
We are grateful for the generous support we receive every year to keep the FUTI scholarship programs thriving. FUTI is nearing ten years since its inception. Thanks to our supporters, there is steady growth, and as we reported in Newsletter No. 15, the 2016 FUTI Scholarship Program gave solid support to more than 20 outstanding students. In addition, this year marked the beginning of the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A.-FUTI Scholarship, making it possible to support a total of 24 scholarship recipients. The Summer Program Scholarship was awarded to six UTokyo students and eight U.S. university students, the ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A.-FUTI Scholarship was awarded to nine UTokyo students, and the Program in English at Komaba (PEAK) Travel Grant was awarded to one U.S. high school graduate.
This summer, I also participated in a one-week joint academic activity partnered between Princeton University and the University of Tokyo where intensive lectures were given by professors from both universities for a U.S.-Japan collaborative research workshop. I strongly felt that the most effective way for students to internationally grow is for them to interact with other students of their generation at their study abroad or exchange. It appears that the student dormitory or place of stay is a melting pot of students from all different countries and through their conversations and exchange of ideas, they naturally acquire a broader international point of view. This is apparent when reading the reports from the FUTI scholarship recipients as well.
Research grants were provided again this year to the University of California, Berkeley; Columbia University; and Yale University to support academic research exchanges with the University of Tokyo. This also is made possible because of the contributions from our kind supporters, and I would once again like to express our gratitude for your generosity.
UTokyo alumni groups such as the Akamonkai and Ichokai are established not only in New York but all over the world and offer exchange opportunities to UTokyo students. It is the objective of Friends of UTokyo, Inc. to cooperate with these organizations and work toward the aim of enabling as many of our young colleagues as possible to become future global leaders in Japan and the world.
It is our hope that you will join us in our purpose and continue to support FUTI in 2017 to keep our programs growing.
President, Friends of UTokyo, Inc.
The rapid growth of activities at Friends of UTokyo, Inc. was largely supported by two sizable donations, but to accept these gifts we must stay qualified as a public charity. Maintaining this status requires that the total amount of individual donations be at least a third of all donations. Donations from our individual supporters have become even more essential. In a sense, individual donations are the foundation for the large donations, making every individual donation worth three times more. I urge as many of our supporters as possible to contribute.
I believe the easiest methods of donating are either online by making a secure credit card payment or sending a check by mail. For those who prefer sending a wire transfer to FUTI, please email donation

Yuichiro Kuwama
Vice-President and Treasurer, Friends of UTokyo, Inc.