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The Nippon Foundation has embarked on a joint international research project to unlock the mystery of “dark oxygen” with Northwestern University and Boston University of the United States and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)From left: The Nippon Foundation Executive Director Mitsuyuki Unno, Franz Geiger of Northwestern University and Jeffrey Marlow of Boston University at a press

Since September, we have conducted a series of online panel discussions exploring the future of careers in Japanese studies. The full video series is available here: Webinar Video Available: Japan Studies – Next-Gen Career Paths: Interdisciplinary and Diverse TrajectoriesBroadening the Scope: New Possibilities through Cross-discipline CollaborationStrengthening for Sustainability: Networks, Fundin

On January 30 (Fri) 2026, The Nippon Foundation Scholars Association will host an online discussion on institutional collaboration and the avenues it can provide for Japanese studies scholars.The recording is now available here.The field has undergone seismic changes in recent decades, leaving many scholars understandably concerned about the future. At the same time, numerous important actors in J

Last month, on the eve of World Leprosy Day, I posted a message on the World Health Organization (WHO) website in my capacity as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.In my message, I reflected on the fact that this year marks the 25th anniversary of my appointment as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador.Drawing on decades of firsthand engagement with communities affected by leprosy, I highlighted

At the beginning of the New Year, I was amazed and grateful that The Nippon Foundation received a donation of 400 million yen (about $2.62 million) from an elderly woman in Osaka, western Japan. The sender remains anonymous.A year earlier, we received a donation of 200 million yen (about $1.31 million) in three big cardboard boxes, delivered to our office by a parcel delivery service from an anony

Which best describes your impression of Japan having its first female prime minister?On October 21, 2025, Ms. Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s 104th prime minister by its Diet (Parliament), making her the first woman in the nation’s history to hold the office. To look into how young Japanese feel about the new leader, The Nippon Foundation conducted an online survey from November 7 to 10, coveri

The 749 gross-ton containership Mikage, equipped with an autonomous navigation system, is being readied  for certification by the Japanese government in order to start commercial operations by the end of March 2026 under the “MEGURI2040” project. Under the “MEGURI2040” project, three more vessels are slated to start fully autonomous navigation on their respective commercial routes by the end of Ma

A mobile land-based support center deployed at Shin-Okayama Port in Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, for the demonstration of fully autonomous navigation by the passenger ferry Olympia Dream Seto on December 10, 2025. For the demonstration of its unmanned navigation system on December 10, 2025, the 942 gross-ton passenger ferry Olympia Dream Seto was supported by a mobile land-based Fleet Operat

The 942 gross-ton Olympia Dream Seto is to become the world’s first passenger ferry with a fully autonomous navigation system to start commercial service on a regular route under the “MEGURI2040” project. A Japanese consortium will shortly start fully autonomous operations of a passenger ferry on a regular commercial route in western Japan under the MEGURI2040 fully autonomous ship project finance

Happy New Year!All of us at The Nippon Foundation wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026.     ******************************************A private audience with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, northern India, on November 28, 2025. I was received by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, at his headquarters in Dharamsala, northern India, on

I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to Sri Lanaka from November 6 to 8, 2025, in my capacity as honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.[November 7, Colombo, Sri Lanka]With 15 Sasakawa fellows who studied at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden under the foundation’s fellowship program.  With memb

[November 6, Colombo, Sri Lanka] I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to Sri Lanaka from November 6 to 8, 2025, in my capacity as honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. With Prime Minister Harini Nireka Amarasuriya, who also serves as Education Minister.At the meeting at her official residence Temple Tree

I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to Sri Lanka from November 6 to 8, 2025, in my capacity as honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. During my stay in the capital Colombo, I attended Sri Lanka’s first national leprosy conference aimed at reinvigorating the country’s efforts against leprosy and the assoc

Mr. Brandt Brown (left) of Raymarine of the United Kingdom with Seabed 2030 Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips, formalizing their partnership to accelerate global ocean mapping. They met on the sidelines of the Ocean Floor Explore symposium held in Victoria, Canada, from October 26 to 29, 2025. (Image credit: Seabed 2030) The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, which aims to complete the m

A total of 99 participants from 33 teams from across the world take part in The Nippon Foundation “SpoGomi” World Cup 2025 Final in Tokyo on October 29, 2025. Japan clinched the world title with Germany finishing second and Morocco third. A trio from Japan won The Nippon Foundation “SpoGomi” World Cup 2025 Final in Tokyo on October 29, beating out teams from around the world to pick up the most tr

Commenting on the discoveries of 30 previously unknown deep-sea species in the depths of the Southern Ocean by scientists of The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census, Dr. Michelle Taylor, head of science at Ocean Census, said: “The Southern Ocean remains profoundly under-sampled. To date, we have only assessed under 30% of the samples collected from this expedition, so confirming 30 new species a

Carnivorous “death ball” sponge discovered in the depths of the Southern Ocean by researchers of The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census. Image credit: The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/Schmidt Ocean Institute.Scientists from The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census, a global alliance dedicated to the discovery and protection of marine life, have discovered 30 previously unknown deep-se

I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to the United States, and Antigua and Barbuda from October 15 to 23, 2025, in my capacity as honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation.[October 20, Willikies, Antigua and Barbuda] With about 20 Sasakawa fellows who studied at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden under the foundation’s fellowship program between 199

I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to the United States, and Antigua and Barbuda from October 15 to 23, 2025, in my capacity as honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation.[October 17, Washington, D.C., the United States]Washington, D.C. on a clear autumn day. [October 18, Washington, D.C., the United States]With President Roberta Cornano (left) of Gallaudet U

I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to the United States, and Antigua and Barbuda from October 15 to 23, 2025, in my capacity as honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation.In Woods Hole, 120 kilometers south of Boston, I visited the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) to be awarded its inaugural series Centennial Medal.In Washington, I met with Preside