About the Foundation

Overview of the Foundation

Introduction

The Foundation was established in 1961 by the late Shuichi Amano (who passed away in December 1976 at the age of 86). He founded Amano Corporation with his private funds for the purpose of research and development of industrial technology, research assistance, and encouragement of industrial education.
The business activities include experimental research projects, research grants, and scholarship programs for public interest purposes. The Foundation also conducts for-profit projects to promote technologies that have been put to practical use through its testing and research activities.

Corporate History

1961　Established in Yokohama City and started experimental research businesses
1977　Commenced research grant programs
1978　Commenced scholarship programs
1979　Relocated to Hosoe-cho
1981　Commenced commissioned trial production businesses (for-profit project)
2012　Completion of office building (50th-anniversary project)
2013　Commenced activities as a public interest-incorporated foundation

Executive Officers and Trustees

Trustee　Toshihiro IRIE
Trustee　Shuichi OSANAI (Chairperson)
Trustee　Fumio SHIMURA
Trustee　Fujinori TAZO
Trustee　Kazuhiko HARA
Trustee　Akito HIKIDA
Trustee　Hajime FUJIKAWA
Trustee　Tomoo YAMAMURA

Representative Director　Nagakatsu KAWAHATA (Chairperson)
Representative Director　Senta AMANO (Head of the Center)
Executive Director　Masao SUDOH
Executive Director　Jyushin HIRAI
Executive Director　Yoshio OTAKA

Auditor　Ryuta KIKUCHI
Auditor　Mitsuhiko YAMAMOTO

Organizational Chart

Details of Projects (Results are compiled up to AY2022)

Experimental Research Projects

Since its establishment, the Foundation has anticipated the needs of the times and has worked on a number of themes related to air pollution control, fire prevention, noise and vibration control, equipment for people with disabilities and other pollution prevention, social welfare, labor saving, alternative energy, etc. In recent years, the Foundation has focused on joint research with universities on topics such as particle matter, particle behavior, virus removal, environmental systems, power generation elements, and material evaluation.

Major Collaborative Research

Year	Joint Research Partner	Research Theme
1987-1990	Hiroshima Institute of Technology	Development of anemometer
1988-1989	College of Science and Technology, Nihon University	Development of combustion gas temperature measuring device for internal combustion engines
1989-1994	College of Science and Technology, Nihon University	Prototype of a digital automatic controller for dynamometer
2002-2009	College of Science and Technology, Nihon University	Basic research on a new type of dynamometer
2011-2015	College of Science and Technology, Nihon University	Research on thermoelectric conversion capable of high output
2015-2019	Faculty of Engineering, Shizuoka University	Pioneering a structural catalytic conversion system for CO2 reduction and utilization through high-speed & low-temperature methane conversion
2022-	Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University	Development and practical application of a high-flow open/ closed cyclone system for the assessment of particulate matter toxicity

Research Grant Programs

The Foundation provides grants to researchers enrolled in universities or equivalent research institutions nationwide for research related to industrial technology. In addition, to promote the development of education at technical high schools, the Foundation provides grants for educational research and educational material research by groups such as schools, departments, and other organizations.

Results to Date

Year	Recipient	Research Theme
1977-Present (44 years)	Grants to researchers at a total of 60 institutions	Grants to 248 research themes

*Up to 1,500,000 yen per grant

Scholarship Programs

Scholarships are provided for three years from the first year to the third year to students in the doctoral program of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering. In addition, scholarships are provided to students of technical high schools nationwide, as well as to students of technical high schools in Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Mie, Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures, who are mainly enrolled in their final year of study.

Results of Technical High Schools Scholarships

Year	Scholarship Recipients	Number of Scholarships (Cumulative)
1978-Present	Kanagawa, Shizuoka Prefectures	2,057 cases
2006-Present	Mie Prefecture	281 cases
2011-Present	Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima Prefectures	881 cases
2016-2021	Kumamoto Prefecture	229 cases

*20,000 yen per month awarded to students in their final year of technical high school in each prefecture.
*The programs in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures ended in AY2022.

Results of Scholarship for Doctoral Programs in Graduate Schools

Year	Scholarship Recipients	Number of Scholarships (Cumulative)
1977-2016	Nihon University, Tohoku University, Shizuoka University, Keio University, Toyohashi University of Technology, Kanto Gakuin University, Ishinomaki Senshu University	106 cases (1,440,000 yen awarded annually in the final year of study)
2016-Present	Nihon University, Tohoku University, Shizuoka University, Keio University, Toyohashi University of Technology	127 cases (1,500,000 yen awarded annually for three years from the first year)

Results of Technical College Scholarships

Year	Scholarship Recipients	Number of Scholarships (Cumulative)
2007-present	51 National Institute of Technology nationwide	931 cases

*20,000 yen per month awarded mainly to students in their final year

For-profit Projects

At the request of general-purpose engine manufacturers, engine parts manufacturers, and others, we provide a wide range of products to the industry, including eddy current electro-dynamometers and control systems for measuring the performance of small general-purpose engines, and independent abrasion test systems for engine valve seats and valve guides.
*New manufacturing of power meters and other test equipment ended in March 2021.
*Repair and supply of parts for existing test equipment will cease as of March 2026.