The MatsumaeInternational Foundation

Principle and Activities ofThe Matsumae International Foundation

Principle and Activities of The Matsumae International Foundation

Our History
Weaving Connection Between People
One thread at a time

The MIF was established 1979, based on the idea ofthe founder Dr. Shigeyoshi MATSUMAE
Invite active young researchers
from all over the world
With the support and cooperation ofmany individuals and organizations, theMatsumae International Foundation
was established in June 1979. Based on
the ideals of its founder Dr. Shigeyoshi
MATSUMAE, who was an engineer(technical official in the Ministry ofCommunications), Diet member, andeducator.
Dr. MATSUMAE stated the MIF’sprinciples as follows:1‘My search for enduring peace,friendship and goodwill among all
nations of the world, and for an effective reminder of the path to which
we, as a peaceful nation, are committed, led to the decision to create thisFoundation. As will be clear from theFoundation’s statement of purpose,
I hope to invite active young peopleof outstanding talent working inresearch, without regard to sex, race,religion, ideology or nationality, to Japan. By deepening their understanding of Japan, and establishing links oftrust and friendship, I seek to makea real contribution to permanent
peace throughout the world.’ (Source:
Research Fellowship Program 1981
Announcement)
The inauguration ceremony, held inJuly 1979, was a well-attended event,with representatives from embassies andguests from many other foundations
and universities gathering to celebrate
the establishment of the MIF. In thefollowing year, 1980, the MIF began its
fellowship program, providing grants
to eight researchers from Bangladesh,Principle and Activities of The Matsumae International Foundation

Bolivia, China, Indonesia, Peru, and Sri
Lanka in its first year of operation.

Following in the Footsteps ofthe Humboldt Foundation
It was a 1976 visit to the Alexandervon Humboldt Foundation in Germany that inspired Dr. MATSUMAE’s
firm resolve to establish the MIF. At
this juncture, the Humboldt Foundation was already providing its research
grants for young foreign researchers
showing significant academic ability,regardless of sex, race, religion, ideology, or creed, and Dr. MATSUMAE wasprofoundly impressed by the Humboldt
Foundation’s noble aims and projects,
gaining a keen sense that Japan was lag-ging behind in its reception of overseas
researchers.
Dr. MATSUMAE sympathised with
the Humboldt Foundation rationalethat many Humboldt scholars retained
friendly ties with Germany even after
returning to their home countries,
becoming intangible assets for their former host. He resolved to follow suit: ‘If
Japan is to take the path of international cooperation and peace, I believe that

it is undertakings of this kind which
we must set forward as our national
policy…Should the state prove unable,
the task may be taken up by a coalitionof interested individuals. In either case,
it is essential that we actively advancesuch projects.’ (Source: Tokai magazine,Issue 49)
Dr. MATSUMAE was 75 years oldwhen he founded the MIF. That was aculmination of his life’s work.

Seek to make a real contribution
to permanent peace throughout the world— The founder Dr. Shigeyoshi MATSUMAE

Dr. MATSUMAE’sAchievementsin the International Field
Dr. MATSUMAE, who lived throughthe turbulent 20th Century and its
two World Wars, devoted himself tothe pursuit of knowledge with an eye
to the wider world from the time ofhis studies in electrical engineering inthe Tohoku Imperial University (nowTohoku University) Department ofEngineering. After entering the Ministry of Communications, he successfullyconceived of and implemented thenon-loaded cable carrier system forlong-distance telephone lines in his roleas communications engineer, thereby
significantly impacting nations withadvanced telecommunications systems

across the globe. A central pillar of research and development is the fosteringof home-grown technology. In this case,Dr. MATSUMAE’s development of thenon-loaded cable was influenced by the‘unadorned, truthful philosophy of life’as taught to him by Kanzō Uchimura,a man whom he respected as a mentor
and whose bible study group he attended alongside his work at the Ministry. In
this group, he explored humanism andpacifism, proposed to attendees as theuniversal guiding principles of humankind; learned about the campaign for
education in Denmark; and resolved tomake education his mission.
Dr. MATSUMAE took up the causeof education, adding to his work intraining engineers, the aim of creatinga holistic education system modelledon Danish folk high schools. With theaid of many like-minded individuals,
he succeeded in overcoming significant
barriers to establish Tokai University
and contribute to its further growth.
He went on to use university education
and research to promote international
exchange between educators, teaching
staff, and students, by receiving overseas students and founding educational
institutions overseas, all in the aim of
securing world peace and the welfare ofhumankind.
Dr. MATSUMAE was also an active
Diet member, aiming to ‘introduce tothe political arena a perspective which
values the sciences.’ In the course of
his political career, he devoted himself
both to the advancement of scienceand technology and to [gTo Page 5]2

Principle and Activities of The Matsumae International Foundation

The Matsumae International Foundation was established in June 1979 withthe support and cooperation of many Japanese individuals and organizations.
The inauguration ceremony was held next month with representatives from theembassies of many countries and guests from numerous organizations in Japan.

Dr. MATSUMAE cherished the MIF fellows.
At the graduation ceremony, he always gave
words of encouragement to the fellows whowould lead the future of the world.

Dr. Shigeyoshi MATSUMAE is thefounder of the MIF. He worked todevelop grassroots exchanges, basedon his conviction that deepening
friendship, goodwill, and mutual
understanding through academic andcultural exchanges were of primary
importance in building a truly peaceful world.

3

Principle and Activities of The Matsumae International Foundation

The MIF study tour. This tour is organized to contact the traditional culture
and technology of Japan. It also gives the fellows opportunities to think
about the importance of the peaceful use of technologies and science.

The graduation ceremony is always held at the office Zelkova
House “Hogestu-An” designed in a Japanese style. The fellows
can enjoy the Japanese culture and garden.

At the graduation ceremony, the chairperson
encourages the fellows to continue their research
activities in their home countries.
Even after they leave Japan, the MIF will always
cherish them for years to come.

4Principle and Activities of The Matsumae International Foundation

diplomatic relations with the Soviet
Union and the countries of Eastern
Europe. In 1966, he assumed the position of President of the Japan CulturalAssociation, an organization respon-sible for exchange with the peoples ofthe Soviet Union and Eastern Europe,
then on the opposite side of the Cold
War. In this role, he worked to develop grassroots exchanges, based on hisconviction that deepening friendship,goodwill, and mutual understanding
through academic and cultural exchanges was of primary importance inbuilding a truly peaceful world.

Support Program for young researchers who arepassionate about contributing to the ameliorationof issues in their home countries
Features of theFellowship Program
The main purpose of the MIF fellowship program is its support of young
researchers who are passionate about
contributing to the amelioration ofenvironmental, social, and similar issues
in their home countries. In keepingwith our founder’s principles, fellowshiprecipients (here after fellows) are freeof all restriction pertaining to theircountry of origin, they are at liberty toselect host institutions of their choice,and subjects of research are left to thediscretion of the fellows and their hostprofessors. Their research fields cover abroad range of issues directly connected to people’s lives and of vital importance for humanity as a whole, such as
water problems, agricultural development, and medical drug research.
Another feature of the program isthe study tour which fellows attend

5during their research stays. In addition
to providing opportunities for contact
with traditional Japanese culture in
Kyoto and Nara, and allowing thefellows to garner deeper experiencethrough visits to businesses, these tours
are intended as occasions for them tobuild friendships with one another, andalways include a visit to the Hiroshima
Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima
City.
Backgrounding this study tour is Dr.
MATSUMAE’s personal experience.
He was witness to the appalling scenes
in Hiroshima in the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombing of August
6, 1945; the first atomic bomb to beunleashed upon humanity. Following
the bombing, an investigative committee was dispatched to Hiroshima by theAgency for Technological Advancement, and it was Dr. MATSUMAE
who served as head of this group. Facedwith the scenes of devastation andthis evidence of the bomb’s destructive power, he later recalled, ‘I had nowords.’
Human scientific knowledge andtechnologies brought the atomic bomb
into being. What do its power and theterrible scenes left in its wake say aboutthat humanity? The MIF hopes that
this study tour to Hiroshima will inspire
our fellows to expand the circle of theircompassion to encompass the world.

Small but SteadyContributions
In order to uphold our founder’s principles, the MIF has invited over 850
researchers from 120 countries andregions to Japan in the 42 years since
its establishment. While our fellows
hail from every corner of the globe, weprovide few fellowships in comparison
to other such bodies. Nevertheless, theMIF intends to persevere in our small
yet steady contributions, untiringly
sowing the seeds of future growthwithin a higher ideal of ‘contributing to
the establishing of world peace throughhuman exchange.’
During the celebration marking the10th anniversary of the MIF’s establishment, Dr. MATSUMAE shared thefollowing words: ‘Our modest role is theweaving of connections between fellows
and their host professors, and between
their countries and ours. This may not
be particularly high profile, but, in thisway, we would like to deepen mutual
trust and pursue the motive force forthe establishment of peace and security
in the world.’ (Source: The International Achievements of Shigeyoshi
MATSUMAE, Volume II [unofficialtranslation])
We keep carrying his will with us.

Principle and Activities of The Matsumae International Foundation

Our Office
The MIF Office “Zelkova House”
Special Place to Experience Japanese Tradition and Memoryof Friendship between Dr. ASHIKAGA and Dr. MATSUMAE
Zelkova House “Hougetsu-an”, thebuilding that serves as the office of The
Matsumae International Foundation,
was originally home to Dr. Atsuuji
ASHIKAGA and his wife, the former afriend sympathetic to the cause of ourfounder, Dr. Shigeyoshi MATSUMAE.
The connection between Dr. ASHIKAGA and Dr. MATSUMAE canbe traced back to 1934, when bothwere visiting Europe as Japanese
government scholarship students. At
the time, the Japanese government
was sending the talented young people
who would be the leaders of the next
generation to European countries tofoster their growth. Dr. ASHIKAGA
was sent to France, Germany, and Iranto research Old Persian and Sanskritfrom 1932 to 1935 by the Ministry ofEducation, Science, and Culture. Dr.
MATSUMAE was sent to Germany tostudy telecommunication technologies

by the Ministry of Communications.
The two met in March 1934, when Dr.
MATSUMAE made a brief stopoveron his way back to Japan from Germany in Paris’ Satsuma Hall, a residencefor students studying abroad (today theMaison du Japon: Fondation Satsumaof the Cité internationale universitairede Paris)
Reflecting on this time in later years,
Dr. ASHIKAGA stated: “Mr. MATSUMAE and I may be very different
people, but we both had an attitude ofunshakeable determination toward life,
knowing what we planned to do, andthis allowed us to gradually deepen ourmutual understanding and develop acloser relationship.” (Matsumae Bunko,Collection I)
After they had both returned toJapan, the two continued to strengthen
their ties, with Dr. ASHIKAGA taking
up the posts of Dean of Undergraduate

Dr. Shigeyoshi MATSUMAE (Left)and Dr. Atsuuji ASHIKAGA

School of Letters and President at Tokai
University after retiring from Kyoto
University, continuing to be a supporterof Dr. MATSUMAE throughout his life.
Zelkova House was gifted to the MIF byDr. ASHIKAGA’s wife Sumiko, following his passing, and has been used as
our office since 2002. Welcoming fellows
for graduation ceremonies and training,
Zelkova House, too, is supported by the“weaving little connection” forged by Dr.
ASHIKAGA and Dr. MATSUMAE.

Zelkova House around 1990.

6Principle and Activities of The Matsumae International Foundation

Our Statistics
Asia
Bangladesh
BhutanCambodia
China
India
Indonesia
Republic of Korea
Laos
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Viet Nam
Taiwan20214244
162214820
8151521127151

Oceania
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand

412

North America
United States of America
Canada94Latin America
and the Caribbean
Argentina
Bolivia
BrazilChile
ColombiaCosta Rica
Cuba
EcuadorJamaica
MexicoPanama11299911553102

Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela(Number of Fellows)

2522Europe
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
BelarusBelgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Estonia
FinlandFranceGeorgia
Germany
GreeceHungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
LatviaLithuania
Moldova
Netherlands
NorwayPolandPortugal
Romania
RussiaSerbiaSlovakia
Slovenia
Spain
SwedenSwitzerland
Tajikistan
UkraineUnited Kingdom
Uzbekistan

55235231669233610514331163342322151315
9621041114516

Middle East
Afghanistan
IranIraq
IsraelJordanLebanonOman
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey111978163617

AfricaAlgeria
Benin
Botswana
BurundiCameroon
D.R. of the Congo
Cote d'Ivoire
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ghana
GuineaKenya
LesothoLiberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
MoroccoMozambique
Nigeria
RwandaSenegal
Republic of South Africa
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
UgandaZambia21121424341851151122151284111081673The Matsumae International Foundation
4-14-46, Kamiogi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 167-0043 JAPANhttps://www.mif-japan.org

e-mail: contact@mif-japan.org