JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION DBA AURORA FOUNDATION

With an eye toward the future of global peace, and a deep passion for contributing to a better world, the Aurora Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation was established in 1998 (Dr. Akiko Agishi, Founder and President) as a non-profit 501(c)(3)organization. So far, through our scholarships and grants, our 12 scholarship recipients and 6 grant recipients have experienced living in Japan and have had the opportunity to further their understanding of the Japanese language and culture. These recipients have been generating immeasurable goodwill for USA/Japan relations, and we believe that their efforts and accomplishments will continue to influence younger generations now and into the future.

Through the JLSF SCHOLARSHIPS, the Aurora Foundation assists United States citizens, who are either Japanese language teachers or graduate students of Japanese language education, to experience living in Japan and have the opportunity to further their understanding of the Japanese language, improve their teaching abilities, and enrich their appreciation of Japanese culture.  All their future students will share in the benefits realized from these scholarships.

Another opportunity is the AURORA CHALLENGE GRANT which is awarded to a USA citizen who resides in California and has a unique dream, in any field of endeavor, which is related to Japanese culture and which would never be realized without traveling to.  The award goes to an individual with a creative dream or challenge that if fulfilled, would contribute to global goodwill and intercultural appreciation.  By awarding this grant, the Aurora Foundation hopes to help the winner enhance their pursuit of their truest, most heartfelt dream by providing them with the opportunity for a once in a lifetime experience. Through this experience, and by furthering the pursuit of their dream projects, the recipients continue to gain and share a better understanding of Japan.