The Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship (2011)

The Japan Foundation (President: Hiroyasu ANDO) announced three recipients of the Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship for 2011. Each recipient will receive a certificate and cash prize of two million yen.
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the President of the Japan Foundation will present special prizes to organizations engaged in international cultural exchange that contribute to the reconstruction efforts. Recipients will be announced on the Japan Foundation homepage at late February,2012.

Recipients

President's Special Prize Recipients

Outline of "The Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship"
This prize was established under the name of "the Prizes for the Promotion of Community-Based Cultural Exchange" in 1985, at the time the importance of community-based international exchange became widely acknowledged. In FY 2004-2005, in commemoration of its 20th anniversary, the award was renamed "The Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship" in awareness of development and diversification of community-based international exchange activities. The Japan Foundation has been presenting the prizes to organizations which have been contributing to promotion of international cultural exchange between communities or mutual understanding that results in change or revitalization of communities. (In principle, three prizes are presented every year.)
This year, mass media, think tanks, international exchange organizations, and local governments sent a total of 84 recommendations.
The recipients of the prizes were determined by the selection committee through a careful selection process.

The selection committee was chaired by Mr. ISHII and consisted of the following members (in alphabetical order):

  • (Chair) Mr. Yoshitaka ISHII (President, NPO Kourokan-Fukuoka Castle History & Tourism Citizen's Association; former Chairman of the Board of Kyushu Railway Company)
  • Ms. Kumi FUJISAWA (Vice President, Think Tank SophiaBank)
  • Ms. Michiyo KAMATA (Senior Manager, Project Development Department, Project Produce Division, DENTSU Inc.)
  • Mr. Fram KITAGAWA (Art Director & Chairman, Art Front Gallery Co. Ltd.)
  • Mr. Syota KOBAYASHI (Editorial Writer, Nikkei Newspaper)
  • Ms. Yasuko OGIWARA (Secretary General, Association for Corporate Support of the Arts)
  • Mr. Taro TAMURA (Representative, Institute for Human Diversity Japan)

Awardees (in geographical order)

Rikuzentakata City International Exchange Association

(Rikuzentakata City, Iwate)
Representative
Mr. Mutsuo KUMAGAI
Year of Establishment
1995
Image picture of Rikuzentakata City International Exchange Association

<Activity Outline>

Established in the mid-90s, this association has been contributing to international exchange at the grass-roots level through Japanese-language classes and exchange events. During the tsunami that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake, the city sustained enormous damage. In cooperation with the city authorities, members of the association, while being disaster victims themselves, assist foreign residents by confirming their security and well-being, providing counseling and distributing relief goods. Still under dire circumstances, Japanese-language classes as well as exchange events have resumed and contribute to community regeneration and rebuilding efforts.

Tomodachi in Natori International Relations Association

(Natori City, Miyagi)
Representative
Mr. Shutaro KOJIMA
Year of Establishment
2007
Website
http://blog.canpan.info/tomo_in_natori/ External link
Image picture of Tomodachi in Natori International Relations Association

<Activity Outline>

This association based in Natori City started as a volunteer group aiming at the harmonious coexistence of global citizens through exchanges between local and foreign residents. Currently, the association has several projects to encourage social participation of foreign residents and is supporting the operation of an evacuation center to bring relief to all disaster victims, whether foreign or Japanese.

NPO The People

(Iwaki City, Fukushima)
Representative
Ms. Emiko YOSHIDA
Year of Establishment
1990
Website
http://www.iwaki-j.com/people/ External link
Image picture of NPO The People

<Activity Outline>

This non-profit was established for citizens to think and act by themselves to solve the problems arising in their neighborhood. Through the recycling of secondhand clothing, it supports self-reliance and reuse of resources in less fortunate countries. In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, "The People" have taken the initiative to receive relief goods and volunteers from all over the country and established a volunteer center in Onahama, thus providing support and creating employment opportunities for all disaster victims, including foreign residents.

NPO Kamonohashi Project

(Shibuya City, Tokyo)
Representative
Ms. Sayaka MURATA / Mr. Kenta AOKI / Mr.Keisuke MOTOKI
Year of Establishment
2002
Website
http://www.kamonohashi-project.net/ External link
Image picture of NPO Kamonohashi Project

<Activity Outline>

Non-profit organizationactively involved in restraining child trafficking in Cambodia and allowingchildren around the world to live with hope in the future. Delivering ITservices to fund their activities, profits are allocated to educationalprojects and technical training for Cambodian children. To put an end to childtrafficking, they eagerly support capacity building and training of policeofficers as well as run a community factory to encourage self-sustainability.

* Fourth organization from Tokyo, latest in 2010

NPO Brazil Tomo no Kai

(Minokamo City, Gifu)
Representative
Ms. Alina KINJO
Year of Establishment
2000
Social Media Accounts
https://www.facebook.com/braziltomonokai/ External link
Image picture of NPO Brazil Tomo no Kai

<Activity Outline>

Non-profit organizationthat started as a self-help voluntary group of Brazilian residents to help solvethe problems at schools or in their daily lives in Japan. In recent years,Minokamo City entrusted this organization with the operation of the“Self-support Center for Foreign Residents”, where they are exploring new waysto provide public services. Besides consultation and information, both of whichare frequently available services, they now offer opportunities for humanresource training in the area, as well as advice to job-seekers, employers andentrepreneurs.

*Second organization from Gifu Prefecture, latest in 2003

NPO BIRD Theatre Company TOTTORI

(Tottori City, Tottori)
Representative
Mr. Makoto NAKASHIMA
Year of Establishment
2006
Website
http://www.birdtheatre.org/ External link
Image picture of NPO BIRD Theatre Company TOTTORI

<Activity Outline>

Theatrical company,based in Shikano, a town inTottori City, that performs contemporary playsin Japan and abroad and manages a theater set up in a closed school. Whilerooted in the local community, their activities reach far beyond the citylimits and national borders: numerous stage performances, introducing differentforms of artistic expression, outreach activities with local schools, exchangeprograms with overseas artists and companies.

*Second organization from Tottori Prefecture, latest in 1995

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