Created to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship through study abroad in Japan, the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation has been working since 1998 to support more than 2,000 students with scholarships to study abroad in Japan on long-term programs. As the foundation’s Executive Director, Dr. Tom Mason shares, “Our organization is proud to partner with the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) to make it possible for students to study abroad who otherwise would likely not have the opportunity.”
The foundation’s Bridging Scholars Program helps young adults develop global leadership skills, gain valuable workforce skills, and build relationships, all while having a life-changing cultural experience. The Bridging Foundation provides annual scholarships to 75-100 U.S. undergraduates. The scholarships are temporarily on hold due to the pandemic; but the Bridging Foundation hopes to double the number of grantees in the future.
The U.S.-Japan-Bridging Foundation has helped more than 2,000 undergraduates study abroad in Japan since 1998.
The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation was established by JUSFC in 1998 at the recommendation of the U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON). Dr. Mason took over as Executive Director on October 2020. Prior to joining the Bridging Foundation, he led the Alliance for Language Learning and Educational Exchange (ALLEX), which he founded in 2003 as a graduate student at Cornell University. “A scholarship to study abroad in high school sparked my lifelong interest in Japan and Asian languages,” Dr. Mason shared.
Over the past more than 20 years, the Bridging Scholars Program has provided more than $7,300,000 in scholarship grants to academically and financially deserving students with JUSFC’s support. The scholarships range from between $2,500 and $4,500, and cover either one semester abroad or a full academic year. “Students often use their grant money to cover the significant costs of airfare, train travel within Japan to their host university, and food, which are indirect costs not typically covered by academic scholarships or loans,” Dr. Mason explains. “While they may study in a myriad of disciplines, from business, computer science, engineering, Japanese and East Asian studies, to art, physics, and more, each shares a passion for the Japanese language and culture.” Leveraging these study abroad experiences, the organization also facilitates leadership development, mentoring, internship and volunteer opportunities for students in Japan and in the U.S. The program focuses on four components to develop next generation global leaders: education; Japanese culture, history, and language; leadership; and personal/professional development. The Bridging Foundation uses a broad network of international corporate, education, and government colleagues, who help recruit undergraduate students, including those underrepresented in U.S.-Japan relations, from colleges and universities across the nation.
One highlight of the Bridging Scholars Program is the diversity of its participants. Fifty percent identify as Black, Asian, or Hispanic; 55 percent are women, and 37 percent receive Pell grants, indicating they have a strong financial need. The Foundation plans to increase the number of grantees of color by providing peer-to-peer networking and mentorship opportunities for those traditionally less represented in the field as well increasing partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Dr. Tom Mason, lower left, joined producer Amy DeLouise, upper left and an impressive slate of expert presenters for webinars, exposing students to issues of importance in Japanese society.
Participating in the program has a lasting impact on students. In the most recent survey of Bridging Scholars alumni, 80% still communicate with their Japanese host family, friends and professors, and more than half currently work in Japan or for a U.S.-Japan related organization. More than 30% volunteer in a local Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET), Sister Cities, or Japan America Society chapter. Many have gone on to participate in additional educational exchange programs and internships, or in some other way involve Japan in their professional livelihood or personal life.
While the ability to travel to Japan is paused for now, the Bridging Foundation has many other plans in the works. This past fall, the Foundation held a series of webinars exposing students to a wide variety of issues important in Japanese society today. Attendees learned about social enterprise/grassroots nonprofits in Japan, Japanese changemakers in business, and African-American intersections with Japanese culture. The Foundation plans to continue offering a variety of free programming to hundreds of U.S. undergraduate students through additional online initiatives in the year ahead.
Learn more about the Bridging Foundations other upcoming programs here, and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Stay tuned for updates on the Fall 2021 Bridging Scholarship program. You can visit https://www.aatj.org/studyabroad/japan-bridging-scholarships to check for news and updates.