2001-2010 | The Nippon Foundation

May2001

Yohei Sasakawa Becomes WHO Leprosy Elimination Ambassador

Yohei Sasakawa, President of The Nippon Foundation, is appointed the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination in May. He will also be appointed the Japanese Government Goodwill Ambassador for the Human Rights of People Affected by Leprosy in 2007. The two positions take him around the globe to participate in initiatives designed to eliminate leprosy and end discrimination against those affected by this curable disease.

Photo of women affected by leprosy sewing

July2001

New Head Office

The Foundation moves its head office in Tokyo from the Toranomon district to Akasaka. The new office is equipped with facilities to serve as a base for the dissemination of information about the Foundation’s activities (the Foundation is now classified as a “public interest corporation”).

Exterior photo of The Nippon Zaidan Building

January2004

Medicine Box Project Starts in Mongolia

A project to distribute medicine boxes gets underway in Mongolia in January. The kits, which contain traditional medications made from local plants, are placed in two thousand households and replenished during regular visits made by project staff. The system, modeled on a setup in Toyama Prefecture, proves to be a success and is subsequently adopted in Thailand, Myanmar, and other countries.

June2004

Creating Community Centers from Traditional Structures

A Foundation grant transforms a 70-year-old residence in Shiga Prefecture into the Borderless Art Museum No-Ma, which opens in June 2004. This project is followed by support for other projects to restore old residences and convert them into community structures.

Photo of entrance to Borderless Art Museum No-Ma

July2005

January2006

First Global Appeal To End Discrimination Against People Affected by Leprosy

In January, in response to a call put out by The Nippon Foundation, a Global Appeal To End Stigma and Discrimination Against People Affected by Leprosy is made by a group of 12 world leaders, including five Nobel Peace Prize laureates, in New Delhi, India. The Global Appeal will be issued each subsequent year with the endorsement of leaders from various sectors.

February2007

Support for the Tokyo Marathon

The first Tokyo Marathon is held in February. The world-class event allows both able-bodied and disabled athletes to compete, fulfilling a longstanding dream held by Ayako Sono, former chairwoman of The Nippon Foundation. Nearly 300 volunteer leaders train at the Sasakawa Sports Foundation and assist at the inaugural event.

Photo of volunteer leaders at the Tokyo Marathon

September2010

Launch of $13-million Research Program with the University of British Columbia

The Foundation launches a $13-million, nine-year research program with the University of British Columbia to study the future of the world’s oceans and to monitor the impact of human activities on seafood resources.
See Considering the Future of the World’s Oceans for more.

Group photo of research program participants

History