Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation

The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation logo

The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation is a United Kingdom-based charity (registered no. 299955) established in 1988 to support closer links between Britain and Japan. It was founded with a benefaction from Daiwa Securities Co Ltd (now known as Daiwa Capital Markets, the investment banking arm of Japan's second largest brokerage Daiwa Securities Group).

Activities

The Foundation carries out its objective through the following activities:

Location

Daiwa Foundation Japan House

The Foundation is based at Daiwa Foundation Japan House, a Georgian town house designed by Decimus Burton overlooking Regent's Park in central London. Daiwa Foundation Japan House acts as a centre for UK-Japan relations in Britain by offering a programme of seminars, exhibitions and book launches as well as meeting rooms for Japan-related activities and facilities for visiting academics.

Part of Daiwa Foundation Japan House, 13 Cornwall Terrace, was the home of Sir Arthur Lasenby Liberty (1843–1917), founder of Liberty & Co..

The Foundation is represented in Japan by its Tokyo Office, which provides local assistance to Daiwa Scholars and administers grant applications from Japan. It also handles general enquiries about the Foundation's programmes.

Daiwa Scholarships

The Daiwa Scholarship is an educational programme that sends British graduates to Japan for 19 months. Daiwa Scholars spend 12 months on Japanese language study, 1 month on a homestay and 6 months on a work placement. Up to 10 Daiwa Scholarships are available each year.

The programme was established in 1991 and was inspired by the belief that the exchange of young people would foster mutual understanding and support the long-term relationship between Britain and Japan.

It is a core programme of the Foundation and through it the Foundation seeks to identify future leaders in their fields who will derive personal and professional benefit from obtaining an in-depth experience of Japan.

Since 1991, 129 graduates from 38 universities and 22 different subject areas have completed the programme.

Grants

The Foundation provides funding through the following programmes:

Daiwa Foundation Small Grants

Daiwa Foundation Small Grants are available from £2,000-£7,000 to individuals, societies, associations or other bodies in the UK or Japan to promote and support interaction between the two countries. They can cover all fields of activity, including educational and grassroots exchanges, research travel, the organisation of conferences, exhibitions, and other projects and events that fulfil this broad objective. New initiatives are especially encouraged.

Daiwa Foundation Awards

Daiwa Foundation Awards are available from £7,000-£15,000 for collaborative projects that enable British and Japanese partners to work together, preferably within the context of an institutional relationship. Projects in academic, professional, cultural and educational fields (except science) are eligible.

The Royal Society Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Joint Project Grants

These grants support travel, subsistence and research for collaborative projects between British and Japanese researchers in the field of science. They are funded by the Foundation and administered by The Royal Society.

Daiwa Adrian Prize

Every three years, the Foundation makes prizes available in recognition of significant scientific collaboration between Japanese and British research teams.

Events

The Foundation has an ongoing programme of UK-Japan events based mainly at Daiwa Foundation Japan House.

Seminars

It organises an annual series of evening seminars based on a broad contemporary theme. Seminars draw on the experience and expertise of British and Japanese contributors to explore topics of mutual relevance and to stimulate debate amongst decision-makers. Themes have included: The Search for Contentment: Shifting Values in the UK and Japan (2013); Leadership: People and Power in the UK and Japan (2012); Uncertain Futures: The Individual, Society and the State in the UK and Japan (2011; States in Change: National Identity in the UK and Japan (2010); Changing World Views: International Challenges for the UK and Japan (2009); Economic Futures: Wealth and Well Being in the UK and Japan (2008); Running the Country: People and Politics in the UK and Japan (2007); Life's Chances: demographic change in the UK and Japan (2006); The Arts, Culture and Society in the UK and Japan (2005); UK-Japan Cities of the Future: Regeneration and Urban Life (2004); Education and Society (2003); Japan's International Relations (2002).

Exhibitions

The gallery at Daiwa Foundation Japan House displays works by Japanese artists or British artists influenced by Japan. All exhibitions are free of charge.

Book Launches

The book launch series brings together experts to discuss new publications in the field of Japanese studies.

Voluntary groups

Daiwa Foundation Japan House provides space for voluntary groups with connections to Japan. Users of the meeting rooms and other facilities have included Asia-Pacific Technology Network; British Association for Japanese Studies; The Japan Foundation Endowment Committee; Sakura-kai, Japanese language classes; Hosei University; The Japan Society Art Circle; International Children's Bunko Association; Japanese Women's Association; Urasenke Foundation; and flower arranging groups.

See also

External links