The Nippon Foundation
Background
The Nippon Foundation, formerly the Sasakawa Foundation, is a private, non-profit organization. It was founded in October of 1962 when it was written into law that a portion of revenues from motorboat racing would be channeled to philanthropic activities. According to the rules and regulations governing the motorboat racing industry, 75% of revenues must revert back to the public in the form of winnings. Of the remaining 25%, the bulk of which is slated to cover organizers' costs, 3.3% becomes the operational funds of the Foundation.
Philosophy
In keeping with the late chairman Ryoichi Sasakawa's motto, “The World is One Family, All Mankind are Brothers and Sisters,” the Foundation's activities are geared toward the alleviation of human suffering, the advancement of human welfare, and the promotion of world peace. The scope of its activities transcends politics, ideology, religion and race.
Size
The Foundation has the largest operating budget of its kind in the world. Funds are allocated to support both domestic and international projects, including those implemented by the United Nations. Total disbursement so far in 1995 comes to approximately 65 billion yen (US$650 million); of this amount, 8.5 billion yen (US$85 million) has gone to overseas assistance.
Overseas Activities
The Foundation's overseas support covers a broad range of areas, including welfare, human resource development, academic and physical education, health care, population, agricultural and rural development, human rights, environment, hunger relief, refugee aid and international understanding.
Some of the Foundation's major projects have been:
◇agricultural development in Africa to foster self-sufficiency in staple food production (since 1986);
◇the establishment of fellowship funds at major universities throughout the world to enable promising young scholars to continue studies through the masters or doctoral levels;
◇leprosy control, in collaboration with WHO (since 1993);
◇the promotion of primary health care in developing countries, in collaboration with UNICEF and local governments (since 1992).
We Have a New Name and a New Chairperson
Since our establishment in 1962, the purpose of our Foundation has always been to alleviate suffering and improve the human condition. Our founder, Ryoichi Sasakawa, believed that “The World is One Family, All Mankind are Brothers and Sisters.” In accordance with this motto, funding from the Sasakawa Foundation today can be found in all four corners of the globe.
Cooperating with partners that range from grassroots-level NGOs to major international agencies such as those of the United Nations, our Foundation channels assistance to a broad spectrum of projects. From cultural exchanges with the United States to agricultural initiatives in Africa, from essential drug programs in Ecuador to scholarship funds in Europe, from emergency aid to flood victims in Laos to the relief of Chernobyl victims in the Ukraine, we have truly come to serve the world community.
To better convey the international scope of our activities and to reaffirm our commitment to the global village, our Board of Directors decided on May 26, 1995 to change our name. We are now known as The Nippon Foundation.
And while we observe this new chapter in our history, we also celebrate the arrival of Ms. Ayako Sono to the Office of the Chairperson on December 11, 1995. We are proud and honored that Ms. Sono, the acclaimed writer of conscience, will be at the helm as we look forward to the future.
May we have the blessings and good wishes of our friends and associates everywhere as we stand at the dawn of a new era.
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
(as of December 11, 1995)
Chairperson
Ayako Sono
President
Yohei Sasakawa
Managing Trustees
Hiroshi Terashima
Katsumi Nishimoto
Reizo Utagawa
Tatsuo Nishizawa
