UNITED STATES-JAPAN BRIDGING FOUNDATION INC

THREE CORE ACTIVITIES COMPRISE USJBF'S GLOBAL EDUCATION MISSION: PROMOTING STUDY ABROAD TO JAPAN AMONG AMERICAN UNDERGRADUATES, FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT AMERICANS TO STUDY IN JAPAN, AND PROVIDING PROGRAMMING SUPPORT TO THOSE STUDENTS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THEIR STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE.AT THE CORE OF THE FOUNDATION IS THE BRIDGING SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. EACH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT SPENDS A SEMESTER OR ACADEMIC-YEAR IN JAPAN TAKING CLASSES AT A LOCAL JAPANESE UNIVERSITY AND STUDYING THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE WHERE THEY DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTRY. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS UNDERGRADUATES WHO DEMONSTRATE GENUINE FINANCIAL NEED AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.THE BRIDGING SCHOLARS PROGRAM IS A PROVEN MECHANISM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO PURSUE CAREERS RELATED TO JAPAN AND HAS AS ITS GOAL THE STRENGTHENING THE U.S. PARTNERSHIP. WE BELIEVE THAT EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES OF THIS NATURE HAVE AN IMPORTANT LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE UNIQUE U.S.-JAPAN BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP AND RESULTS IN CLOSER TIES BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.SINCE ITS FOUNDING THE FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED NEARLY 2,500 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING OVER $7,500,000 IN GRANTS OF $2,500 TO $7,500 EACH HELPING ACADEMICALLY AND FINANCIALLY DESERVING UNDERGRADUATES. BRIDGING SCHOLARS REPRESENT EVERY STATE AND STUDY IN NEARLY EVERY JAPANESE PREFECTURE.SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:THE FOUNDATION SOLICITS APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY IN JAPAN FOR EITHER AN ACADEMIC YEAR OR ONE SEMESTER. WE RECEIVE AT LEAST FOUR APPLICATIONS FOR EVERY ONE AWARDED, DEMONSTRATING BOTH STRONG INTEREST IN STUDYING IN JAPAN AND DEMAND FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, GIVEN THE HIGH COST OF TRAVELING TO AND LIVING IN JAPAN. TODAY WE AWARD APPROXIMATELY 70-100 SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY AT A TOTAL VALUE OF $250,000.