Sasakawa Peace Foundation

What Sasakawa Peace Foundation does

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) is a Japanese nonprofit foundation established in 1990, headquartered in Tokyo with a wholly-owned US subsidiary (Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, SPF USA) in Washington, DC. SPF functions as a policy research and bilateral engagement organization focused on US-Japan relations, Indo-Pacific security, global health (leprosy elimination), and blue economy development. Its core constituencies are government policymakers, international organizations (notably the World Health Organization and the Nippon Foundation), and research institutions across Japan, the United States, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe. The foundation does not sell commercial products and has no traditional customers; operations are funded through grants and institutional partnerships, with the Nippon Foundation identified as a core anchor funder for the US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative.

SPF's core programs include the US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative (bilateral dialogue on foreign, security, and technology policy), the Pacific Islands Maritime Domain Awareness Program (PIMDAP), Congressional engagement programs (Congressional Study Group on Japan, Congressional Program on US-Japan Relations and the Indo-Pacific), the Women, Peace & Security Alliance Initiative, and the Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative. Additional newer programs include the Inclusive Mentoring Network for Entrepreneurs (IMNEt) in Cambodia and the Networking the Neighbors of the Philippine Sea initiative. The foundation produces policy publications including the "Allied on AI Assurance" report, the US-Japan Command, Control, and Coordination (C3) Modernization Report, the Pacific Islands MDA Policy Recommendation Report, and the English translation of Operation TOMODACHI analysis. Outreach is conducted via government-to-government MoUs (e.g., with Bangladesh's MIDA, signed June 2026), high-level conference side events (TICAD 9, Our Ocean Conference, World Health Assembly), direct policy briefings to Congressional staff and Japanese officials, the Sasakawa USA newsletter, and the Japan Political Pulse opinion-poll aggregation service. Leadership includes SPF President Atsushi Sunami in Tokyo and SPF USA Senior Director Jim Schoff in Washington, supported by a small staff (estimated 15-50) and a bench of non-resident senior fellows with prior US government and think tank credentials.

Name

Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Legal name

Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Website

https://spfusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation is a Japanese nonprofit foundation that conducts policy research and bilateral engagement programs to strengthen US-Japan relations, support Indo-Pacific security, advance global health (leprosy elimination), and promote blue economy development across Asia and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research & International Relations

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO), Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

Keywords

• International policy research
• Peacebuilding foundations
• US-Japan relations
• Diplomatic dialogue facilitation
• Nonprofit grant making

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation funding: Sasakawa Peace Foundation operates as a grant-funded policy research organization. The US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative was established with support from the Nippon Foundation.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Japanese nonprofit foundation that conducts policy research, facilitates bilateral dialogue, and operates grant-making programs focused on US-Japan relations, Indo-Pacific security, global health (leprosy elimination), blue economy cooperation, and women's entrepreneurship in developing economies. Activities include publishing research reports, hosting international conferences, conducting study trips, and convening policy specialists across government, security, and technology domains.

Product overview

Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA operates as a policy research and engagement organization offering multiple interconnected programs and publications focused on US-Japan relations and Indo-Pacific security. The core programs include the US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative (forum for bilateral dialogue on foreign, security, and technology policy), Pacific Islands Maritime Domain Awareness Program (PIMDAP), Congressional engagement programs (CSGJ and CPUSJ), Women Peace & Security Alliance Initiative, and the Inclusive Mentoring Network for Entrepreneurs (IMNEt). These programs are supported by publications including the Allied on AI Assurance report (covering US-Japan AI safety cooperation), US-Japan C3 Modernization Report (defense command and control), Pacific Islands MDA Policy Recommendation Report, and Operation TOMODACHI analysis. The Japan Political Pulse aggregates opinion polls on Japanese leadership. The organization functions as a think tank/policy institute rather than a technology product company, focusing on international relations research, policy analysis, and bilateral engagement rather than commercial technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: A forum for bilateral dialogue, networking, and joint recommendations on foreign, security, and technology policy between the US and Japan. Established in 2021 with support from the Nippon Foundation.
• Pacific Islands Maritime Domain Awareness Program (PIMDAP)
• Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative
• Inclusive Mentoring Network for Entrepreneurs (IMNEt)

Products and services

• US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative A bilateral forum for dialogue, networking, and joint recommendations involving policy and technical specialists to stimulate new alliance connections across foreign, security, and technology policy areas between the US and Japan.
• Pacific Islands Maritime Domain Awareness Program (PIMDAP) Policy engagement and research program focused on maritime domain awareness cooperation between the US, Japan, and Pacific Island nations, including conferences and policy recommendation reports.
• Inclusive Mentoring Network for Entrepreneurs (IMNEt) Pilot program in Cambodia training mentors to support rural micro women entrepreneurs, conducted in partnership with Swisscontact Cambodia, Impact Hub Phnom Penh, and Cambodia Coaching Institute.
• Congressional Study Group on Japan (CSGJ) Congressional engagement program providing study tours and briefings for Congressional staff and members on US-Japan relations.
• Congressional Program on U.S.-Japan Relations and the Indo-Pacific (CPUSJ) Program focused on deepening Congressional understanding of US-Japan relations and Indo-Pacific strategy.
• Women, Peace & Security Alliance Initiative Initiative focused on women's participation in peace and security processes, including convenings, exchanges, and analysis resources.
• Japan Political Pulse Program aggregating major Japanese opinion polls to provide accurate picture of Japanese Prime Minister's Cabinet public approval ratings.
• Allied on AI Assurance: Technology to Enhance AI Security & Safety Publication providing analysis of US-Japan cooperation on AI safety, AI security, and adversarial AI through an AI Assurance Study Trip to Tokyo in July 2024 with US national laboratory experts.
• US-Japan C3 Modernization Report Comprehensive report on modernization of US-Japan defense-related command, control, and coordination relationships, analyzing Japan's new Joint Operations Command (J-JOC) and providing recommendations for future development.
• Pacific Islands Maritime Domain Awareness Policy Recommendation Report Report summarizing findings from two Pacific Islands MDA conferences, exploring policy recommendations for US, Japan, and Indo-Pacific partnering countries on maritime domain awareness cooperation.
• On the Frontlines of Operation TOMODACHI: Japan-US Coordination During Crisis English translation of Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Koichi Isobe's book on Japan's 2011 disaster response and US-Japan military coordination during Operation TOMODACHI.
• Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative Initiative focused on leprosy elimination, contributing over US$200 million to WHO since 1975 for leprosy elimination efforts in partnership with WHO and the Sasakawa Health Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over US$200 million mobilized for leprosy programs since 1975
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2026MoU signed at State Guest House Jamuna with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus present. SPF President Atsushi Sunami to formally endorse. Partnership aims to protect and clean Bangladesh's seas while expanding research collaboration with Marine Science Institute of Chittagong University.
• World Health Organization (WHO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Yohei Sasakawa serves as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination for 25 years. Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative has contributed over US$200 million through WHO since 1975. Event hosted at 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
• Education InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Launched 2026 Global Appeal in Brussels calling for education to end stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy. Leverages Education International's network of 33 million members across 180 countries.
• Damien FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Partnership in Global Appeal to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy. Damien Foundation is a leading organization in leprosy care and elimination.
• TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2025SPF hosted official side events at TICAD 9 in Yokohama, Japan, bringing together Japanese and African government officials, international organization representatives, and researchers to discuss food security and blue economy cooperation.
• Stimson CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2025Co-hosted discussions on maritime security and blue economy resilience with the Stimson Center at the 10th Our Ocean Conference in Busan, Republic of Korea. Partnership focuses on Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Initiative (CORVI) and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Action Alliance.
• Swisscontact CambodiacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2025Partner in Inclusive Mentoring Network for Entrepreneurs (IMNEt) pilot program in Cambodia. Successfully trained 25 mentors in Siem Reap and Battambang to support rural micro women entrepreneurs.
• Impact Hub Phnom PenhcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2025Partner in IMNEt pilot program in Cambodia, providing support ecosystem for mentors and mentees in the women entrepreneurs support program.
• Cambodia Coaching InstitutecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2025Partner in IMNEt pilot program in Cambodia, contributing coaching expertise for mentor training.
• Japan AI Safety InstitutecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2024Site visit and collaboration discussions during AI Assurance Study Trip. Japan AISI operates within METI's Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) with about 25 technical staff focusing on AI safety evaluation and standards.
• National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2024Co-organized roundtable on AI safety and security research with national laboratory and university AI researchers. NICT is establishing GPAI Tokyo Expert Support Center for AI governance research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Japan Foundation: Japanese government-affiliated international cultural and diplomatic foundation. Comparable on being a major Japanese grantmaking/engagement foundation operating globally to deepen international understanding of Japan.
• RAND Corporation: Large policy research organization with deep US-Japan and Indo-Pacific security work, including studies on US-Japan alliance and AI policy. Comparable on defense, technology, and Asia-Pacific research.
• Brookings Institution: Premier US think tank with extensive work on East Asia, US foreign policy, and international economics. Comparable on policy research depth, publication quality, and government engagement.
• Atlantic Council: US-based international affairs think tank with significant programs on Asia, AI policy, and alliance strategy. Comparable on bilateral dialogue, technology policy, and convening senior officials.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Major US bipartisan policy research organization covering international security and foreign policy including Japan and Indo-Pacific affairs. Comparable on policy research, convening of senior officials, and publication output.

Regional players

• German Marshall Fund (GMF): Transatlantic policy think tank applying a comparable bilateral/regional convening and policy research model. While focused on transatlantic rather than US-Japan, the operating model (foundation-funded think tank convening senior officials and publishing research) is closely analogous.

Direct peers

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global policy research think tank with a dedicated Japan Program; SPF USA's Senior Director Jim Schoff was previously Senior Fellow and Director there. Highly comparable on US-Japan foreign policy research and convening model.
• Stimson Center: Established US think tank focused on security and international affairs. Already an active SPF partner on maritime security, blue economy, and IUU fishing; highly comparable on maritime/Indo-Pacific policy research.
• Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE): Japanese nonprofit focused on international policy dialogue, US-Japan relations, and global governance. Highly comparable on Japan-based policy research foundation model and bilateral convening.

Emerging players

• Pacific Forum International: Hawaii-based think tank focused on Indo-Pacific security, US-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation, and maritime domain issues. Directly comparable on Indo-Pacific maritime and alliance policy work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SasakawaUSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/spfusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sasakawa-peace-foundation-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sasakawa Peace Foundation