JICUF Grantee Highlight: Singing Songs and SDGs Storytelling in Spanish Class
Project title: “Singing Songs and SDGs Storytelling in Spanish Class” Grant recipient: Adiene Hishiyama, Instructor of Spanish Amount awarded: 300,000 yen Adiene is on the far left (All photos on this page taken by Yu Goto) Adiene Hishiyama, who has been teaching Spanish at ICU since 2018, held a workshop on learning Spanish songs with support from JICUF’s faculty grant. This workshop not only improved the participants’ vocabulary and pronunciation through singing, but also explored issues such as migration and poverty which were reflected in the songs. The project culminated in a performance at the Nishi-Tokyo City Cultural Festival held in November 2024. Through this project, the students not only […]
Introducing Fusae Nara, JICUF’s New Chair of the Board
In April, Fusae Nara, who joined the JICUF Board of Trustees in 2022, was appointed the Chair of the Board. Fusae is a graduate of ICU with a BA in international law and MA in public administration. Please join us in welcoming her in her new role!
JICUF Co-hosts Events on Refugee Higher Education with Wilfrid Laurier University
In late April, JICUF co-hosted three events in Japan on the theme of expanding higher education access for displaced students: a roundtable on Burmese and Rohingya refugees at the University of Tokyo, a presentation by Wilfrid Laurier University’s International Students Overcoming War (ISOW) team, and a full-day student workshop for student action for humanitarian causes at ICU.
My Journey at ICU – Viktoriia
Five Ukrainian students arrived on the ICU campus in May 2022, just shy of three months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Two of these students, Ivanna Tomchichenna and Viktoriia Koretska, completed the Master’s program in Public Policy and Social Research and received their degrees this spring, graduating from ICU. (You can read that article here) In the following, Viktoriia, who has secured employment at a company in the Kansai region and is about to take her first steps as a working professional in Japan, reflects on her time at ICU. When I arrived in Japan nearly two years ago, everything felt uncertain. I had left behind my home, my […]
The First Recipients of the Education Pathways Scholarship Matriculate at ICU
On April 1, the first recipients of the Education Pathways Scholarship matriculated at ICU. The Education Pathways Scholarship is a full scholarship which support students who have fled conflict in their home countries. The students shared their thoughts with us.
Two Ukrainian Students Graduate from ICU With Master’s Degrees
This March, two Ukrainian students whom JICUF and ICU supported graduated with master’s degrees. Ivanna Tomchyshena reflected on her time at ICU.
JICUF Publishes 2024 Impact Report
JICUF is pleased to share our 2024 Impact Report. The feature story focuses on the opening of JICUF’s Japan Office on the ICU campus. Click here or the image below to read the Impact Report.
Farm Project Report – Spring 2025
The Farm Project, a collaboration between JICUF and ICU, was launched in spring 2024. (Click here to read about the project’s background and meet Farm Manager Chigusa Horiuchi.) JICUF will be sharing seasonal updates on the project’s progress and activities. Rooted in the themes of food, agriculture, and environmental engagement, the Farm Project began its activities last fall under the name FARM DAYS. Students and faculty volunteers gathered about three days a week to cultivate the land, plant fruit trees, and tend to the fields. By February 2025, nearly 100 individuals—including many repeat volunteers—had taken part. Currently, the project focuses on three key areas: the forest garden, the orchard, and […]
JICUF to Co-host Events at ICU with Canada’s Wilfrid Laurier University
On April 25 (Friday) and 26 (Saturday), JICUF and Wilfrid Laurier University will co-host two events at ICU focused on providing higher education opportunities for students with refugee backgrounds. We invite ICU students, faculty and staff to learn about the groundbreaking student-led initiative of the Canadian University to bring students from conflict zones around the world to study in Canada.
David Janes Honored with Ruth Miller Global Citizenship Award
Outgoing JICUF Board Chair Dr. David Janes has been bestowed with the inaugural Ruth Miller Global Citizenship Award. The announcement came at a special dinner held to mark JICUF’s 75th anniversary in Los Angeles on March 8, 2025. The Ruth Miller Award honors individuals who embody the values of global citizenship while making significant contributions to JICUF. This prestigious award celebrates Ruth Miller’s legacy of dedication to international understanding, peace, and reconciliation through education. About Ruth Miller Ruth Louise Miller dedicated her entire professional life to the Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF), serving from 1947 until her retirement in 1982. As the Executive Director of JICUF, she played a pivotal role […]