The Manai Foundation.

Projects

Manai Grant

We offer junior high and high school students grants for research on science and technology.

Main activities
of the foundation

Scholarship

We grant scholarships that provide accessibility to Manai’s resources to those who understand Manai’s philosophy and are committed to contribution to the community, if they are young and their research has a potential to transform the world.

Research grant

We subsidize promising research that is difficult to carry out due to the research environment or financial reasons. Subject: Junior high and high school student researchers Grants) Introduction of experts needed for the research, lending of equipment and facilities, acceptance and review of funding) Outside experts review and examine papers and other documents that show the details of the research.

Academic supporter

The Manai Foundation organizes many businessmen and researchers as academic supporters to support junior high and high school student researchers around the world. We need experts from various fields who share Manai’s philosophy and values, are passionate about educating promising young researchers, and are willing to help guide their research and help them make actual changes in society.

Trustees

Ryuichi Nomura

Graduated from the University of Tokyo College of Arts and Sciences. While he was in the university, he studied at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) as an exchange student. In 2001, he joined NHK as a program production director, and then worked in the president office at USEN and in the strategy group at Accenture. After that, he founded Lojim, Inc., a company that runs a cram school, Lojim, where training in logical thinking was provided. In October 2014, he started the ISSJ launching project, and in July 2019, he was appointed president and CEO of Manai Enterprise (ex-ISSJ).

Taizo Son

While he was a student at the University of Tokyo, he participated in the launch of Yahoo! JAPAN. Later, he founded a company that supports internet content production and service management. In 2002, he founded GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc., succeeding in the digital entertainment world. He was involved in startup of venture businesses and major JV with overseas companies as a founder or a member of the management team. Was engaged in venture business throughout, in 2009, he established MOVIDA JAPAN, a seed accelerator for startups. In 2013, as a founder, he founded Mistletoe Inc., a company that creates business in addition to providing comprehensive startup support.

Shuichiro Takahashi

Graduated from a doctoral course of Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, the University of Tokyo with a doctor’s degree in life sciences. He was involved in Leave a Nest Co.,ltd. from its launch as CEO and COO. After graduating from the graduate school, while continuing his research activities as a faculty member at the University of Tokyo, he established the Leave a Nest Research Center and built the foundation for the company’s research and development operations. He contrived the Leave a Nest Research Fund, a proprietary research grant program, and the L-RAD business model, a database of underutilized research ideas, as well as a number of open innovation projects involving the industry, academia and the education circles. He is also a member of the Human Resources Committee of the Science and Technology Council of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and a lecturer at Hosei University.

Organization

Name: The Manai Foundation.
Address: 3-8, Ichigayatamachi, shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established on: November 27, 2019
Objectives: Promotion of science and technology 1. Developing and subsidizing human resources in the field of science and technology 2. Promoting and supporting networking of researchers in the field of science and technology 3. Promoting interaction with relevant organizations in/outside Japan 4. Research and study on science and technology 5. Holding academic meetings and various workshops 6. Spreading and increasing awareness of science and technology 7. Other projects necessary to attain the objectives of the foundation Our business shall be conducted in Japan and abroad.

Takeshi KinugawaRepresentative director

Graduated from Kyoto Sangyo University, he experienced management of an IT venture business after working at a stock brokerage firm. After that, he got acquainted with Nomura at USEN. He has been involved in numerous M&A and management consulting projects. In the wake of the earthquake, he founded Social Marketing Inc. to support social sector financing and consulting. He participated in the project to establish ISSJ in October 2014 and was appointed a director of Manai Enterprise Inc. (ex-ISSJ) in July 2019. He was appointed the representative director of the General Incorporated Foundation, Manai Foundation in November, 2019.

Cher Chen LungDirector

Born and raised in Penang, Malaysia. He is a Malaysian overseas Chinese with business and investment experience in Japan and Asia. He is fluent in six languages. After graduating from high school, he studied at Sophia University. After graduation, he worked for Kyodo News, Nomura Research Institute, and others companies before becoming the president of a company listed on the Second Board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. After retiring from his position, he continued to execute a number of investment projects connecting Japan and Greater China. After that he founded Grand Asia Investments Inc with 200 million yen in capital, which is an investment company with expertise in the Japanese and Chinese markets. With the company he manages principal investments of 30 billion yen. He is also an advisor to the Tokyo Metropolitan Opera Foundation.

Noboru ShideharaDirector

Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Keio University. Was a General Manager of Finance Department, CHIYODA Corporation and the Director of Management at Cable & Wireless IDC (now SoftBank). Joined Sato UK as a CFO in 2004, and was assigned to the UK, making the company profitable in two years. Was director and CFO of the Japanese subsidiary of a German company, Miltenyi Biotec Co. Joined the Nuclear Safety Research Association in 2017 and among nuclear-safety-related researches entrusted by the government, he was engaged in coordination of joint research with overseas institutions. A current trustee of the Daiohs Memorial Foundation.

Megumi KobayashiAuditor

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University Graduate School of Law with a master’s degree. Certified tax accountant. After working as an accountant at a business company, she joined a management outsourcing company and was engaged in a back office (BO) supporting operation. After that, he continued BO supporting operations as a freelancer, and in August 2018, she established MENOTO Co. Ltd., a BO supporting company for start-up companies and was appointed CEO.

We appreciate your donations
and cooperation

Manai Foundation has a plan to carry out a variety of public service projects to promote science and technology and to discover and foster human resources. We will contribute to the development of science and technology and build a platform to support young scientists and researchers around the world. By accepting a wide range of your support, we aim to become a public interest incorporated foundation in the future. After that, all donors will be able to receive preferential tax treatment under the tax law. Donations will be used only for research assistance to students and will not be used for any other purposes including labor costs. We hope that you will understand these purposes and that we will receive your warm support and cooperation in the implementation of the projects for the promotion of science and technology.

For more information about donations