SDG Projects Spotlight: Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh
JICUF SDG Project Spotlight: Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh “Clean Water and Good Health for a Brighter Future” -Project Reflection & Future OutlookMohammed Nchota Chetgoh, a recipient of the Spring 2025 SDG Project Grant, is an international student from Cameroon. His project aims to improve the living conditions of children residing in two orphanages in his hometown of Yaoundé, Cameroon: Centre des Handicapés Etoug Ebe and Sainte Rita OP. Through initiatives such as installing water purification filters and providing education on environmental hygiene, Mohammed works to create a healthier and safer environment for the children. Last summer, Mohammed traveled to Cameroon to implement his project. We asked him to share his experiences […]
JICUF Publishes 2025 Impact Report
JICUF is pleased to share our 2025 Impact Report. The feature story (p.10-21) focuses on the launch of two new student fellowship programs: the Global Citizen Fellowship and the Othmer Research Fellowship. Click here or the image below to read this year’s Impact Report. JICUF is pleased to share our 2025 Impact Report. The feature story (p.10-21) focuses on the launch of two new JICUF student fellowship programs: the Global Citizen Fellowship and the Othmer Research Fellowship. Click the image below or click here to read this year’s Impact Report.
Faculty Grant Spotlight: Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi
From left: Kae Takagi, Prof. Yamaguchi, Ai Kimura, and Asahi Igarashi Faculty Grant Spotlight: Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi Bridging Japan and India through Student-Led Fieldwork on Public Interest Technologies During the Fall 2025 faculty grant cycle, Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi of ICU’s Department of Society, Culture, and Media was awarded a JICUF Faculty Grant. The grant enabled Professor Yamaguchi to bring a group of students with her to India in March of this year to conduct collaborative field research. The project, titled “Bridging Japan and India through Student-Led Fieldwork on Public Interest Technologies,” explored the concept of Public Interest Technologies (PIT)—technologies that contribute to social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and ethical governance—and examined […]
Nurturing Global Citizens: The Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program at ICU
Photo by Kyoka Horiuchi “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.” – Abraham Lincoln, Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862 From May 24 to June 5, 2026, twelve students from Parami University in Myanmar traveled to Japan to participate in the Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program at ICU. Made possible through a partnership between JICUF, Parami University, ICU, and Volunteers in Asia (VIA), the program brought together students, educators, and community leaders for nearly two weeks of learning, […]
Global Citizen Fellowship 2026 Launches Second Year with Diverse Cohort and Spring Retreat
On April 4, 2026, JICUF officially launched the second year of the Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF) with a kickoff event at ICU. The eight-month fellowship brings together students from Japanese universities who are committed to deepening their understanding of themselves, the world around them, and their responsibility to contribute to the well-being of humanity. A scene from the kickoff meeting (Photo by Kyoka Horiuchi)Fully funded by JICUF, the fellowship combines two weekend retreats in Japan, a two-and-a-half-week intensive program in New York City, a social impact project, individual coaching, and peer learning opportunities. Through these interconnected experiences, fellows are challenged to better understand themselves, engage thoughtfully with the […]
Alumni Stories No. 28 – Dr. Keigi Fujiwara
Born the son of the head priest in a temple in Shimane, Dr. Keigi Fujiawara studied biology at ICU and graduated in 1968. He went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and began an illustrious career as a faculty member at the Harvard Medical School, the University of Rochester, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center among others. We asked Dr. Fujiwara to write about his life, including how the heir to a Buddhist temple ended up at ICU, and built his career in the U.S.
Changes on the JICUF Board – Spring 2026
Masako Hashigami, who served on the JICUF Board for nine years, stepped down from her role at the end of March, and two new trustees, Rie Kijima and Kieran Cavanna joined the board. We thank Masako for her years of dedicated service to JICUF, and welcome Rie and Kieran.
Alumni Stories No. 27 – Dr. Masako Hashigami
This March, Masako Hashigami completed her ten years of service as a trustee on the JICUF board. She is an ICU graduate (class of 1975) who went on to earn graduate degrees from Harvard Business School and Bard Graduate School. She has had a career in finance and served on the boards of the Japan Society and the Freer and Sackler Galleries. We asked Masako to share her “ICU story.”
2026 Japan Education Pathways Scholars Matriculate at ICU
On April 2, two new Japan Education Pathways (JEP) Scholars matriculated at ICU. Solomiia, who is from Ukraine, and Zahra, who is from Afghanistan, are this year’s recipients of this scholarship.
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 […]