Yagura Koichi Memorial Fund Launches Public Call for Applications on June 15 to Support Artistic Activities by People with Disabilities; Total Grant of 2 Million JPY to Be Provided to NPOs

Overview of the Yagura Koichi Memorial Fund

This fund was established in fiscal year 2024 within our foundation as an Original Fund® through a generous donation by Mr. Kenji Yagura.

Mr. Kenji Yagura was raised by parents who devotedly supported his older brother, who has severe intellectual disabilities. His father, Mr. Koichi Yagura, passed away at the age of 90 on January 31, 2022, having always deeply cared for his son’s well-being. His older brother himself engaged in creative activities such as origami and knitting.

Inspired by his father’s lifelong commitment, Mr. Kenji Yagura inherited his father’s vision of a world where people with intellectual disabilities can live with dignity, fully integrated into society and fulfilling their lives happily at every stage—from birth to old age. Through his ongoing research and interviews, he recognized that artistic activities allow individuals with disabilities to express their individuality and gain recognition as individuals, leading him to establish this fund.

※ Original Fund® is a registered trademark of our foundation.

Background and Purpose of the Grant Program

For nearly 30 years, artistic activities by people with disabilities have gained increasing attention. Across Japan, organizations supporting individual creative expression have emerged, expanding diverse initiatives such as providing creative spaces, promoting works to the public, and developing products based on artworks. Government initiatives, including those by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, have also advanced, improving creative environments and expanding opportunities for public appreciation.

This grant program aims to reflect on the past 30 years of progress, reassess the current state and challenges of support activities, and further strengthen efforts toward a future where people with disabilities connect with society through art.

Call for Applications Overview

Eligible Projects: Projects that meet at least one of the following criteria. Priority will be given to innovative and ambitious initiatives during the selection process.

- Initiatives that create systems enabling more people with intellectual disabilities to engage in or access art - Strategies to enhance the value of artistic activities and works by people with disabilities and connect them with society and the world

Support Details: Grants of up to 1 million JPY per project per year (single-year grants)

Number of Recipient Organizations: Approximately 2 organizations

Grant Period: September 2026 – August 2027

Application Period: Monday, June 15, 2026 – Thursday, July 30, 2026, until 17:00

※ For detailed information on the application guidelines and eligibility, please visit the dedicated website and application guidelines.

▼ Fund Dedicated Website: https://www.public.or.jp/project/f0181

Reference Information

Public Resource Foundation (https://www.public.or.jp/)

Founded in 2000 as a nonprofit think tank, the Public Resource Center, the organization has promoted management strengthening for NPOs and other nonprofit entities, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, social responsibility investment (SRI) evaluations, and donation promotion including online giving. In January 2013, building on its achievements and expertise, it relaunched as the Public Resource Foundation, a public interest foundation dedicated to connecting individuals’ and corporations’ financial resources with social ventures. Under the mission of “Changing society through purposeful giving,” the foundation provides various donation methods such as themed funds, Original Funds®, and bequests, working to create donation systems that enrich lives and open new futures.