2026 Second Quarter

Commemorating the centennial of the 1927 Friendship Doll Mission, the Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will host "Messengers of Peace". This exhibition features historic Japanese Ichimatsu dolls and the American doll "Francetta" to explore cultural diplomacy and peacebuilding. The project integrates an interactive kiosk with caretaker narratives and a collaborative "Co-Existence" symposium. By highlighting these shared historical narratives, the initiative fosters cross-cultural understanding and connects the legacy of international gift-giving to contemporary efforts in global cooperation.

Location: Bloomington, IN
Grant Awarded: $25,000

Led by the General Incorporated Association Journey Home and NPO ORGAN, this project hosts the 2026 Hearth Summit in Japan’s Nagara River basin. Partnering with The Wellbeing Project, the initiative addresses changemaker burnout by integrating "inner transformation" with social activism. The summit convenes 130 global participants, including 5 U.S. change makers, to engage with regional nature, historical culture, and the philosophy of "Mutual Regeneration". By bridging Japanese ecological wisdom with international social innovation, the project fosters a resilient transnational network dedicated to sustainable, inclusive social change.

Location: Nerima, Tokyo
Grant Awarded: ¥3,000,000

Led by NPO Support Center Japan, this project addresses the structural shortage of nonprofit support professionals. As demand for organizational capacity-building outpaces supply, the initiative builds a sustainable ecosystem for practitioners. Phase 1 focuses on structural analysis and market design, using interviews and pilot experiments to identify replicable pathways for professional development. By strengthening the sector's support infrastructure, the project ensures the long-term scalability of social innovation. This experimental initiative transforms individualized practices into a visible, professionalized network for Japan’s future.

Location: Minato, Tokyo
Grant Awarded: ¥1,837,000

Strengthening the academic and professional study of philanthropy in Japan, this project expands access to global research and cultivates local expertise. By translating foundational English-language reports into Japanese, the initiative provides essential reference materials for scholars and nonprofit leaders. Additionally, a pilot program engages emerging researchers and practitioners in co-developing the 2028 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI) reports. These combined efforts foster regional knowledge exchange, ensuring that international evidence informs Japan’s social innovation landscape and future academic research.

Location: Indianapolis, IN
Grant Awarded: $10,000

Led by Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Will for Japan, the Free Wills Campaign (FWC) transforms "legacy giving" into a widespread cultural norm. By subsidizing will-drafting costs for donors, the initiative unlocks underutilized "sleeping assets" to address social issues like rural wealth depletion. Through a collaborative network of financial institutions, local governments, and legal professionals, the project creates essential triggers for action. Ultimately, the campaign establishes a sustainable circulation of wealth, ensuring that individual intentions support Japan’s future social innovation and regional vitality.

Location: Bunkyo, Tokyo
Grant Awarded: ¥10,000,000

Addressing the global challenge of youth social isolation, this initiative by Sodateage Net translates forty years of Japanese grassroots expertise in combating hikikomori into accessible digital resources. Through the production of English-language learning materials and interactive workshops, Sodateage Net connects Japanese practitioners with U.S. and international stakeholders. By integrating both medical perspectives and the relationship-centered support developed through Japan’s grassroots civic activities, the project fosters transnational networks among professionals and civil society actors. This collaborative effort ensures that Japan’s deep practical insights inform effective local solutions for isolated youth worldwide.

Location: Tachikawa, Tokyo
Grant Awarded: ¥3,000,000

Anchoring disaster recovery in cultural heritage, this international gathering in Wajima unites Indigenous diving communities to enhance global marine resilience. The initiative brings Japan’s Ama divers into dialogue with peers from South Korea and the United States to share traditional ecological knowledge and adaptation strategies. By integrating shared dives with scientific studies on diving physiology, the project addresses urgent challenges like climate change and ecosystem decline. This collaborative platform fosters transnational solidarity, supporting Wajima’s post-earthquake revitalization and sustainable ocean stewardship.

Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Grant Awarded: $25,000

This initiative by LEDGE builds a sustainable pro bono ecosystem to support public interest litigation in Japan. By integrating American pro bono infrastructure with local human rights cases, the project addresses structural gaps in resources and coordination. Key activities include hiring a dedicated project attorney to match law firms with litigation needs and facilitating dialogue with Japanese firms to strengthen pro bono policies. Finally, the project promotes Japan’s first Pro Bono Week and shares findings at the 2026 Asia Pro Bono Conference to drive skills-based social contribution.

Location: Chuo, Tokyo
Grant Awarded: $60,000

To address the sustainability of economic and social systems, the Zebra Exchange Initiative promotes purpose-driven entrepreneurship. By translating the Japanese "Impact Journey Report" into English, Zebras Unite and Zebras and Company create a foundation for cross-border collaboration. The project convenes high-trust learning sessions in the United States to explore long-term stewardship and community-rooted governance. Through engagement with academia and media, the initiative establishes knowledge feedback loops that strengthen the global Zebra ecosystem, demonstrating how businesses can drive resilience in Japan and the U.S.

Location: Portland, OR
Grant Awarded: $25,000