Takachiho Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating comprehensive synergy between Japan and California by building bridges through cultural exchanges.
Our goal is to build bridges between individuals in Japan and the U.S. through programs in sports, education, business, arts, and culture. At the core of our exchanges is the forging of close friendly relationships grounded on respect for mutual values.
We design global exchange programs in sports and cultural activities. We are especially proficient in sports programs. We have, for example, successfully organized exchanges between Japanese and American soccer teams in Oahu, Hawaii. Our aim is to provide unique individual experiences in today’s globalized society.
We design a wide range of academic exchange programs. Whether it is to introduce objective and accurate knowledge from Japan to the U.S. or to diffuse state-of-the-art knowledge from the U.S. to Japan, we strive to foster mutual understanding and relationships through high-quality learning opportunities.
We respect the culture, history, and values of nations and provide support for organizations to carry out international exchanges. We believe that new knowledge and values can be discovered through diverse exchange programs in education, and culture. Combined with cultural and academic exchanges, we provide comprehensive support for various exchanges to nurture future leaders.
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Over 50 years ago, a young Japanese judo athlete called Mitsutoshi Watanabe, packed his worldly belongings in a backpack and traveled to the United States to spread the teachings of budo, the physical and spiritual disciplines of Japanese martial arts. He eventually founded a successful judo school called the Watanabe School of Judo in the Bay Area in Northern California.
My late father, Kuniyoshi Sakurai, who was Watanabe-san’s closest judo colleague in Japan, brought me to the United States when I was young to visit his friend, not only because he was proud of his friend’s courage and accomplishments, but also because he wanted to show me the United States. This was a country open to new ideas and with the capacity to incorporate good ideas to enhance the well-being of its people and society.
I still remember the feeling of wonder and awe that I experienced as a teenager upon setting foot in the United States. After moving to California as an adult, I wanted to play a part in creating cross-cultural opportunities for the youth of both countries with my work. Over the last decade, I have focused on developing projects in sports, education, and cultural exchange programs that help to foster communications between the two countries because I believe that first-hand shared experiences lead to strong and long-lasting friendships between us.
Today, I am very happy to announce the founding of the Takachiho Foundation to continue these efforts as a registered non-profit organization in the state of California. My goal for the Foundation is to advance mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the United States through our programs, and to provide opportunities for young people to nurture the ability to participate in the global society with respect, friendship, and excellent communication.
November 2019 Yukiko Sakurai
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Takachiho Foundation is based in San Diego, CA.
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