About us
Purpose of the Foundation
By promoting Diversity and Inclusion (D & I), we will contribute to the realization of a society in which everyone, regardless of gender, race, age, religion, etc., can realize their full potential.
Goals of the Foundation
University Enrolment Goals in 2035
The Foundation aims to increase the number of female university students entering STEM fields from the current 19% to the OECD average of 28%* by the year 2035.
*Source: Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation, 2021.
Message from the Founder
Thank you for your interest in our initiatives! My name is Shintaro Yamada and in 2021, I established the Foundation in order to promote Diversity and Inclusion (D & I) in Japan. We want to foster a society where everyone can reach their fullest potential and succeed.
Among other things, I have focused on the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subject areas. Japan has one of the lowest female participation rates in STEM areas among OECD countries. In 2023, only about 19% of STEM university students were female. With the support of the Foundation, we will strive to boost that participation rate to the OECD average of 28% by the year 2035. With hard work and dedication, we believe we can achieve this worthy goal.
So far, we have supported about 500 female university students every year entering STEM fields through the "STEM Girls Scholarship Grant". Furthermore, with the support of industry and academia, the "Girls Meet STEM" program offers middle and high school girls opportunities to experience STEM subject areas and careers.
While some women may turn away from STEM for various reasons, we continue to be focused on collaborating with our partners to overcome these challenges and build a society where everyone can do what they love.
Shintaro Yamada
Chairperson, Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation
What We Do
We are working toward our goal of increasing the female representation in STEM fields to the OECD average of 28% by 2035. In our efforts to increase female representation in STEM fields, we have launched initiatives, such as the "STEM Girls Scholarship Grant" and the "Girls Meet STEM" Program to expand learning opportunities for middle and high school girls in STEM fields, and foster talent from diverse backgrounds.
Our Work
1
STEM Girls Scholarship Grant
We provide a scholarship of 100,000 yen to female high school students considering choosing STEM fields.
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Our Work
2
Girls Meet STEM
We work to connect middle and high school girls to STEM fields through interactive programs with our partners in industry and academia.
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Impact and Results
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Foundation Overview
Established on July 1, 2021, the Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation champions diversity and inclusion across all sectors.
Board of Directors
Shintaro Yamada: Founder, Chairperson (Representative Executive Officer and CEO, Mercari, Inc.)
Minako Suematsu: Board Member (Chairperson and Publisher, The Japan Times, Ltd.)
Hideaki Ishikura: Board Member and Executive Director (COO)
Location
6F the ARGYLE aoyama, 2-14-4 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0061