Watanabe Gives Brandeis $10 Million to Establish Scholarships for Students from Japan

Seth Joel

Toshizo “Tom” Watanabe ’73 has given his alma mater $10 million for a scholarship program that will allow undergraduate and graduate students from Japan to attend Brandeis.

This is the largest single gift the university has received from an international graduate.

Each academic year, the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship Program will support Watanabe Scholars, selected from students who have studied or are currently studying at a top-tier Japanese university with which Brandeis has a relationship. The university currently has partnerships with Keio and Waseda Universities, both based in Tokyo, and is pursuing relationships with other Japanese universities.

Watanabe is president of the Toshizo Watanabe Foundation, and chair emeritus/former president and CEO of Nikken Global, an international home wellness products company. He credits the scholarship support he received from Brandeis with making his career success possible.

Growing up in Kamakura, Japan, Watanabe dreamed of attending college in America. Though he applied to a number of U.S. schools, only Brandeis offered him the fi nancial resources he needed, accepting him into the Wien International Scholarship Program, established in 1958 to bring students from around theglobe to the university. Ultimately, he earned a bachelor’s degree in politics at Brandeis.

Thirty years ago, at a celebration of the Wien program’s 30th anniversary, Watanabe was inspired by a speech given by Lawrence Wien, who, along with his wife, Mae, established the program. “That is when a seed was planted for me,” Watanabe says. “Since then, I have always wanted to repay the Wien family’s generosity by helping other students.”

President Ron Liebowitz believes the nature of Watanabe’s giving is emblematic of the university’s mission. “We are deeply grateful for this historic gift, which reflects the values upon which Brandeis was founded,” Liebowitz says. “This scholarship program will not only enable us to welcome deserving students, it will also further diversify our campus, add new perspectives to our classroom discussions and emphasize ouruniversity as a global institution.”

The gift is a timely one. The Wien program is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary. Since its inception, it has brought more than 894 scholars from 115 countries to Brandeis.

Watanabe says he learned a lot from his courses in international politics, sociology, architecture and Japanese art at Brandeis. Now he wants to give more students from Japan the opportunity for a life-changing academic experience.

“Hopefully, the Watanabe International Scholarship Program will contribute to developing future leaders in various fields,” he says.

The benefits of the students’ explorations at Brandeis will be both simple and profound, says Watanabe: “I feel they will benefit in broadening their vision and finding their goals in life.”