Since 2021, Pathways Japan has provided the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship through the generous support of Mr. Toshizo Watanabe. The scholarship supports refugee and displaced youth living in Japan in pursuing higher education. To date, a total of 83 students have received scholarships through the program, including 25 students supported in the current academic year.
In the fifth year of the scholarship program, Mr. Watanabe has made an additional donation of USD 7 million (approximately JPY 1.1 billion) to the scholarship endowment. Together with the existing endowment of JPY 1 billion, these funds will be managed by Pathways Japan, and the investment returns will be used to provide scholarships to refugee and displaced youth on a sustainable and long-term basis.
This new contribution will enable the organization to increase the number of scholarship recipients in the coming years, making the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship the largest scholarship program for refugees and displaced persons in Japan.
Globally, only 9 percent of people with refugee backgrounds have access to higher education (UNHCR Education Report 2025). In Japan as well, the number of refugee and displaced youth arriving from countries affected by conflict, political instability, and other crises continues to grow. Their backgrounds are diverse: some arrive through student visa, while others come to Japan with parents who have sought refuge here. As the need for support in accessing higher education continues to increase, the scholarship received 226 applications for the 2026 academic year.
*For information about the 2026 scholarship recipients, please see here.
With the expansion of the endowment, Pathways Japan will be able to respond to the aspirations of more young people who wish to continue their education and provide greater access to higher education opportunities. We remain committed to supporting each individual in pursuing their chosen career path and becoming active members of Japanese society.
About the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship
Established in 2021, the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship is a scholarship program that supports access to higher education for refugees and displaced persons living in Japan. Through 2026, the program has supported approximately 20–25 students each year.
The scholarship primarily serves refugees and displaced persons holding temporary residence statuses, including student visas, who have often been excluded from existing support schemes. It is a non-repayable scholarship that covers both tuition and living expenses.
The program enables students to pursue their preferred educational pathways and fields of study, ranging from junior colleges to graduate schools. Scholarship recipients study in a wide variety of disciplines, including engineering, economics, Japanese language education, tourism, healthcare and nursing, and agriculture.