Many problems like poverty, famine, disease, and armed conflict are regional or global issues that transcend national boundaries. The lives, livelihoods, and dignity of people in developing countries are especially threatened.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this section is based on information available at the time of its compilation, and no guarantee is made for its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness.
A survey conducted by The Nippon Foundation in 2016 found that one in four people in Japan “seriously considers suicide.” In Japan, 24,025 people took their own life in 2015, a suicide rate that is markedly higher than in other G7 countries, and Japan was the only country where suicide was the leading cause of death among young people. In response, The Nippon Foundation launched the Suicide Prevention Project, and since 2020 has been operating the Project to Support Children’s Ability to Live, focusing on support for young people. These reports shed light on the actual situation with regard to suicide in Japan, and are intended to influence public opinion in a way that will lead to appropriate countermeasures.
Even though Japan has a relatively narrow income gap by global standards, it is said that one in seven children in Japan live in relative poverty, limiting their access to educational and social opportunities. Economic hardship causes these children to become isolated, which can adversely affect their future income and lifestyle. Recognizing that educational disparities lead directly to income disparities, The Nippon Foundation has carried out research to quantify the economic effect of childhood poverty, comparing the scenarios of maintaining the status quo and implementing countermeasures, and analyzing in detail the relationship between the home environment and children’s capabilities.
Analysis of Relationship Between Household Wealth Gaps and Differences in Children’s Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Skills
Publication Date
2017-2018
Outline
The Nippon Foundation has researched the effect of households’ economic circumstances on things like children’s academic ability, self-esteem, daily habits, and communication skills. This report used a database of roughly 25,000 people compiled by Osaka Prefecture to analyze the effect of poverty on children’s growth and the characteristics of children who live in poverty but have high academic ability. The research emphasizes the importance of early support for children in the lower grades of elementary school and of non-cognitive skills as a foundation for academic ability.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, has extremely weak infectivity and is completely curable with existing medicines and medical treatment. Nevertheless, people affected by leprosy have faced prejudice and discrimination since ancient times and still do today. For more than half a century, The Nippon Foundation has been active in providing medical support and in working to resolve social issues related to the disease. One of those activities has been the formulation of recommendations related to the elimination of both the disease and discrimination against people affected by leprosy.
The Global Appeal is an annual message to spread awareness and call for an end to the unwarranted discrimination that persons affected by leprosy continue to face. Initiated in 2006 by Yohei Sasakawa, the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, the appeal is issued every January to coincide with World Leprosy Day.
Each year it receives the support of influential partners from different fields to build solidarity and ensure that its message reaches far and wide. For more information:
https://gasasakawa.org/
Training Prosthetists and Orthotists and Providing Prosthetic and Orthotic Services
Publication Date
2019
Outline
Since the early 1990s, The Nippon Foundation has been providing free prosthetic arms and legs and direct support to people who have lost limbs, primarily in Southeast Asia, where there are many victims of landmines from conflicts and civil wars. The Foundation has also supported schools that train prosthetists and orthotists to ensure that prosthetic arms and legs continue to be provided. A team from the University of Melbourne’s Nossal Institute for Global Health visited several countries and conducted interviews with more than 100 people including patients, graduates, and employees, and compiled a report on the achievements of The Nippon Foundation’s activities to train prosthetists and orthotists.
Employment Survey on Persons with Disabilities in Seven ASEAN Countries
Publication Date
2025
Outline
The Nippon Foundation, in collaboration with Koei Research & Consulting Inc., has conducted a survey on employment conditions for university graduates with disabilities in seven ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Laos. The study identifies workplace challenges and employment trends, and these findings will be used to strengthen The Nippon Foundation’s initiatives supporting the employment of persons with disabilities.
Guidelines for Employment and Transition to Work for People with Disabilities in Thailand
Publication Date
2024
Outline
Although Thailand has experienced rapid economic growth, the hiring and continued employment of people with disabilities has become a serious social issue. This research project was carried out to understand the process of transitioning to work for people with disabilities in Thailand. A survey was conducted of 423 employed people with disabilities, and six focus group discussions were held as well. Employed and unemployed people with disabilities, caregivers, employers, and representatives of disability-related organizations participated in the discussions and shared their job-hunting experiences, workplace issues, and opinions regarding retention strategies.
Opinions and analyses contained herein do not necessarily represent the views of The Nippon Foundation. This section also contains data and information provided by third parties, and The Nippon Foundation makes no guarantee of its accuracy or completeness. The Nippon Foundation assumes no liability whatsoever for damages incurred as a result of the use of the information contained herein.
