The 2024 Research Grant Presentation Ceremony in U.S.A. was held at Hotel Nikko San Francisco on December 3, 2024.
Similar to previous years, the grant recipients were nominated by six leading universities in the field of information and communications in the USA (UC Berkley, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Southern California, California Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University), and six outstanding research projects were selected based on criteria including creativity, innovativeness, and usefulness. Each grant recipient received a grant of US$10,000.
With honorable guests, including Dupty Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, we also welcomed research grant recipients and their partners, nominators from each universities, representatives from organizations involved in exchanges between U.S.A and Japan at the ceremony.
The presentation ceremony began with the screening of a video introducing the Okawa Foundation, followed by an opening address from President Yuichiro Anzai. Next, Hideyuki Tokuda, Chairman of the research grant selection committee explained selection process and results, and then President Anzai presented the research grant certificate to each recipient.
 “Opening Address” Dr. Yuichiro Anzai, President
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 “Presentation of Grants” Dr. Yuichiro Anzai, President |
 “Explanation of Selection Process” Dr. Hideyuki Tokuda, Chairman of the Grant Selection Committee |
Takeshi Ishihara, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco, also delivered a messages of congratulation and encouragement to recipients on behalf of the guests.
 “Speech by the Research Grant Recipient” Dr. Baharan Mirzasoleiman, University of California, Los Angeles |
 “Congratulatory Speech” Mr. Takeshi Ishihara, Dupty Consul General of Japan in San Francisco |
At the dinner party held after the ceremony, researchers from Japan and the USA as well as members of the industry took the opportunity to engage in a lively exchange of opinions. Nominators from each universities gave congratulatory speeches, and the presentation ceremony concluded on a high note.
 Research Grant recipients and their nominators |
 Dinner Party |
 Dinner Party |
Going forward, the Okawa Foundation will continue to engage in such activities with the aim of promoting international academic and cultural exchange as well as the further development of research in the field of information and communications.