organizations

methods and tools for a given occasion, the TF would like tooffering support and follow-ups to on-site groups.

continue with various initiatives in in-person and/or online
settings as well as either on the Foundation secretariat’s

Upon closing the application, a total of 137 proposals was

own initiative or through collaboration and cooperation

received: 30 proposals for (1) Japan and 107 proposals forwith outside experts.

List of Grants*Note: The project titles among other things on this list are those at the time of grant approval.

(2) Local Neighborhoods. Although the total number decreased by 65 from that in fiscal 2021, the quality of proposals improved overall because of a considerable decline in thenumber of applications deemed unqualified or irrelevant
particularly in the (1) Japan category.

Grant Number

D22-PI-0001

After deliberations by the Selection Committee, the Foundation decided to make grants worth a total of 96.76 million

emony and Kick-Off training sessions for grantees, and mid-

The Project to Develop and Disseminate the “Technology of Cooperation” (the second phase)

Akira Matsubara, Kyoryoku Sekai（Cooperation World）

Grant

Amount(Yen)

13,340,000

9,000,000

D22-PI-0003

Mutual Learning of Science Technology Innovation Coordination to Bridge Different Countries
and Sectors in Cambodia, Thailand, and Japan towards Capacity Development Program andPolicy Recommendations
Hideaki Ohgaki, Institute of Advanced Energy (Graduate School of Energy Science), Kyoto
University

9,000,000

D22-PI-0004

Examination and Application of Intermediary Support Organization Functions to Build
Sustainable Local Communities
Tsuneya Sakurai, TCUE Faculty of Regional Policy Professor

9,800,000

Fortunately, the Foundation was able to hold various gatherings -- Selection Committee meetings, grant-awarding cer-

Organization

Project on Mental Health Awareness of the Athletes by the Athletes for All of the People
Yasutaka Ojio, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental
Health , Department of Community Mental Health & Law

three projects for (1) Japan (including a grant provided toand eight projects for (2) Local Neighborhoods.

Representative

D22-PI-0002

yen (or about 639,366 dollars) to a total of 11 projects –one project through the identify-potential-project category)

Project Title

term training and report-back meetings -- face-to-face forthe first time in three years. With everyone present in person, these meetings helped to deepen discussions and dia-28

29

Accounting Report

Accounting Report

Balance Sheet

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

As of March 31, 2023

Account(Unit: Thousand Yen)

Fiscal 2022

Fiscal 2021

Fiscal 2020

Ⅰ Assets

Account(Unit: Thousand Yen)

Fiscal 2022

Fiscal 2021

Fiscal 2020

Ⅰ Changes in general net assets

1. Current assets

1. Changes in ordinary profit

Cash and deposits

470,822446,736

489,417(1) Ordinary profit

693,080

688,769

643,379

Accounts receivable

63,24868,18367,629(2) Ordinary expenses

719,182

695,870

609,253

Other

4,754

5,726

4,754

▲26,102▲7,101

34,126

538,824520,645

561,800

Profit and loss appraisal▲1,045,083

24,334392,907

Current changes in ordinary profit▲1,071,186

17,233427,033(1) Extraordinary profit

0

0

0

(2) Extraordinary expenses

0

0

0

Current changes in extraordinary profit

0

0

0

Current changes in general net assets▲1,071,186

17,233427,033

Balance at beginning of the fiscal year
in general net assets

22,432,150

22,414,917

21,987,884

Balance at end of the fiscal year in general net assets

21,360,964

22,432,150

22,414,917

Current changes in designated net assets▲2,513,635

2,985,515

2,794,773

Balance at beginning of the fiscal year
in designated net assets

23,715,084

20,729,569

17,934,796

Balance at end of the fiscal year in designated net assets

21,201,448

23,715,084

20,729,569

Ⅲ Balance at end of the fiscal year in net assets

42,562,412

46,147,234

43,144,486

Total current assets
2. Fixed assets
Basic funds

24,122,031

25,167,457

25,143,378

Specified assets

18,354,569

20,859,206

17,865,256

51,98453,02749,860Total fixed assets

42,528,584

46,079,690

43,058,494

Total assets

43,067,408

46,600,335

43,620,294

Other fixed assets

Ⅱ Liabilities
1. Total current liabilities

430,170

386,232

400,121

2. Total fixed liabilities

74,826

66,86975,687504,996

453,101

475,808

Total liabilities
Ⅲ Net assets

21,201,448

23,715,084

20,729,569（3,000,000）（3,000,000）（3,000,000）（18,201,448）（20,715,084）（17,729,569）

21,360,964

22,432,150

22,414,917（21,360,964）（22,167,457）（22,143,378）（80,000）（80,000）（60,000）

Total net assets

42,562,412

46,147,234

43,144,486

Total liabilities and net assets

43,067,408

46,600,335

43,620,294

1. Designated net assets(Amount from above allocatedto basic funds)(Amount from above allocatedto specified assets)
2. General net assets(Amount from above allocatedto basic funds)(Amount from above allocatedto specified assets)

30

April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023

Current changes in ordinary profit prior to profit/loss appraisal

2. Changes in extraordinary profit

Ⅱ Changes in designated net assets

31Officers and Trustees
Directors and Auditors

Trustees

As of March 31, 2023

As of March 31, 2023

Name

Occupation

Name

Occupation

Chairman

Former Executive Vice President,
Toyota Motor Corp.

Yuko Arimori

Chairman, Special Olympics
NipponPresident

Director, Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo

Kyota Omori

Special Advisor, Mitsubishi ResearchInstitute,Inc.

Shinichi Kitaoka

Special Advisor, Japan International
Cooperation Agency(JICA)

Nobuyuki Koga

Chairman, Nomura Holdings, Inc.

Hiroyuki Sakaki

M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r , To y o t aTechnological InstituteKenichiro Sasae

President, The Japan Institute ofInternational Affairs

Nobuyori Kodaira

Masashi Haneda
Managing Director(full-time)

AkihiroYamamoto
Director

Jyunichi Sato

Director

Atsushi Seike

Director

Kumiko Bando
Director

Kanetaka
Hisatsune
Director

Hiroshi Yoshikawa

AuditorMasahide Yasuda
AuditorFusahiro
Yamamoto

Adviser, The Japan Federation ofEngineering Societies
President, Japanese Red Cross Society
Adviser for Educational Affairs,
Keio University
Former Commissioner, Consumer
Affairs Agency
Former Chairman, Toyota Dealers
Association
Honorary President, Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Finance, Japan
Audit and Supervisory Board
Members, Toyota Motor Corp.

Certified Public Accountant

Michinari
Hamaguchi

Director General, Strategic
Center of Biomedical Advanced
Vaccine Research andDevelopment for Preparedness
and Response(SCARDA), Japan
Agency for Medical Research andDevelopment

Shigeru Hayakawa

Vice Chairman, Toyota Motor
Corp.

Kayoko Hayashi

President, Tokyo University ofForeign Studies

Naoko Munakata

Professor, Graduate School of
Public Policy, The University of
Tokyo

Chairman: Nobuyori Kodaira
President: Haneda Masashi

Founded: October 15, 1974
Shinjuku Mitsui Building 37F, 2-1-1 Nishi-Shinjuku,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0437, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3344-1701 Fax: +81-3-3342-6911
https://www.toyotafound.or.jp/english/
Copyright © The Toyota Foundation All Rights Reserved.
Translated by Naoto Okamura

32

The Toyota Foundation Shinjuku Mitsui Building 37F, 2-1-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0437, Japan

https://www.toyotafound.or.jp/english/

THE TOYOTA FOUNDATION