Tokyo, May 28 (AseanAll) — Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on May 28, 2026 received Sasakawa Peace Foundation honorary chairman Yohei Sasakawa in a courtesy call in Tokyo, where they discussed the initiatives led by Mr. Sasakawa in support of the Philippines’ efforts to enhance maritime security, sustainable ocean governance, peacebuilding, eradication of leprosy, and digital innovation.
The meeting took place at the Okura Hotel in Tokyo on the sidelines of President Marcos’ State Visit to Japan.
During the courtesy call, the President expressed appreciation for the longstanding contributions of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation to Philippine development, particularly through scholarships focused on maritime concerns and peacebuilding, and support programs for public health, especially leprosy.
Some 80 personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have received scholarship grants from the foundation for graduate studies at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden. Interestingly, the WMU is currently headed by a Filipino, Maximo Mejia Jr., who was likewise a previous Sasakawa Foundation fellow.
The foundation has also supported the Asian Peacebuilders Scholarship, a dual-degree peacebuilding program in Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Peace in Costa Rica that equips Asian practitioners with skills in conflict prevention, mediation, and peace and development work.
In the field of healthcare, the Nippon Foundation provided a 10-year USD 7 Million grant for the Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, supporting the training of specialists and improving access to rehabilitation services for Filipinos in need. It has also been involved in public health programs to combat leprosy.
The President also recognized the foundation’s assistance to Filipino Nikkeijin since 2006, through efforts to help reconstruct documentation establishing proof of Japanese descent.
Both sides looked forward to sustaining their positive and meaningful partnership and vowed to continue working together in mutual areas of interest.
