The Nippon Foundation was established in 1962 as a non-profit philanthropic organization, active both in Japan and abroad. Since the beginning, our efforts to bolster the domestic development of this island nation of Japan have focused largely on the maritime and shipping fields. In addition, as the years have gone by, we have expanded our activities to include such fields as education, social welfare and public health, both within Japan and in more than one hundred countries to date. The foundation's fundamental aim is the realization of a peaceful and prosperous global society, in which none need struggle to secure their basic human rights. As we work toward this goal, it is essential on the one hand to respect the different value systems embraced by the world's many cultures, but on the other to transcend the political, religious, racial and national boundaries that divide the world. Our methodology, similarly, is founded on a continual effort to grasp the world's evolving trends and social conditions, and to ascertain the global community's most urgent needs. Not all problems are created equal. Our prime concern, therefore, is to grasp the essence of the problems faced by humankind. Then, in order to respond to them flexibly, we select those that fit our priorities, addressing them in a thorough and detailed manner. We work to not be blindly influenced by precedent, but rather proactively seek out alternative solutions to the world's problems, enacting them expediently The Nippon Foundation feels a strong sense of responsibility and mission as we work together with the people of the world in developing our activities. For the sake of humankind and the world in general, we are bringing together the world's wisdom, and using it to transform society.