Linking the Future
Supporting youth exhange between Japan, Asia and Oceania

Linking the Future

Supporting youth exhange between Japan, Asia and Oceania

News

Objectives

To promote exchanges among young people in Japan and the Asia-Oceania region, as well as mutual understanding and friendly relations through the development of human resources, so that they act as a bridge between Japan and that region.

Establishment
2006 Founded under the jurisdiction of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

2011 Incorporated as a Public Interest Foundation under the jurisdiction of Japan’s Cabinet Office
Details on its programs
・Scholarship Program: For Graduate Students from Asian countries

・International Exchange Program

・Youth Exchange Program, International Exchange Program Grant

・Overseas Japanese Language Education Support Project

・Fundamental support projects: Kamenori Awards, lectures and symposiums
Address
The Kamenori Foundation

Bellevue Kojimachi, 1st Floor, 5-5, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, JAPAN
Tel/Fax
Tel: 81-3-3234-1694 Fax: 81-3-3234-1603

Message from the Board Chairperson

 As we look out upon the global stage, we see conflicts in Russia and Ukraine, and in Israel and Gaza, with the sparks of these conflicts spreading beyond their borders, threatening to engulf many other nations in a cycle of hatred and division. Amidst this alarming global instability, I am, as of October 2024, honored to assume the position of Board Chairperson of the Kamenori Foundation.
 My heart is troubled not only by global issues but also by the divisions caused by economic disparities within our country. Japan currently has the highest relative poverty rate among G7 nations, with one in six people living in poverty. To support Japan’s economy facing a declining birthrate, many foreign-born residents are now settling in the country, leading to demographic and cultural shifts, particularly in rural areas. In response to these unprecedented challenges, regional governments and local volunteers are actively seeking ways to foster more harmonious integration. Multicultural coexistence starts with “mutual understanding and recognition.” This seemingly simple concept is, in fact, essential for enabling people to live peacefully within their communities, countries, and across the world.
 At the Kamenori Foundation, we believe that promoting intercultural appreciation and understanding among young people from Asia and Oceania will contribute meaningfully to global peace. However modest, we hope to continue serving as a supportive force towards this vision.
Yasuko Miyajima
The Kamenori Foundation Board Chairperson

History of Kamenori Foundation

The Kamenori Foundation was established under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in April 2006. The foundation was named after the late Kamenori Yasumoto, the founder of Kyoritsu Building Co., Ltd. Kamenori Yasumoto was born in Cheju Island, Korea, and relocated to Japan in 1927 at the age of eighteen. He started a rubber business and later founded Kyoritsu Building Co., Ltd., a rental apartment business. Kamenori’s second son, Kenmori, succeeded Kyoritsu Building Co., Ltd. and expanded business to Hong Kong and Australia. While working in Hong Kong and Australia, Kenmori became deeply interested in the countries of Asia and Oceania. Kenmori was concerned that the anti-Japan sentiment he witnessed in Asia, compounded by a lack of understanding in Japan about Asia and Oceania, would have a negative effect on friendly relations in Asia and the world. To help overcome this, he established a foundation to enable cross-cultural exchange between Japan and other countries in Asia and Oceania. “Let’s work together to build mutual understanding and interest in our Asian neighbors.” He named this foundation after his father, Kamenori, who had always wished young people to learn about unfamiliar cultures.

Kamenori Yasumoto
The founder of Kyoritsu Building Co., Ltd.

Kenmori Yasumoto
The founder of Kamenori Foundation

Board Members

Councilors

  • Alex K. YASUMOTO Founder, the Kamenori Foundation
    Executive Director, Kyoritsu Building Co., Ltd.
  • Fumiko UEHARA Associate Professor, Iwate Prefectural University
  • Hiroko KONO Senior Executive Coach, COACH A Co., Ltd.
    Outside Director, Life Corporation
    Outside Director, Satudora Holdings Co Ltd
    Non-Executive Director, PayPay Corporation
  • Yoshitoshi SODESAKI Former Assistant General Manager, Mitsubishi Corporation
  • Koichi MORIZONO Professor Emeritus, Akita International University
  • Yoshiyuki RIKITAKE Director, Yotsuya Kawazoe Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic
  • WANG Min Professor Emeritus, Hosei University
    Specially Appointed Professor, J.F Oberlin University

Trustees

  • Chairperson Shinsuke KIMURA Lawyer
  • Board Chairperson Yasuko MIYAJIMA Representative Director, Cultivator
  • Executive Director Hiroko NISHIDA Former Secretary General, the Kamenori Foundation
  • Yoshiko NAKANO Professor, Tokyo University of Science
  • Keisuke NISHIKAWA Senior Manager, QUNIE Corporation
  • Masao NISHIKAWA Former Executive Director, the Kamenori Foundation
  • Akio NOMURA Board Chairperson,
    Japan Initiative for Youth Development
  • Eiji HARADA Co-founder, Eiji Press Inc.
  • Junichi FUJII Auditor, Atsumi International Foundation

Auditors

  • Reizo KATSUMORI Manager, General Affairs Dept.
    BUYOH Co., Ltd.
  • Kazuo YAMAMOTO Certified Public Accountant, Tax Accountant

As of October, 2024

Our Programs

Youth Exchange Program: Kamenori School

Target:Junior and senior high school students in Japan and Asian countries

Description: A training program designed to allow young people from Japan and Asian countries to interact, understand each other better, and broaden their horizons

Past records: Conducted in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023
30 Japanese and Asian junior and senior high school students participated in each session

International Exchange Program: Kamenori College

Target:University undergraduates living in Southeast Asia and Japan

Description: A program that prepares students to play active roles in future global contexts, and fosters the mindset and skills that they need to grow as assertive human resources

Past records: Conducted in 2018, 2020 (online), 2021, 2022 and 2023
Several international students from Asian countries have participated, in addition to Japanese university students.

Japanese Speakers’ Forum

Target:Senior high school students learning the Japanese language in five Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and Malaysia), and Japanese senior high school student / Japanese language teachers in five Southeast Asian countries

Description: A program for teachers and students to learn together, co-conducted in cooperation with the Japan Foundation (JF) since 2013
・Creating and implementing models to learn Japanese as a foreign language, so that Japanese language education aims at developing the skills that students will need in tomorrow’s societies
・Building a network of Japanese speakers (nihongo-jin) in secondary education
・Promoting mutual understanding among young generations and developing global human resources

Past records: 10-year project
Conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, and conducted online in 2020

Scholarship Program: Graduate Scholarship for Asian Students

Target:Graduate students from Asian countries

Description: Scholarships for graduate studies, granted to full-time foreign students from Asian countries, who must reside in Japan and be enrolled at designated universities

Past records: Granted to a total of 49 individuals to date, including 22 master’s students and 27 doctoral students

Other Programs

・Kamenori Awards

・Kamenori Forum

・Kamenori Session

・Lecture&Meeting

・Seminar series

・Kamenori Reunion