Scholars Selected for 2014 TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund

- Recruiting for 2015 Scholarship Begins Shortly -

August 12, 2014

The TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund, Part of Suntory Group’s “Suntory Tohoku Sunsun Project,” was established in 2013 and provides scholarships to Japanese students to study at three of the most prestigious music schools in the United States. Students from the three Tohoku prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima receive preferential consideration for these scholarships. Scholarships will be awarded in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

This year, three students, including two from the Tohoku region, will receive scholarships. Takeru Saito, a pianist from Fukushima, and Shun Kumagai, an alto saxophonist from Miyagi, will both study and the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Naoko Tajima of Tokyo will study violin at The Juilliard School in New York. No applicants to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music received a scholarship this year.

The 2015 application period has begun.

“TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund” 2015 requirements.

Selected students in 2015 will receive scholarships to the following music schools:

  • The Juilliard School
    One student will receive $10,000 annually for 4 years
  • Berklee College of Music
    Two students will receive $20,000 annually for 4 years
  • San Francisco Conservatory of Music
    One student will receive $20,000 annually for 4 years

The total amount awarded to the selected students per school during 2014-2016:

The Juilliard School $120,000 for 3 students
Berklee College of Music $480,000 for 6 students
San Francisco Conservatory of Music $240,000 for 3 students
Total Scholarships to be awarded $840,000

Eligibility
Japanese applicants must be accepted into one of the U.S. music schools partnering with the TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund. Applicants from the three prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures) receive preferential consideration as part of the Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction and Revitalization Assistance Program.

Application Information
Individuals interested in the scholarship must apply directly to each U.S. educational institution in accordance with their guidelines. For more information, please visit: this online page.

Selection Process
The respective U.S. music schools will select and notify successful applicants.

Acceptance for Scholarship
If selected for the scholarship, applicants will receive letters of acceptance directly from the music schools after Spring 2015.

About the TOMODACHI Initiative

The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. The Initiative seeks to foster a “TOMODACHI Generation” of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening US-Japan relations, appreciating each other’s countries and cultures, and possessing the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world.