OREANDA-NEWS. April 09, 2012. One year has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, and Sojitz Corporation would like once again to extend its sincere condolences and sympathies to all victims.

Sojitz will begin accepting applications in April 2012 for the second group of recipients of scholarships from the Sojitz Reconstruction and Education Fund that was established in May 2011.

The Fund provides financial support to university students who are facing economic difficulties continuing their education as a result of the earthquake. The Fund will provide a total of up to 100 million yen to 30 or more students each year over the five years from the 2011 to 2015 academic years. As was the case for the first round of scholarships, the Fund will provide monthly stipends of 70,000 yen for up to four years through Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. Since the Fund will provide scholarships for up to four years until graduation to the fifth group of recipients in the 2015 academic year, the Fund’s payment period will be the eight years from 2011 to 2018.

In the first year, a total of 97.73 million yen was provided to 52 students starting in June 2011. Of the 52 recipients, 39 are from three Tohoku region prefectures (Iwate, Ibaraki, and Fukushima) and of the remaining 13 are from other regions.

As a part of its relief support efforts, Sojitz has provided money as well as various relief supplies and has supported volunteer activities by Group officers and employees (volunteer tours, creation of a volunteer leave program, payment of expensive subsidies, and other initiatives).

Sojitz will respond to various needs while conducting ongoing and continuous support of recovery efforts in the affected regions.