Hakuhodo Foundation

Hakuhodo Foundation was established in 1970 as a public interest incorporated foundation, with the aim of contributing to the sound formation of individuals by subsidizing Japanese language education for children and education for individuals with vision and hearing impairment, as well as conducting research on its activities. The foundation received public certification in 2011 and adopted its current name in 2020. The foundation's core activities include the establishment of the Hakuho Award to honor outstanding educational practices, as well as the provision of grants for research into child education practices and scholarships for teacher training. Under the theme of "Children × Language × Education," the foundation carries out activities such as Japanese language exchange programs, social enlightenment programs, Japanese language education programs, and survey research programs.

Details

Hakuhodo Foundation

Hakuho Award

This award was created at the time of the foundation's establishment with the aim of revitalizing and supporting the field of child education. It recognizes grassroots activities and contributions of schools, organizations, and educators in six areas, including Japanese language education, special needs education, and international culture and multicultural education, which have a potential ripple effect in the educational field. The foundation also supports the sharing of achievements and the continuation and expansion of activities. The Hakuho Award was presented for the 54th time in fiscal 2023, and 12 projects were selected as recipients.

Research Grant for Child Education

The foundation provides one- and two-year grants for research aimed at nurturing language skills among elementary and junior high school students and research designed to improve the quality of child educational practices. The goal is for research results to reflect new perspectives and be deployable in educational settings, thereby building the foundations of child education. In the 18th grant round (fiscal 2023), the foundation received 79 applications from across the country, and after the review process, 16 grants were awarded.

Teacher Development Scholarship

The foundation offers scholarships to students who aspire to become elementary school teachers, special needs school teachers, and Japanese language teachers at junior high and senior high schools. In fiscal 2023, the foundation has recruited 97 students, and scholarship recipients currently number 247. To facilitate ongoing networking among former scholarship recipients, the foundation regularly organizes group training sessions and regional exchange programs.

Social Enlightenment Programs

These programs were introduced to commemorate the foundation's 50th anniversary of establishment. The foundation set the initial campaign theme as "Expanding Children's Reading Opportunities," and it has been holding the essay writing contest "My Favorite Book, For You" since fiscal 2020. The programs aim to foster the ability to articulate personal emotions and convey thoughts, helping to develop thinking skills and expressive abilities.

Survey Research Programs
(Child Research Institute)

The foundation conducts quantitative surveys, such as children's fixed-point surveys and topical surveys, which target elementary and junior high school students and inquire into various child-related themes. The foundation also runs qualitative surveys, which involve listening to stories related to photos that children have taken of their favorite things. Through such unique initiatives, the foundation aims to capture the genuine essence of children and share this on its website and social media platforms.