Research Grant Programme
Under the basic theme 'Creating a Society with Pluralistic Values", this programme awards grants
for research projects that try to identify and solve problems faced by contemporary society and that
focus on the following four priority areas:
1. Mutual understanding and coexistence of diverse cultures
2. Proposals for a new social system: building a civil society
3. The global environment and the potential for human survival
4. Science and technology in the age of civil society
This programme supports both individual research projects and collaborative research projects. Both Japanese and English language application forms are available. Applicants are called for in April and May each year and are reviewed by selection committees; grants are approved by the Board of Directors in late September. The grant period begins on November 1. The total grant awards amount to about ¥180 million annually. In 1994, the Foundation awarded fifty-one grants from a total of 788 grant applications. Grant categories were divided into Type A Grants, which were aoimed at independent-minded young researchers undertaking projects on their own, and Type B Grants, which especially targetted international joint research projects. Fiscal 1994 was the first year in which the Foundation accepted applications in English.
Grant programme for Citizen Activities
Reflecting changes in the environment surrounding citizen activities, the Foundation provides funding
for citizen activities that aim to ptopose alternatives from the viewpoint of local community and new
lifestyles under the basic theme "Reappraisal of Local Communities and Life". The programme
awards grants for projects in Japan that document grass-roots citizen activities and for the publication
of such documents. Grants are also awarded to promote exchange among groups engaged in citizen
activities. The total grant awards amount to about ¥35 million annually.
Projects awarded grants as a result of the Citizen Research Contest under the theme "Observing the
Community Environment", are conducted jointly by community residents and experts in various fields
who are engaged in intensive long-term study of the immediate community environment in Japan.
This contest is conducted every two years. The total grant awards for each contest period amount to
about ¥30 million.
Southeast Asia Programme
Under this International Grant Programme grants are awarded for research projects that respond to
the needs of society and are conducted mainly in Southeast Asian countries by indigenous researchers.
At present this programme concentrates on projects aimed at preserving and revitalising the
indigenous cultures of Southeast Asia. This programme also encourages international joint projects
conducted by Southeast Asian researchers to nurture Southeast Asian studies in the social sciences and
the humanities. The programme also awards Incentive Grants for Young Researchers in Southeast
Asian studies to young researchers studying in Malaysia for individual research in Southeast Asian
studies. Applications for incentive grants are accepted between April 1 and July 20; there is no fixed
deadline for submitting other applications. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee, and
grants are approved by the Board of Directors in late September. The review process can take as long
as one year. The grant period is one year, starting on December 1. The total grant awards amount
to about ¥100 million annually.
Incentive Grants for Young Indonesian Researchers
This programme, formerly part of the International Grant Programme, is now an independent
programme. It awards small one-year grants to Indonesian researchers under thirty-seven years of age
for research in the social sciences and humanities under the two basic themes "Reappraisal of
Indigenous Cultures and History" and "Scholarly Analysis of Social Change". Priority is given to
projects that focus on the following four topics:
1. Exploration of the development of urban cultures
2. Exploration of the changes in religious consciousness
3. Exploration of land use and ownership issues
4. Exploration of labour issues.
Applications are solicited in April and May this year and are reviewed by a selection committee;
grants are approved by the Board of Directors in late September. The grant period begins on
December 1. The total grant awards amount to about ¥15 million annually.
'Know Our Neighbours" Programmes
"Know Our Neighbours" Translation-Publication Programme in Japan. This programme
covers translation and editing related expenses in order to encourage the translation and publication
in Japanese of literary works and works on the culture, society, history, and so forth of Southeast and
South Asian countries written by indigenous authors. Applications are solicited from Japanese
publishers, and grants are approved by the Board of Directors in late September. The total grant
awards amount to about ¥25 million annually.
"Know Our Neighbours" Translation-Publication Programme in Other Asian Countries. The former programmes in and among Southeast and South Asian countries have been merged to form this programme, which covers translation and publication related expenses in order to encourage the translation and publication in Southeast and South Asian countries of literary works on the culture, society, history, and so forth of other Southeast and South Asian countries and of Japan. The total grant awards amount to about ¥20 million annually.
Publications
The Toyota Foundation has two Anglish-language publications: The Toyota Foundation Annual
Report and The Toyota Foundation Occasional Report.
Staff
Eiji Toyoda, Chairman
Soichi Iijima, President
Chimaki Kurokawa, Managing Director
Naomichi Kamezawa, Secretary of the Foundation
Naomichi Kamezawa, Division manager General Affairs and Accounting Division
The Toyota Foundation
Shinjuku Mitsui Building 37F
2-1-1 Nishi-Shinjuku
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-04
Japan
Tel: +81-3-3344 1701
Fax: +81-3-3342 6911
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