Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
A Collaborative Program by Japan’s Rotary Districts

The Rotary Yoneyama
Memorial Foundation is ascholarship foundation jointly
supported by all the Rotary
districts in Japan. To date,of July 2012, a total of 17,028 students from 121 countries
have received scholarship support under this program.

Creating Heart-to-Heart Understanding
between Scholars and Rotarians

the Foundation has awarded

In addition

scholarships to more than

to the financial

17,000 students (Yoneyama

assistance providedScholars) from 121 countries

to Yoneyamaand regions to support theirScholars by way ofstudy in Japan. Providing atheir scholarships,

matrix for heart-to-heart communication, the program

the program has

also seeks to help the young scholars understand andanother uniquelyemulate the Rotary spirit.

Rotarianesque feature: a system of sewa clubs (host clubs)

The Foundation’s Scholarship Program
The Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship Program uses

and counselors that gives the scholars moral support andcaring assistance during their tenures. Each Yoneyama
Scholar is assigned a sewa club chosen from among thefunds donated by

Rotary clubs in his/her area. One member of the hostRotarians acrossclub serves as the scholar’s counselor, who helps toJapan to provide

deepen the relationship between the scholar and thescholarships toclub members and endeavors to make the scholar’s stayoverseas students

in Japan a rich and rewarding experience. While

who self-financeimbuing the scholar with the Rotary spirit of service,

their educations

the system also works to deepen the Rotarians’in Japan. The

own understanding of the role and value of theprogram’s mission

Yoneyama Memorial Scholarship Program. For

is to foster a large

further information, see the foundation’s website atcadre of young people who, imbued with the Rotary

http://www.rotary-yoneyama.or.jp/

spirit, will play active roles in international society whilebuilding bridges of understanding and cooperation
between their countries and Japan. In sum, theprogram’s goal is the same as the Rotary’s—to advanceinternational understanding, goodwill and peace.

Japan’s Largest Private-Sector
Scholarship Program
With approximately 800 students receiving $12
million worth of scholarships each year (FY2011
figures), the Yoneyama Memorial Scholarship Program isthe largest private-sector scholarship program in Japan. As22

THE ROTARY-NO-TOMORotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
Yoneyama Alumni in the World Today
1. Countries and Regions Yoneyama Scholars to date

2. Number of alumni obtaining PhDs: 3,331
By country or region

where are fromIndonesia 342（2.0％）
Bangladesh 290（1.7％）
Thailand 272（1.6％）
Sri Lanka 239（1.4％）
Nepal 172（1.0％）
Vietnam590（3.5％）

Others2,951（17.3％）

Malaysia
831（4.9％）

1,255

2. China

1,152

3. Taiwan

607（Total number of alumni as of July 1, 2012: 16,203）
China
5,299（31.1％）

3. Clubs established centering around Yoneyama alumni● Rotary Club of Taipei Tokai（D-3480）

Cum.Total17,028（121countries andregions）

Taiwan3,321（19.5％）

1. South Korea

Chartered: January 31, 1995
● Rotary Club of Taichung Wen Shin（D-3460）
Chartered: March 16, 2007

Korea
4,036
（23.7％）● Rotary Club of Tokyo Yoneyama Yuai（D-2750）
Chartered: March 16, 2010
● Rotary E-Club of District 2750, Tokyo Yoneyama※ Total of Yoneyama Scholars for 2012:827 students from 44 countries and regions

Chartered: June 21,2012

Brief History of Rotary Yoneyama Scholarships
1952 Dec.

The first Yoneyama Scholar, Somchard
Ratanachata of Thailand, arrived in Japan.

Somchard Ratanachata ata meeting of Tokyo RotaryClub.

Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
was established receiving authorization by
Ministry of Education.

Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
received an award from the government for
its commitment to strengthening ties withforeign students studying in Japan.
Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
received a status of Public Interest
Incorporated Foundation by Japan’s Prime
Minister.

THE ROTARY-NO-TOMO

1954 Sep.

1957 Sep.

The Rotary Club of Tokyo launched
an international
scholarship programto commemorate theachievements of Umekichi
Yoneyama, “Father ofJapan’s Rotary.”

The Yoneyama Memorial Scholarship
Committee was formed as a joint undertaking
among all the Rotary clubs in Japan.

1967 Jul.
1998 Oct.

Scholarship program extended to students
from all nations regardless of whether theirown country has Rotary clubs or not.

2001 Oct.

2004 Nov.
2012 Jan.

The Rotary International Board of Directors
commended the Rotary Yoneyama Memorial
Foundation for its contribution to world
understanding and peace through its
granting of scholarships to deserving
recipients.

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2012 Bangkok Convention Prompts Creation ofNew Yoneyama Alumni Association—Report on Convention Booth and Yoneyama Night—
they spoke with guests,never displaying theslightest trace of fatigue.

“Yoneyama Night”
Celebrates the NewlyFormed Alumni
Association“Yoneyama Night”
was held May 6 at a hotelin Bangkok. Organized by
At the Rotary International convention held May 6

Thai alumni to welcome Rotarians from Japan attending－9, 2012 in Bangkok the Rotary Yoneyama Memorial

the convention, this event also celebrated the creation

Foundation ran a project booth at the House of Friendship,of the Thai Yoneyama Alumni Association, with 27

the first time we have done so at any convention outsideThai alumni and 80 Japanese Rotarians and their familyof Japan. The idea of establishing an alumni association

attending. The new association’s first president, Mr.Wichit

gained momentum among local alumni assisting withKhurewattanakul (1987 － 88 / the Rotary Club of Tokyo

preparations for the convention booth, and in March theAsakusa) welcomed those attending on behalf of thefourth overseas Yoneyama alumni association was born inassociation’s executive committee members. It was Wichit

Thailand, preceded by associations in Taiwan, Korea andwho personally sent out letters to each and every one

China.

of approximately 150 alumni, eventually contacting 48

Yoneyama Booth a Great Success“Sawasdee Krab” “Hello!”of them and establishing the association. Explaining theassociation’s aspirations he said,“We formed the association as a way of expressing“Sawasdee Ka” “Konnichiwa!”

our appreciation to all Rotarians. In the future we hope toThe voices of the Yoneyama alumni in their matching

further strengthen our ties with Japan.”pink sashes rang clearly as they called to the many guests
who visited the Rotary Yoneyama Memorial FoundationTwo Speeches Reflect upon History and the Futurebooth in one corner of the House of Friendship at theAmong those attending this gathering was past RI

convention. There Thai Yoneyama alumni explained topresident Bhichai Rattakul. Mr. Rattakul met with Wichit

them about the Yoneyama scholarship program in Thai,and other leading members

English and Japanese. Visitors in turn left such messages

in the early planningon the message board as “Great work”, “Keep going”, “Westages, strongly urging Thai

greatly appreciate your support for students around thealumni to unite. On Marchworld.” 526 people signed the guest book during the25 he called an inauguralcourse of the convention, meaning that perhaps moremeeting and was present atthan 700 people visited the booth in all.

the actual founding. In hisThai alumni were thrilled that so many people came,

powerful Yoneyama Night

this being the first activity undertaken by the newly

address he said, “Theseformed alumni association. Their faces filled with joy as

young men and women

24THE ROTARY-NO-TOMORotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
sixty-year history of the Yoneyama Memorial Foundation.

Scholarships Bear Fruit in Thailand
Conversation resounded throughout the banquet room,and before the sounds died away, the evening’s final event
featured Nuengnut Intharachit (2006－07 / the Rotary
Club of Yokohama Tsurumi North / President of Yoneyama
Alumni Association in District 2590), who served asadvisor to the establishment of the Thai Yoneyama Alumni
are really the ‘Ambassadors of Goodwill’ for Japan. TheyAssociation, leading everyone in the singing of “Hand inare the future and the hope of not only for their own

Hand” as a fitting close to Yoneyama Night.

countries, but for the world.”

Reunited with Rotarians from their host clubs, ThaiThe gathering was also attended by Norachart

Yoneyama alumni told how happy they were that theRatanachata, the eldest son of Somchard Ratanachata,

warm-hearted care they received in Japan had come to

the now-deceased first Yoneyama scholar invited frombear fruit in Thailand.

Thailand by the Rotary Club of Tokyo back in 1954.

We in Japan are proud of our Thai Yoneyama alumni

Presently the deputy director of a hospital in Korat,

who used the convention as an opportunity to join

approximately 250 kilometers from Bangkok, Noracharttogether and express their affection and gratitude tomade the trip especially to attend Yoneyama Night, saying

Rotary. We hope to see them unite more closely and play

he wished to welcome Japanese Rotarians in his father’s

an even more active role in the future.

stead.
“While he was alive my father often spoke of how
generously the members of the Rotary Club of Tokyo
helped him. He was proud of the fact that he graduatedfrom the University of Tokyo. Here in Thailand heestablished a center for raising silkworms and taught
many people the techniques involved. When I was little, aJapanese friend of my father’s visited Thailand and taught
me some Japanese. Because of this I fell in love with Japanand Japanese.”His speech engendered in us a new awareness of theAn E-Club centering around Yoneyama Alumni was established
June 2, 2012 saw the birth of Rotary E-Club ofTokyo Yoneyama (D-2750), the third Rotary E-Clubin Japan, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tokyo
Yoneyama Yuai established centering around Yoneyama
alumni two years before. The new E-Club has 27
members, 16 of which are Yoneyama alumni fromseven different nations, giving the club the same sort ofinternational flavor as its sponsor club.
Assuming duties as the club’s first president is Dina
Faoziah, a 2008－10 Yoneyama scholar from Indonesia,
who expressed sincerest thanks to the members of theRotary Club of Tokyo Akishima who hosted her during
her time as a Yoneyama scholar, and especially to
her counselor, Kazuyoshi Watanabe. She spoke of her
THE ROTARY-NO-TOMO

decision saying, “I was deeply moved to be nominatedas the club’s first president, and I hope to learn fromexperienced Rotarians.”

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