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
Faculty Grant Project Report “ICUHS School Farm to Table”
In addition to the “SDG Project” grants for students, JICUF also offers grants for faculty and staff. In fiscal year 2025, we provided a total of 9,485,960 yen in grants to 10 faculty and staff projects. One of these was the “ICUHS School Farm to Table” project led by Minako Kuhara, the International Programs Coordinator at International Christian University High School. In 2022, ICU High School launched “NO AGRI NO LIFE/ NO 農 NO LIFE” as part of its Global Learning Programs, offering students hands-on learning opportunities about agriculture and environmental issues. This is a voluntary group activity involving teachers from various subjects, such as science and home economics, and […]
JICUF Co-organizes a Symposium on Refugee Pathways to Japan at the International House of Japan
On April 8, JICUF co-organized a symposium titled “Refugee Pathways to Japan: From Access to Impact” at the International House of Japan (IHJ) in Tokyo. JICUF staff worked closely with IHJ, the American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ) and the United States-Japan Foundation (USJF) to plan and implement this event. The goal was to raise awareness about the current state of the admission of refugees to Japan through educational and employment opportunities, and contemplate the role of philanthropy in this space.
JICUF’s Initiative Refugee Education Japan Publishes 10-year Report
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Japan ICU Foundation’s efforts to expand higher education opportunities for students with refugee backgrounds. To mark this milestone, JICUF’s initiative, Refugee Education Japan, published a 10-year report.
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