The JEC Fund Project | Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition '70

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With the participation of some 77 countries and 64,220,000 visitors, the Japan World Exposition of 1970 proved an unprecedented success. The theme of the expo, “progress and harmony for mankind,” expressed the wish that mankind would reflect on the destruction of nature that has accompanied the advancement of scientific technology, and on our history of social conflict, and that our future path would be a harmonious one. The JEC Fund Project receives no assistance from the national government. Instead, the Project manages a portion of revenues earned from Expo ’70 and utilizes the resultant investment gains to assist cultural exchange, science, and educational projects both around Japan and overseas. The ongoing objective of the JEC Fund Project is to contribute to community service with a view to achieving harmonious development of the human race, and to help create an even more affluent living environment.

a. International cultural exchange and international goodwill projects

In addition to people-to-people exchanges, public performances, and art exhibits, the Fund supports a variety of international exchange and goodwill projects such as the building of Japanese gardens, Japanese cultural centers, and more overseas. Some sample projects are as follows.

Japan Philharmonic Orchestra Performance in Europe (Czech Republic and Germany)

Construction of the Japanese gardens at Montevideo (Uruguay)

Environmental Exposition: A World Music and Sports Festival (Expo Park)

b. International projects in the areas of science, education, medicine, social welfare, and health services

The Fund assists a variety of projects in these fields, in addition to supporting international science conferences and purchase of Japanese language study equipment and/or materials—or purchases and publication of books on Japan—overseas. The following are some examples.

Translations of Basic Japanese Studies Materials (Korea)

Construction of School Facilities (Paraguay)

The 13th Congress of the International Psychogeriatric Association (Osaka)

c. International projects to conserve the natural and living environment

The Fund supports a full range of nature conservation and living environment projects, including the building of nature conservation centers and museums overseas, as well as international conferences on the theme of the environment. Some examples are as follows.

Natural History Museum Project (Malaysia)

Japan-China Children’s Forestry Project (Inner Mongolia)

a. Projects to perpetuate and advance Japanese traditional culture

The Fund supports various cultural projects around Japan with a view to perpetuating and revitalizing typical examples of traditional Japanese culture already known around the world, as well as to demonstrate the appeal of lesser-known historical cultural treasures that also deserve recognition on the international scene.

A Kyogen Class for Everyone (Wakayama)

“Manzai: Past and Present,” a Traditional Noh Performance at Musik Saal Akishino (Nara)

b. Art and local culture projects

With the objective of advancing local culture and Japanese performing and fine arts in Japan, the Fund supports art projects and locally-based cultural projects including various kinds of lectures and exhibitions.

Expo-Matsuring Yosakoi at the Expo Park

A Musical Performance for Kids & Parents (Chiba)

The Fund assists projects in a range of fields, but to actively support areas of significant social interest, and to achieve greater effectiveness, we have decided to focus on specific types of projects. As of FY2009, the Fund will concentrate on projects dealing with the environment and/or with parks, in accordance with the second phase of our mid-term plan (FY2008-2010).