In the aftermath of WWII, visionaries in Japan and the United States came together to establish a university in Japan that would educate “new leaders for a new Japan” committed to reconciliation, democracy, and human rights. The Japan ICU Foundation was incorporated in New York in 1949 to support this endeavor, and International Christian University (ICU) was founded the same year. Over 75 years later, ICU has grown into a leading university, and JICUF and ICU remain steadfast partners.
With our eyes on the future, JICUF’s mission is to nurture global citizens who contribute to the well-being of humanity. We fulfill this mission by supporting innovative educational programs at ICU and other higher education institutions in Japan. Examples include Refugee Education Japan, the SDG Projects, the Othmer Research Fellowship and the Global Citizen Fellowship.
Most Recent Articles
2026 Global Citizen Fellowship: New York Program
In mid-August, the second cohort of JICUF’s Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF) traveled to New York for an intensive two-week program. GCF is an eight-month program for ICU and other university students living in Japan. It is designed to help Fellows explore their values, deepen their understanding of the world and their place in it, and consider how they can contribute to the common good. Led by JICUF President Paul Hastings and Program Facilitator and ICU alumna Yuri Morikawa, GCF unfolds in three modules over eight months, each with a distinct theme. The first, Discovering Self and Authentic Leadership, focuses on values, mindset, and purpose. The second, Creating Meaningful Relationships and […]
The 2nd JICUF SWC 2026 Held at Lake Motosu!
From August 26 to 28, 2026, JICUF held its second Summer Waterside Camp (SWC) at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi Prefecture. With the support of Professor Masao Higashiyama of ICU’s Health and Physical Education Program, who also collaborated with us last year, a total of 23 students participated in the camp. Participants included ICU students as well as students with refugee backgrounds who are currently studying at universities and Japanese language schools in Japan through the Japan Education Pathways (JEP) and Japanese Language School Pathways program. One of the changes to this year’s camp was the participation of several ICU students who had attended last year’s SWC and returnedas student staff […]
JICUF Supports Conference on Education Pathways for Refugees in the Republic of Korea
A conference titled “Exploring Education Pathways for Refugees in the Republic of Korea and Beyond” was held at the Embassy of Canada to Korea in Seoul on July 29-30. As a member of the Global Task Force on Third Country Education Pathways, JICUF contributed to its planning, which began a year earlier.
DONATE