Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation

The Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation (公益財団法人江副記念リクルート財団) is a Japanese public-interest incorporated foundation based in Minato-ku, Tokyo, dedicated to supporting young Japanese who aim to compete and excel on the world stage. Its origins lie in the Recruit Scholarship (リクルートスカラシップ), a scholarship program conceived in 1971 around the tenth anniversary of the founding of Recruit Co., Ltd., with the stated purpose of contributing to society by backing people with leadership, intellectual curiosity and promise. In 1976, with a fund donation from Recruit, the predecessor body — the incorporated foundation Ezoe Ikueikai (財団法人江副育英会) — was established, with Recruit founder Hiroshi Ezoe as its first chairman. The foundation's core activity is the awarding of non-repayable scholarships across four divisions: instrumental music, sports, art and academia. Applicants in all four divisions must be under 25 years old, and support can be renewed until the end of the academic year in which the recipient turns 27. Over its history the foundation has supported more than 700 scholarship recipients, many of whom study at leading institutions in Japan and abroad, including Harvard, MIT, Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Sydney, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Lübeck Academy of Music and the Berlin University of the Arts. Beyond grants, the foundation runs programs that connect its scholars across disciplines, publishes information about their activities, and organizes the annual Recruit Scholarship Concert, held every December since 1995, at which all instrumental-division scholars perform. It also engages in fundraising, asking donors to join in supporting young people who aim to be active globally. The organization has been renamed several times: it became the public-interest incorporated foundation Ezoe Foundation (公益財団法人江副財団) in 2012, was renamed the Ezoe Memorial Foundation (公益財団法人江副記念財団) in 2013, and took its current name, Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation, on 30 March 2019. Its current representative director and chairperson is Masumi Minegishi. In 2021 it was recognized as a public-interest organization eligible for the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon (紺綬褒章公益団体認定), and in 2024 it began paying scholarships to recipients at overseas educational institutions in local currency.

The foundation's history begins with the Recruit Scholarship (リクルートスカラシップ), which was considered around the tenth anniversary of the founding of Recruit Co., Ltd. in 1970 with the aim of contributing to society, and was launched in 1971. Its purpose was to provide financial assistance to students who were excellent in both academic work and character, eager to learn, and for whom economic reasons made study difficult, thereby fostering human resources and contributing to social development. Recruit founder Hiroshi Ezoe, then 34 years old and president of Recruit, initiated the consideration of the scholarship as a way to return profits to society; in 1972 the program began accepting students with high motivation to study, framed around the question of what they would learn at university. In 1976, with a fund donation from Recruit, the predecessor foundation — the incorporated foundation Ezoe Ikueikai (財団法人江副育英会) — was established, with Hiroshi Ezoe as its first chairperson. In 1991, a twentieth-anniversary ceremony was held and an opera division was added (it has since ended). In 1995 the first Recruit Scholarship Concert was held, beginning an annual December tradition. In 1996, marking the twenty-fifth anniversary, a sports division (skiing) was added. In 1997 a creative division (photography and graphics) was added; it later became the art division. In 2000 an instrumental music division was added, and in 2001 a thirtieth-anniversary ceremony was held. In 2012 the organization transitioned to a public-interest incorporated foundation under the name Ezoe Foundation (公益財団法人江副財団), and an "Ezoe Foundation 40th Anniversary Concert" was held. In 2013 it was renamed the Ezoe Memorial Foundation (公益財団法人江副記念財団), and Hitoshi Kashiwagi became chairperson. In 2015 Masumi Minegishi became chairperson, and the academic division was revived to support overseas study. On 30 March 2019 the foundation changed its name to the public-interest incorporated foundation Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation (公益財団法人江副記念リクルート財団). In 2021 it received recognition as a public-interest organization eligible for the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon (紺綬褒章公益団体認定). In 2024 it began paying scholarships to recipients enrolled at overseas educational institutions in foreign currency (local currency). By March 2022 the foundation had provided scholarships and other support to a cumulative total of 704 recipients.

• 2024

  Began paying scholarships to recipients at overseas educational institutions in local currency

• 2022

  Cumulative total of 704 scholarship recipients supported as of March

• 2021

  Recognized as a public-interest organization eligible for the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon

• 2019

  Renamed public-interest incorporated foundation Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation on 30 March

• 2016

  "Ezoe Memorial Foundation 45th Anniversary Concert" held

• 2015

  Masumi Minegishi becomes chairperson; academic division revived to support overseas study

• 2013

  Renamed Ezoe Memorial Foundation; Hitoshi Kashiwagi becomes chairperson

• 2012

  Transitioned to public-interest incorporated foundation Ezoe Foundation; 40th anniversary concert held

• 2001

  30th anniversary ceremony held

• 2000

  Instrumental music division added

• 1997

  Creative division (photography and graphics) added; later became the art division

• 1996

  25th anniversary; sports division (skiing) added

• 1995

  First Recruit Scholarship Concert held

• 1991

  20th anniversary ceremony held; opera division added (now ended)

• 1976

  Incorporated foundation Ezoe Ikueikai established with a fund donation from Recruit; Hiroshi Ezoe becomes first chairperson

• 1971

  Recruit Scholarship system launched

A public-interest foundation supporting young Japanese who take on the world in music, sports, art and academia through non-repayable scholarships and cross-disciplinary community.

• Recruit Scholarship (instrumental music division)

  Non-repayable scholarships for string and piano students aiming at the world stage; recipients perform at the annual Recruit Scholarship Concert.

• Recruit Scholarship (sports division)

  Scholarships for young athletes; the division was added in 1996, initially focused on skiing.

• Recruit Scholarship (art division)

  Scholarships in art, evolving from the creative division (photography and graphics) added in 1997.

• Recruit Scholarship (academic division)

  Scholarships for overseas study in academic fields, revived in 2015; recipients study at institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Cambridge and Edinburgh.

• Recruit Scholarship Concert

  Annual December concert since 1995 at which all instrumental-division scholars perform.

1. 1公益財団法人江副記念リクルート財団 -recruit-foundation.org
2. 2江副記念リクルート財団とは - 公益財団法人江副記念リクルート財団recruit-foundation.org
3. 3Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4江副記念リクルート財団 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org