Introduction
The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation is a United Kingdom-based charitable foundation established in 1988 to promote closer links between Britain and Japan across cultural, educational, academic, professional, and scientific fields. Founded with a generous benefaction from Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd. (now Daiwa Capital Markets), the foundation supports activities that strengthen bilateral understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
History and Background
The foundation was created in 1988 with the belief that sustained people-to-people connections between the UK and Japan would build long-term mutual respect and collaboration. Since then, it has become a key institution in UK–Japan relations by offering grants, scholarships, and a year-round programme of events that bring individuals and organisations together to explore shared interests and promote cross-cultural dialogue.
Mission and Purpose
The mission of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation is to support and promote links between Britain and Japan in all areas of social, cultural, educational, scientific, and professional life. To achieve this, the foundation:
- Makes grants available to individuals, institutions, and organisations to support UK–Japan interaction
- Awards scholarships and learning opportunities focused on Japan and its language
- Organises a year-round programme of events to raise awareness and deepen understanding of Japan in the UK
Governance and Structure
The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation is registered as a UK charity (registered no. 299955) and maintains headquarters at Daiwa Foundation Japan House in London. This Georgian townhouse serves as a central hub for UK–Japan relations, hosting exhibitions, seminars, talks, workshops, cultural programmes, and facilities for visiting academics and collaborative activities. The foundation also maintains a Tokyo office to assist local applicants and administer programmes in Japan.
Funding and Grants
Daiwa Foundation Small Grants
The foundation’s Small Grants programme provides funding typically ranging from £2,000 to £9,000 to individuals, societies, associations, or other bodies in the UK or Japan. These grants support activities that promote interaction between the two countries, including educational exchanges, research travel, the organisation of conferences, exhibitions, and other collaborative projects. New initiatives are encouraged, and funding rounds usually occur twice a year.
Daiwa Foundation Awards
For larger collaborative efforts, Daiwa Foundation Awards offer funding from £9,000 to £18,000 for projects that enable substantial UK–Japan cooperation. Eligible projects typically involve partners from both countries and may span academic, scientific, professional, cultural, or educational fields.
Other Grant Schemes
While no longer active, past programmes have included:
- Daiwa Adrian Prizes, awarded every three years (now discontinued) to recognise significant UK–Japan scientific collaboration.
- International Exchange Schemes in collaboration with partners like The Royal Society to support academic exchanges.
Scholarships and Educational Programs
Daiwa Scholarship
The foundation’s flagship educational initiative is the Daiwa Scholarship, a long-standing programme that sends British graduates to Japan for immersive study and work experience. Scholars begin with language study, continue with intensive Japanese study in Japan, complete a homestay, and undertake a professional placement — all designed to deepen cultural knowledge, language skills, and cross-cultural experience. To date, over 190 graduates from numerous UK universities and subject areas have completed the programme.
Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies
Launched in 2015, the Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies support postgraduate students with strong academic backgrounds in Japan-related studies. These awards fund study or research in Japan or the UK, particularly for students pursuing topics related to Japanese language, culture, history, or society.
Collaborative Scholarship Partnerships
The foundation partners with institutions such as the Cambridge Trust to offer awards like the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Cambridge Scholarship, which supports postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge for Japanese citizens, encouraging further bilateral academic ties.
Events and Outreach
Beyond grants and scholarships, the foundation organises seminars, exhibitions, book launches, lectures, and cultural activities at Daiwa Foundation Japan House in London. These events aim to broaden public understanding of Japan, encourage scholarly dialogue, and support networks between British and Japanese audiences and practitioners.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Recent funding rounds illustrate the foundation’s diverse impact. Projects supported include travel and collaborative fieldwork between UK botanical gardens and Japanese partners, cross-cultural youth theatre exchanges, and academic research visits exploring healthcare, social welfare, and cultural exchange. For example, the foundation awarded approximately £136,300 in combined Small Grants and Awards in March 2025 to a range of UK–Japan collaborative projects.
Conclusion
The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation plays an essential role in fostering strong, long-term relationships between the United Kingdom and Japan through its strategic grants, scholarships, and cultural programming. By supporting educational exchanges, collaborative research, artistic projects, and public engagement, the foundation helps build deeper mutual understanding and sustained cooperation across cultural, academic, and professional spheres.
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