Study Tour

The Matsumae International Foundation organizes a Study Tour in Japan for fellowship recipients. The tour enables recipients to understand the importance of using science and technology for peace and development of humankind with a strong ethical basis, while also experiencing Japanese culture.

The tour includes visits to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima City, where the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped, and to Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dr. Shigeyoshi Matsumae, the founder of the MIF, was sent to Hiroshima as the head of the investigation team for the Agency for Technical Advancement shortly after the atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945. Witnessing the immense devastation firsthand, he later recalled, “I was so overcome by the horror of it all that I was unable to utter a word”. This experience strengthened his belief that “science must be used for the peace and development of humankind.”

What message does the destructive power of the atomic bomb—created by harnessing humanity’s scientific knowledge and technology—and the horrors seen in the bombed city convey to the world? Through this Study Tour, the MIF aims to inspire a global community of responsible researchers.