Information

Information

Greeting

Greeting
公益財団法人アジア学生文化協会 理事長 白石 勝己 The Asian Students Cultural Association was established in 1957. The roots of the Association lie in the Shinsei Gakuryo opposite the main gate of the University of Tokyo in Hongo. Its history dates back to the Shiken Gakudo (Students’ Institution), presided over by Professor Shinkichi Uesugi of the University of Tokyo during the Taisho era. Before the war, students were idealistic and aspired to bring about fundamental change in society. After the war, the name of the institution was changed to “Shinsei Gakuryo” under the direction of Goichi Hozumi. He encouraged students to reflect upon and acknowledge the role that Japan had played as an instigator of conflict in Asia in the past.

The Association is a self-governing organization in accordance with its original principles of independence, reciprocity and equality, which have been maintained to the present day. The life of the Association is based on its role as a place of training and education. It offers a space for character formation, with the aim of fostering true friendship on a global basis, especially amongst Asian countries, and conducting various projects to develop human resources to support this.

With economic and technological development continuing apace, modern society has become more and more internationalized as cross-border connections have grown and human mobility has increased. On the other hand, new and more complex problems have also arisen, such as environmental issues and social and regional disparities. Unfortunately, this means that international conflict and strife has become more commonplace. The Association’s “Charter of Establishment,” written more than 60 years ago, outlines a goal of human harmony through “mutually beneficial cooperation” transcending borders, boundaries, ethnicity and religion. These principles remain as pertinent and important today as they were when the document was originally published.

The core objective of the Association to assist international students with their studies and admission to Japanese educational institutions. It supports exchange activities and the day-to-day living requirements of Japanese and foreign students and promotes international education opportunities for them, such as Japanese universities. Our aspiration is for the Association to successfully rise to the increased challenges of society and to contribute to true mutual understanding on an international basis and to the development of world peace. These activities can be accomplished only through the broad-based understanding and cooperation of people in Japan and overseas. We ask for your continued dedicated support and cooperation in helping us to achieve these objectives.

Katsumi Shiraishi
Director-General , Asian Students Cultural Association

Introduction to the Association

Association overview
Name
THE ASIAN STUDENTS CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (ASCA)
Established
September 18, 1957
Mission
The objective of the Association is to contribute to the development of good will in Asia and to world peace, enabling young people from Japan and Asia to live together in a spirit of harmony through academic, cultural and economic exchange.
Logo

History

History

History of the Association

1924
Shinkichi Uesugi, Professor of Law at the University of Tokyo opened the Togen Gakudo.
1932
Goichi Hozumi, student of Shinkichi Uesugi, and the first Deputy Director of the Association, revived Togen Ryo Shichiseisha (student group).
1945
After the war, the dormitory was renamed as Shinsei Gakuryo.
1957
Sep
Received Ministry of Education license to operate as a foundation.
1958
Sep
Publication of Asia no Tomo (Friends of Asia).
1959
Aug
Establishment of the Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS).
1960
Jun
Asia Bunka Kaikan (ABK) opened (110 rooms).
1968
Jul
New wing added (40 rooms).
Dec
Hiroshima Asia Bunka Kaikan opened (36 rooms).
1972
Jul
Japan-Thailand Economic Cooperation Society established.
1973
Jan
Technology Promotion Association (Thailand-Japan) (TPA) established through the joint cooperation of ex-students and ABKD trainees.(TPA)設立。
1975
10
Awarded a Japan Foundation Special Prize.
1980
Jan
Foreign Students Advisory Center started (to March 2005).
Apr
Japanese Language Institute started for those planning to go to university in Japan.
1989
Jan
ABK Asia Seminars begun; Asian language classes started.
Jul
Received a commendation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
1999
Nov
The Japanese Language Institute received Ministry of Education designation as a Preparatory Course for University.
2000
Apr
"Japan Study Support" website launched, providing information for international students in Japan.
2001
Sep
Asia Bunka Kaikan Annex opened.
Nov
Received Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Meritorious Service Commemorating the Centennial of Japan’s International Student Acceptance System.
2007
Oct
50th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony, second commemorative symposium and international forum)
2009
Aug
Establishment of joint operation of Japan Study Support website with Benesse Corporation
2013
Mar
Completion of new Japanese language school building: 8 classrooms, office, teacher's room, library, infirmary , etc.
Jul
ABK College received a Japanese language school license (capacity of 160 students)
2014
Apr
Transferred from Special Case Private Corporation to Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.
ABK College Japanese language school opened.
2018
Jun
Completion of renovation work for Shinsei Gakuryo dormitory; 3 floors heavy steel-frame structure; 16 rooms

History of Asian Students Cultural Association; admission system for Japanese higher education institutions; major events in society and the world (Chronology)

Activities

Business content

Organization Chart

Organization chart
organization

Directors and Officers

Officer

[Syllabary order, as of July 1, 2023]

Title
Name
Current position and job history
Director-General
Katsumi Shiraishi
Director-General of the Asian Students Cultural Association
Executive Director
Yoshikazu Tsukuda
Executive Director of the Asian Student Culture Association
Directors
Kazuo Kuroda
Professor of Waseda University
Kiwako Sugiura
DAYS Co., Ltd.
Yamada Kenichi
Board member and trustee of ABK Gakkan
Auditors
Toshikazu Kumazawa
Former Senior Managing Director of the Overseas Technical Scholarship
Shimoosawa Yuji
Former Executive Director, Japan-Thailand Economic Cooperation Association
Councillors
Ryu Osugi
Principal, Yatsugadakechuo Nogyo Jissendai School
Dao Chi Minh
Senior Managing Director, Birotas Co., Ltd.
Hiroshi Tanaka
Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University
Hiroyasu Yamazaki
Contributing editorial writer, Kyodo News
Yoshihiro Watanabe
Advisor, Bai Xian Asia Institute (Japan) Inc.

Related Organizations

Co-operation

Disclosure of Information

Informations

Location/Address

Map/Information
2-12-13 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
113-8642
TEL:03-3946-4121
FAX:03-3946-7599
URL:https://www.abk.or.jp/
E-mail:Please email us using the form provided

Prospectus for Establishment

Founding brief
The youthful power of young students is a major force for advancing the history of nations in all ages. At present, this force are particularly remarkabled byAsian countries.
Ten years after the end of World War II, Japan finally became a member of the United Nations and has begun to take steps as a member of the international community, and all those in the know agree that we, as a nation of Asia with this great power, must move forward together with Asia.
It is truly necessary for the future development of Japan that the young students of Asian countries who are responsible for the future of Asia deepen mutual understanding, become friends, and cooperate with each other. At present, there are more than 4,000 young Asian students in our country, and the interest in these students from all quarters is gradually increasing, and we, too, have planned the establishment of the Asian Students Cultural Association as a public interest incorporated foundation with the following ideas and plans.
One of our cultural projects is to build and operate a dormitory and other halls where academic researchers, international students and Japanese students from Asian countries can live and study together, and the other is to plan and implement a variety of cultural exchange and academic cooperation.

Our basic attitudes towards these projects are――
1.
Human harmony: Respecting differences in religions, ideologies, cultures and social systems, while deepening mutual understanding and promoting holistic harmony through communal living.
2.o
Mutual benefit and cooperation: To cooperate and learn from each other and to lay the foundation for future scientific, technological, cultural and economic exchanges.
In short, the Hall is a dormitory where Asian academic researchers, international students and young Japanese students can live together in a healthy, family-like atmosphere to deepen mutual understanding and foster friendly exchanges.
In its operation, based on the premise of humanity, the dormitory is designed to provide foreign students with language exchange, especially the Japanese language, mutual understanding of lifestyles, and assistance in learning academic skills, as well as liaison and cooperation with academic institutions, businesses, and various organizations in Japan after graduation. We welcome all non-Asian academics and foreign students who agree with our objectives.
We believe that the Asian Students Cultural Association will surely contribute to the mutual development of our country and Asia, as well as to world peace in the future. However, since this project will not be realized without the extensive cooperation from inside and outside of Japan, we would like to ask for your enthusiastic support and encouragement in this endeavor.
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