About the Asahi Glass Foundation
ProfileThe 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 the late twentieth century, and recognizing that new research was 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 aredesigned not only to further the study of the applied sciences but also to promote advanced
research that will serve 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 program promotes innovative research that will serve society into future
generations.
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 in recognition of their contributions to solving global 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.

The Asahi Glass Foundation’s home
is in Tokyo’s Science Plaza Building.

iProgram Overview
1. Grant Programa. Natural sciences research grantsb. Human and social sciences research grantsc. Overseas research grants
2. Commendation Program
a. The Blue Planet Prize, an international environmental award
b. Questionnaire on Environmental Problems and the Survival of Humankind
c. Information about environment-related events and publications
3. Other Activities
a. Publications
b. Internet-based information compilation and dissemination

URL:http://www.af-info.or.jpii

Financial Information
Total assets of the Foundation at the end of fiscal 2006 amounted to ¥49.9 billion, And the budget for activities in fiscal 2007 is ¥712 million.

History19331934196119821988
1990

1991
1992

1993

1994
1997

To 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 anonprofit organization and increases its basic endowment to ￥1 million.
The Foundation begins extending research grants to university researchers in thefield of applied chemistry.
The Foundation changes its name to the Asahi Glass Foundation for IndustrialTechnology.
The Foundation begins providing overseas research assistance to Chulalongkorn
Universlty in Thailand.
The Foundation begins providing overseas research assistance to the InstituteTechnology Bandung in Indonesia.
To support the expansion of its activities, the Foundation revises its funding program and changes its name to the Asahi Glass Foundation.
The Foundation begins extending comprehensive research grants.
The Foundation diversifies its research grants to all fields of natural sciences.
The first annual Blue Planet Prize Awards Ceremony and the Commemorative
Lectures are held. Both are now annual events.
The Foundation begins providing research grants to the fields of human and social
sciences.
The first seminar presenting findings from Foundation granted research inThailand is held at Chulalongkorn University. This seminar is now an annualevent.
The first annual “Questionnaire on Environmental Problems and the Survival ofhumankind” is conducted.
The Foundatiom begins issuing a semi-annual newsletter, af News, in Japanese andEnglish.
The first seminar presenting findings from Foundation granted research is held inTokyo. This seminar is now an annual event.
The first seminar on Foundation-assisted research in Indonesia is held at theInstitute Technology Bandung.This seminar is now an annual event.
The Foundation publishes Zaidan 60 Nen no Ayumi, a history of its first 60 years,in Japanese.
The Foundation Issues A Better future for the Planet Earth Vol.I, a publicationcommemorating the fifth anniversary of the Blue Planet Prize,iii

2001
2002

2007

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The Foundation publishes the Blue Planet Prize brochure.
The Foundation commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Blue Planet Prize.
March: Publication of Toward the Future of the Blue Planet – 10 Year History ofthe Blue Planet Prize
May: Tenth Anniversary commemorative lectures
August: Publication of A Better future for the Planet Earth Vol.II.
Produced a poster to promote environmental education based on theEnvironmental Doomsday Clock from the survey
Issued a 15-Year Synopsis of its environmental survey.

Directors

As of September 1, 2007

Chairman
Hiromichi Seya
Senior Corporate Advisor, former Chairman, former President, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Senior Executive Director
Keiichi Uchida
Former General Manager, Intellectual Property Division, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Trustees
Takeshi Endo
Professor and President, Molecular Engineering Institute Kinki University;
Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Shinya Ishizu
Chairman of the Board, former President and CEO, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Ryoichi Ito
Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo
Mikio Kawaguchi
Former Chairman, Japan Broadcasting Corporation
Yukiharu Kodama
President, Japan Information Processing Development Corporation;Former Administrative Vice-minister of International Trade and Industry
Jiro Kondo
Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo;
Former President, Science Council of Japan
Akio Morishima
Special Research Advisor, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies;
Professor Emeritus, Nagoya University
Shinroku Morohashi
Counsellor, former Chairman, former President, Mitsubishi Corporation
Yasunori Nishijima
Professor Emeritus, former President, Kyoto Universityv

Ryoji Noyori
President, RIKEN
Toshio Ojima
Professor, Waseda University
Kenzo Tanaka
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Fukuoka Shika Gakuen;
Professor Emeritus, former President, Kyusyu University
Shoichiro ToyodaHonorary Chairman, Toyota Motor Corporation;
Honorary Chairman, Japan Business Federation
Hiroyuki Yoshikawa
President, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology;
Former President, Science Council of Japan
Auditors
Kazuo Ibuki
Counsellor, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.;
Former Chairman, former President, The Mitsubishi Bank, Ltd.
Masashi Sakamoto
Former Statutory Auditor, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.

Councillors
Michiko ImaiDirector, Le Verseau Inc.
Masahiro Kadomatsu
President and CEO, Member of the Board, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Kazuo KamiyaAdvisor, former Chairman, National Association for Subcontracting EnterprisesPromotion; Former Senior Executive Vice-president, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Ryohachi Kusaba
Former Chief Justice, The Supreme Court of Japanvi

Minoru Makihara
Senior Corporate Advisor, Mitsubishi Corporation
Nobuo Matsunaga
Vice-Chairman, The Japan Institute of International Affairs;
Former Ambassador to the United States of America
Yoshiji Miyata
Advisor, The Matsushita Institute of Government and Management;
Advisor, Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions
Teruaki Mukaiyama
Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo;
Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Keiko Nakamura
Director General, JT Biohistory Research Hall;
Visiting Professor, Osaka University
Hitoshi OsakiDirector, National Institutes for the Humanities;
Former Commissioner for Cultural Affairs
Yuichi Shionoya
Professor Emeritus, former President, Hitotsubashi University
Tsukasa Shimizu
Chairman, Tokyo Kasei University;
Professor Emeritus, former President, Waseda University
Tsuguyoshi Suzuki
Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo;
Former Director General, The National Institute for Environmental Studies
Jyunjiro Takahashi
Advisor, Academyhills; Professor Emeritus, Keio University
Michiko Tenma
Professor Emeritus, former President, Tsuda CollegeAkira Toyama
Senior Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Member of the Board, Asahi GlassCo., Ltd.
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