(NEWS) Class of 2025 Sasakawa Fellows Honoured at Annual Reception

November

2025

Class of 2025 Sasakawa Fellows Honoured at Annual Reception

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The annual Sasakawa Fellows Reception, hosted by The Nippon Foundation, took place on 31 October in the Sasakawa Auditorium at the World Maritime University (WMU). The event celebrated the 30 students in the Class of 2025 sponsored by The Nippon Foundation, who were formally recognized as WMU Sasakawa Fellows. To date, a total of 842 students from 89 countries have now received Sasakawa Fellowships to pursue studies at WMU, including the 30 Fellowship Students in the Class of 2026.

The reception brought together distinguished guests, WMU leadership, faculty and staff, family members, and current Sasakawa Fellowship Students from both classes. Opening remarks were made by Dr. Mitsutaku Makino, President of the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) within the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, who extended a warm welcome to all attendees. He congratulated the graduands and commended them as the newest Sasakawa Fellows poised to contribute to global maritime and ocean leadership.

In his address, Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., WMU President, expressed deep appreciation to The Nippon Foundation for its longstanding and multifaceted support of the University since 1987. He underscored the Foundation’s pivotal role in supporting WMU’s role as a center of excellence in maritime and ocean education, research, and capacity development. President Mejia encouraged the new Fellows to draw on the strength of the global Sasakawa network as they advance in their professional journeys.

Mr Mitsuyuki Unno, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation, congratulated the graduates and emphasized that WMU’s impact extends far beyond the awarding of degrees. He noted that the University shapes professionals who drive positive change within their nations and across the international community. Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Mr Unno encouraged the Fellows to leverage the networks and resources of WMU, the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) and the WMU Sasakawa Fellows network. He formally welcomed the new Fellows into the Sasakawa family, presenting each with a certificate and conferring membership in the Friends of WMU, Japan.

At a reception following the awards ceremony, Ms Natalia Suárez Triviño (Colombia) spoke on behalf of the Class of 2026 Sasakawa Fellowship Students, and Mr Rene Merino (El Salvador) on behalf of the Class of 2025 Fellows. Both expressed gratitude to The Nippon Foundation for its enduring support and the life changing opportunity to join the global family of Sasakawa Fellows.

With this ceremony, the Class of 2025 Fellows officially joined the global community of Sasakawa Fellows — individuals who embody The Nippon Foundation’s commitment to “Share the Pain. Share the Hope. Share the Future.”

About The Nippon Foundation’s Support to WMU

Through the mission of social innovation, The Nippon Foundation aims to achieve a society where all people support one another, reducing the burdens and challenges they face by working together. The Nippon Foundation’s contributions to WMU began in 1987 with providing fellowships for WMU students. The WMU Sasakawa Fellowship Programme began in 1988. The Nippon Foundation is the largest fellowship donor to the University, providing 30 new awards on an annual basis.

In addition to providing Fellowships, The Nippon Foundation usually hosts a week-long field study to Japan, although this was not possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2001, SPF has regularly hosted Regional Network Meetings for WMU Sasakawa Fellows. The Nippon Foundation further supports the capacity building mission of WMU by substantially funding the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, as well as funding seven Professorial Chairs and numerous conferences and events connected with WMU.

Each year, a limited number of Sasakawa Fellowships are open to government employees from developing countries. The Sasakawa Fellowship Awards Committee looks for well qualified candidates with a strong academic and professional record. Candidates aged between 26 and 35 are prioritized. Interested applicants should apply for admission to the University, and in tandem, should submit an Application for Donor Funding from their organizations, plus a Sasakawa Fellowship Motivational Statement, completed by the candidate. It is essential that both these forms are completed in detail. Complete applications must be sent to the University by the end of January in the year of entry. For more information, click here.

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