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 Rotaryscholarship support under this program.

Creating Heart-to-Heart Understanding
between Scholars and Rotarians

districts in Japan. To date,In addition

the Foundation has awarded

to the financial

scholarships to more thanassistance

17,000 students（Yoneyama

provided toScholars）from 121 countries

Yoneyama

and regions to support their

Scholars bystudy in Japan. Providing a matrix for heart-to-heart

way of theircommunication, the program also seeks to help the young

scholarships,

scholars understand and emulate the Rotary spirit.

the program

The Foundation’s Scholarship Program
The Rotary Yoneyama Scholarshiphas another uniquely Rotarianesque feature: a systemof sewa clubs（host clubs）and counselors that gives thescholars moral support and caring assistance

Program uses funds

during their tenures. Each Yoneyama Scholar is

donated by Rotarians

assigned a sewa club chosen from among theacross Japan toRotary clubs in his/her area. One member ofprovide scholarships

the host club serves as the scholar’s counselor,to overseas students

who helps to deepen the relationship between

who self-finance their

the scholar and the club members and endeavors

educations in Japan.

to make the scholar’s stay in Japan a rich and

The program’s mission

rewarding experience. While imbuing theis to foster a large cadre

scholar with the Rotary spirit of service,
imbued with thethe system also works to deepen the Rotarians’ own

Rotary spirit, will play active roles in international society

understanding of the role and value of the Yoneyama

while building bridges of understanding and cooperation

Memorial Scholarship Program. For further information,

between their countries and Japan. In sum, the program’s

see the foundation’s website at http://www.rotary-of young people who,

goal is the same as the Rotary’s—to advance international

yoneyama.or.jp/

understanding, goodwill and peace.

Japan’s Largest Private-Sector
Scholarship Program for International Students
With approximately 700 students receiving $12
million worth of scholarships each year（FY2012
figures）, the Yoneyama Memorial Scholarship Programis the largest private-sector scholarship program forinternational students in Japan. As of July 2013, a totalof 17,545 students from 121 countries have received

22THE 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: 3,386

where are from

By country or region

Indonesia 349（2.0％）
Bangladesh 298（1.7％）
Thailand 281（1.6％）
Sri Lanka 242（1.4％）
Nepal 182（1.0％）

1. South Korea

1,265

2. China

1,185

3. Taiwan

609

Others2,917（16.6％）

Vietnam637（3.6％）

Malaysia851（4.8％）

Taiwan3,347（19.1％）（Total number of alumni as of July 1, 2013: 16,821）
China
5,676（32.4％）

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

Cum.Total17,545（121countries andregions）

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

Korea
4,117（23.5％）● Rotary Club of Tokyo Yoneyama Yuai（D-2750）
Chartered: March 16, 2010
● Rotary E-Club of District 2750, Tokyo Yoneyama
Chartered: June 21,2012※ Total of Yoneyama Scholars for 2013:724 students from 45 countries and regions

Breif History of Rotary Yoneyama Scholarships
1952 Dec.

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

Somchard Ratanachata ata meeting of Rotary Clubof Tokyo.

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.

23Yoneyama Alumi’s Story

Sri Lankan Youth Comes to JapanMr. Suchiththa Gunasekara came to Japan to study without having learned any Japanese beforehand.
Seeing his friends struggling with the language and finally giving up their dreams and returning home,
Suchiththa decided that he would build a Japanese language school in Sri Lanka. The school was built
using his savings and other funds as capital, and named the Beppu Japanese Language School after
the city he loved so dearly. Students study not only language at the school, but also learn how to use
chopsticks, how to take a Japanese style bath, as well as other features of Japanese culture that will
enable them to begin life in Japan immediately upon arrival.

If Only They Could Speak Even a Little Japaneselike this...
I didn’t want those students coming after us to go

The first Japanese I came in contact with was our

through the same hardships that we did. That was whenvolleyball instructor in junior high school. He was very

the idea for creating a school for teaching Japanese in Sriwell mannered, and I felt extremely grateful that he hadLanka first began to germinate.

come all the way from Japan to teach us. At that time too
the Japanese television drama “Oshin ” was being televised

Founding a Japanese Language School in Sri Lanka

in Sri Lanka, and I was moved by the little heroine who

After completing a one-year Japanese language

bravely faced the world in spite of living in poverty.Thuscourse, I began studying as an undergraduate at thehaving an interest in Japan, I came to the city of Beppu

University of Beppu. I specialized in Japanese languagein Oita Prefecture in 2003 after graduating from higheducation and participated in a wide range of events,school.

hoping to make many Japanese friends. At one of these

I couldn’t speak a word of Japanese at first, and I

events I cooked some Sri Lankan dishes and my curry wascouldn’t even go shopping for everyday necessities. Manya great hit. In this way I gradually expanded my circle ofof the friends who had come to Japan with me to study

acquaintances.

were unable to cope with life here and returned to Sri

After moving on to graduate school I joined theLanka in frustration. Watching them depart with slumped

International Exchange Circle and served as assistantshoulders I remember thinking, if only they could speak,head of a citizens group promoting global education, as

if only they had studied, even a little Japanese before

well as engaging in such other activities as reading andcoming, then they wouldn’t have to give up their dream

performing Sri Lankan picture card stories for children.

Left: The appearance of the Beppu
Japanese Language School.
Above: The Students ofthe Beppu Japanese Language Schooltake part in a local festival
where they give out ice cream.
Right: Suchiththa teaching a class.

24THE ROTARY-NO-TOMORotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation

Left: Signing ceremony pledging support for the school on the occasion of the Beppu’s 60 th anniversary.
Right: The Gratuates of the Beppu Japanese Language School. They started to study in Japan in April 2013.

Somewhere along the way the loneliness and insecurity I

In addition to this they also donated computers, a copy

felt when I first came to Japan had transformed into selfmachine, desks, chairs, educational materials and otherconfidence.

supplies to the school.

I did not, however, lose sight of my dream. It was toTo tell the truth, I didn’t really understand muchopen a Japanese language school in Sri Lanka as soon as

about Rotary during my time as a Yoneyama scholar. Itpossible.

wasn’t until my scholarship was over that I came to learn

To help pave the way, I spoke of my dream to many

more. I have escorted a group of rotarians on visit to apeople, including my parents, who were high school

Rotary Club in Sri Lanka, and there I learned for the firstteachers in Sri Lanka. The greatest difficulty was funds. Itime how Rotary clubs around the world work together

used the money I had saved working part time, together

to accomplish great things. This impressed me deeply,

with money borrowed from my parents, as capital to begin

and I decided that after I finished my studies in Japan andpreparations. And finally on September 10, 2010 the long

returned home, I too would become a Rotarian.

dreamed of Beppu Japanese Language School was opened,
named after the city that is my second home.
We started out with eighteen students, but after two
and a half years we have 38 people studying with us.
We offer three courses: a course for students planningto study in Japan, a conversation course, and a course
for kids. Thus far every student completing the study inJapan course has actually gone to Japan to study. I myself

Having decided as much, a rotarian said to me, “Byoperating your Japanese language school you are alreadyengaged in serving others. And that’s what Rotary is allabout!”
Beyond a doubt my coming into contact with Rotary
has helped to make me what I am today.

Fostering People to Link Sri Lanka and Japanam still in graduate school here in Japan, but I use school

Sri Lanka’s long years of civil war ended in 2009.

vacations to return home and act as a school principal in

As a citizen of Sri Lanka I want to do all I can to help mySri Lanka.

country prosper.

Backed by my Rotarian Friends

At present more and more people in Sri Lanka are
studying Chinese, but Japanese is still a big thing. MyI have managed to come this far through the support

wish is to foster people with an international outlook whoof many people, and I have a special relationship with thewill become a force in strengthening ties between Japanmembers of the Rotary Club of Beppu, the sewa club thatand Sri Lanka. Also I want to make the Beppu Japanese

hosted me as a Yoneyama scholar. In September 2012

Language School the number one school in Sri Lanka forthe club celebrated its 60th anniversary, and as part of its

teaching Japanese. How happy it would make me if one

commemorative activities it pledged support to the Beppu

day one of our graduating students were chosen as aJapanese Language School over the next three years,

Yoneyama scholar!

and to help support students coming to study as well.
THE ROTARY-NO-TOMO

25