Aboutthe AsahiGlassFoundationProfileThe Asahi Glass Foundation was established in 1933 to commemorate the 25th anniversary ofthe Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., which was celebrated in 1932. For more than half a century, theFoundation's research assistance program focused on providing financial assistance solely inthe field of applied chemistry.
In response to major industrial, economic, and social changes in recent years, and recognizing that new research is becoming increasingly advanced , globally oriented, and interdisciplinary, the Foundation in 1990 restructured its activities by expanding its research assistance program and introducing a commendation program . These activities are designed not
only to further the study of the applied sciences but also to promote advanced research that willserve the world community into the future.
Research assistance is no longer limited to applied chemistry but now encompasses all
natural sciences, in addition to supporting research in the human and social sciences fields . In
all areas, assistance is given for advanced research with the potential to benefit the future ofhumankind.
The Foundation's commendation program, which focuses on the increasingly relevant
issue of the global environment, sponsors the annual Blue Planet Prize , an international award
inaugurated in 1992 to commend individuals and organizations working toward the solutionof environmental problems.
The Foundation strives to contribute to the creation of a richer, more vibrant society. To
this end, it supports research in leading-edge scientific and technological fields and recognizes
individual and organizational efforts to solve issues of concern to people around the world .
Program

Overview

The Foundation's
sciences

supportprograms

in the field of science,technology, and humanand social

include:The Asahi Glass Foundation's
homeis in Tokyo'sScienceBuilding.

newPlaza•••assistance for research projects conducted at universities and research institutes;
assistance for international conferences held in Japan;
collection and publication of related data.

•Programs encouraging efforts to solve key global issues encompass
the Blue Planet Prize , an international award commending contributions to the solution of••

global environmental problems;
an annual opinion survey on global environmental awareness and activism;
dissemination of related data.

The Foundation als'oengages in a variety of other activities aimed at achieving its statedobjective, such as production of publicationsto make information about its activities available
to people around the world. In 1996, the Foundation opened a home page on the World Wide
Web of the Internet.Through this Web site, the Foundation hopes to promote dialogue and gain
feedback on its activities, as well as make the results of its activities available to a wider audience. Also in 1996, the Foundation moved its offices to a new location.

What'sAbout therouildation

Grant
ProgramFinancial

Nem,

Commendation
ProgramBlue 1"Itinet Prize

http://www.af-info.orjp

Information

Total assets of the Foundationat the end of fiscal 1996 amounted

to more than V11.5 billion,

and the budget for activities in fiscal 1997 is V620 million.
History
1933

1934

1961

1982

1988

11To commemorate its 25th anniversary (1932), the Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., establishes
the Asahi Foundation for Chemical Industry Promotion.
The Asahi Foundation for Chemical Industry Promotion gains recognition as a nonprofit organization. The Foundation begins providing research assistance to university researchers in the field of applied chemistry.
The Foundation changes its name to the Asahi Glass Foundation for IndustrialTechnology.
The Foundation begins providing overseas research assistance to Chulalongkorn
University in Thailand.
The Foundation begins providing overseas research assistance to the InstituteTechnology Bandung in Indonesia.

1990

To support

the expansionof its activities,

the Foundationrevises

its funding

proGlassgram. In line with this revision,
Foundation.

the Foundation

changes

its name to the Asahi

The Foundation

comprehensive

researchassistance.

beginsoffering

1991
1992

The Foundation diversifies its research assistance to the field of natural sciences.
The Foundation begins providing research assistance in the fields of human andsocial sciences.
A seminar covering petrochemical technology is held at Chulalongkorn University.
The first annual Blue Planet Prize awards ceremony is held.
The first annual "Questionnaire on Environmental Problems and the Survival of
Humankind" is conducted.

1993

A seminaron the topic

of new organometallics

A seminaron theof technology

Chulalongkom

to protect

theenvironment

on Foundation-assisted

research

in Indonesia

A seminaron glasssciencesis held in Tokyo.

A seminaron public

healthand biochemistryThe

secondseminaron Foundation-assisted

InstituteTechnology

Bandung.

A public

conference

on environmentalCzech
1995

atis held at the InstituteBandung.

A lecture
programis held at the Universityof Oklahoma
Pnunriatinn'ec.ntinx.x7mgmt of a ohnirgw-1 rirnfateenrchir.
1994

is heldUniversity.

The first seminar
Technologytopic

is held in Tokyo.

to commemorate

is held

at Chulalongkorn

research

in Indonesia

problems

is held at CharlestheUniversity.
is held

at theUniversity

in theRepublic.

A seminar

on molecularbiologyand biologicalengineering

A seminaron the topicof glass

and inorganic

materials

is held in Tokyo.
is held

at Chulalongkorn

University.
The third seminar
Technology
1996

on Foundation-assisted

The Foundation's

homepage is opened

A seminaron physicalproperties

A seminaron the topicof chemicalThe fourthseminar

Instituteresearch

in Indonesia

is held at the InstituteBandung.

Technologyis heldon the WorldWeb of the Internet.

in Tokyo.

engineeringon Foundation-assisted

Wide

is held at Chulalongkorn
research

in Indonesia

University.
is held

at theBandung.

HIDirectors

ChairmanJiro Furumoto
Director,

Adviser,

formerChairman,formerPresident,

Asahi

Glass

Co., Ltd.

Vice Chairman
Hisao

IwasakiFormerManaging

Director,

SeniorExecutive

Director

Osamu

Shiragami

FormerPresident,

Mitsubishi

MotorsAsahi-Penn

ChemicalAssociation;

Corp.

Co., Ltd.

Trustees
SaburoFukui

Chairman,Japan

Bioindustry

Professor

Emeritus,

KyotoUniversityJapanFederation

Gaishi

Hiraiwa

ChairmanEmeritus,

SeniorAdviser,Shigeru

ItoformerChairman,Professor,

Keio University;

Professor

Emeritus,

Yukiharu

KodamaPresident,
formerUniversity

The Shoko

ChukinVice Secretary,of Economic

formerPresident,

Organizations;Tokyoof Tokyo

Bank;

Ministryof International

Tradeand Industry

Jiro Kondo
President,
formerCentralEnvironment

President,

Science

Shinroku

Morohashi

Chairman,

Mitsubishi

Takashi

Emeritus,

Chairman,Japan'V

Council;

Councilof JapanCorp.

Mukaibo

Professor

formerAtomicElectric

President,
Industrial

University
Forum,Inc.

of Tokyo;PowerCo., Inc.

MichioNagai

ExecutiveDirector,

formerMinister

MakotoNumataThe Japan

Foundation

Chairman,NatureConservation

Professor

Emeritus,

ChibaUniversity

Tomokazu

Sakamoto

Honorary

Adviser;

formerChairman,

Hiromichi

Seya

President& CEO,

Takuo

Asahi

Nations

University;

GlassSocietyof Japan;

Japan

Co,

Broadcasting

Corporation

Ltd.

SuganoPresident,

Toyo University;

Professor

Emeritus,

Kenzo

for the Unitedof Education

Universityof Tokyo

TanakaChairman,International

Professor

Emeritus,

Centerformerfor the Study

President,of East Asian

KyushuDevelopment;

University

Auditors
Kazuo

Ibuki

Counselor,

The Bank

formerChairman,

Kunio

lino

FormerPresident,of Tokyo-Mitsubishi,

formerPresident,

Iwaki

Glass

The MitsubishiCo., Ltd.

Councillors

Ken'ichiFukuiDirector,

Institute

Professor

Emeritus,

TomokoInukaiof Fundamental
Kyoto

Chemistry;

University

Commentator

Takemochi

Ishii

Professor,

Keio University;

Professor

Emeritus,

UniversityLtd;of Tokyo

Bank,

Ltd.

Rokuro Ishikawa
Director, Honorary Chairman, former President, Kajima Corp.;
Honorary Chairman, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Tadao Ishikawa
Professor Emeritus, former President, Keio University
Kazuo

KamiyaChairman,

SmallformerSeniorHiroshiKida

Business

Executive

CreditPresident,

The New National

Honorary

Adviser,

Akira

formerInsurance

Vice President,Corporation;Asahi

GlassCo., Ltd.

Theatre;President,

JapanSociety

for the Promotionof Science

KoizumiProfessor

Emeritus,

President,

UniversityUniversityof Tokyo;

of Occupationaland EnvironmentalHealth,Japan

Kiyoshi Kojima
Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University
Nobuo Matsunaga
President and Director, The Japan Institute of International Affairs;
former Ambassador to the United States of America
Yohei Mimura
SeniorCorporate

Adviser,

formerChairman,formerPresident,

Mitsubishi

YoshijiMiyata
President,The Matsushita Institute of Governmentand Management;
Supreme Adviser, Japan Federation of Steelworkers' Union
Kinhide Mushakoji
Professor,Meiji Gakuin University;
former Vice President, The United Nations University
Chie Nakane
ChiefDirector,

Professor

VIAssociationEmeritus,

for the Promotion

Universityof Tokyoof Ethnology;Corp.

Kiyoshi

Seike

Professor

Emeritus,

Tokyo

Instituteof Technology;

Professor

Emeritus,

TokyoNational

Universityof Fine Arts and Music

Jiro Terada
FormerChief

Justice

TetsuyaUchinoFormerPresident,

TakeshiUmeharaAdviser,

formerof the Supreme

Asahi

Director

Glass

Court

ResearchGeneral,

InstituteThe Internationaland Japanese

CulturalCenterv11

viii