JAFS (Japan Asian Association & Asian Friendship Society)

What JAFS (Japan Asian Association & Asian Friendship Society) does

JAFS (公益社団法人アジア協会アジア友の会 / Public Interest Incorporated Association) is a Japanese international cooperation NGO founded in 1979 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan. The organization delivers humanitarian and development programs to underserved Asian communities through an AFS partner network spanning 18 countries and 70 regions. Its core work consists of physical infrastructure construction—wells, school buildings, and sanitation facilities—rather than any technology platform or software product. As of March 2023, cumulative outputs include 2,254 wells, 2,580 toilets, 137 school buildings, 1,320 educational sponsorship recipients, and approximately 2.59 million trees planted.

The organization's program portfolio is organized into five pillars: water support (well construction, pipelines), education support (school construction and 親里 sponsorship), livelihood support, environmental conservation (tree planting, mangrove restoration, green scouts), and emergency disaster relief. Complementary international exchange programs include the Asian International Network Seminar (AINS), Asia Youth Summit (AYS), and paid study tours (e.g., Indonesia tours priced at ¥115,000 per participant for a 7-night/8-day itinerary). Domestically, JAFS runs the Asia Citizens University lecture series, the quarterly Asianet newsletter, and a network of regional chapter groups (地区会) that organize community events and charity activities.

JAFS's revenue model is multi-stream and mission-driven: individual donations, recurring membership fees (1,365 individual supporters, 45 corporate supporting members, 17 organizational supporters, and 194 regular members including 34 directors and 3 auditors), and fee-based study tours. FY2022 settled revenue was ¥82.9 million and the FY2023 budget was ¥194 million. The organization holds 公益社団法人 (Public Interest Incorporated Association) status, recognized by the Prime Minister in April 2012, and completed the JANIC Accountability Self-Check (ASC) in 2021, indicating a structured governance and disclosure posture for an entity of its size. With only 5 employees, JAFS relies on its 70-region partner network and volunteer base for field execution rather than direct staffing.

Name

JAFS (Japan Asian Association & Asian Friendship Society)

Legal name

公益社団法人アジア協会アジア友の会

Website

https://jafs.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Japanese Public Interest Incorporated Association founded in 1979 that constructs wells, schools, and sanitation infrastructure across 18 Asian countries, funded by individual donations, membership fees, and study tour revenues, serving impoverished Asian communities with water access and education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Forestry (800), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure, Energy & Urban Development Aid Programs (BPADABAJ), Climate, Environment & Natural Resource Management Aid Programs (BPADABAI), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• International cooperation services
• Water infrastructure development
• Educational sponsorship programs
• Environmental conservation initiatives
• Humanitarian disaster relief

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka (大阪市)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations (個人寄付): Individual donors contribute money to support JAFS's water, education, and livelihood projects in Asia. Donations are solicited through the website, events, and direct outreach.
2. Membership fees (年会費・賛助会員): JAFS generates revenue from regular members (正会員194名), supporting individual members (個人賛助会員1,365名), and corporate supporting members (法人賛助会員45社). Membership fees provide a recurring revenue base for organizational sustainability.
3. Event and study tour fees (スタディツアー参加者料金): JAFS organizes paid study tours to Indonesia and other countries (e.g., 110,000-115,000 yen per person for Indonesia tours) that generate fee revenue while advancing the organization's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

JAFS constructs wells, pipelines, and water infrastructure in underserved Asian communities; builds schools and runs educational sponsorship (里親) programs supporting 1,320 children; delivers livelihood, environmental conservation (tree planting, mangrove restoration), and emergency disaster relief programs across 18 Asian countries and 70 regions through a local partner (AFS) network. It also operates paid international exchange programs including Indonesia study tours, the Asia Youth Summit (AYS), and the Asia International Network Seminar (AINS), funded primarily by individual donations, supporter memberships, and corporate contributions.

Product overview

JAFS operates as a public interest incorporated association focused on international cooperation in Asia. Its program portfolio includes water infrastructure projects (wells, pipelines), educational support (school construction, sponsorship), livelihood assistance, environmental conservation (tree planting), and emergency disaster relief. International exchange programs include AINS seminars, Asia Youth Summit, and study tours. Educational initiatives feature the Asia Citizens University and the Asianet quarterly newsletter. The organization maintains a network of partner organizations across 18 countries and 70 regions in Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Well Donation Program (井戸を贈る活動)
• Educational Sponsorship Program (里親サポーター / 教育里親支援)
• Indonesia Study Tour (スタディツアー)
• Asia Citizens University (アジア市民大学)
• Supporter Membership (サポーター会員)
• Asia Youth Summit (AYS / アジアユースサミット)
• Asia International Network Seminar (AINS)
• Work Camps and Study Tours (ワークキャンプ・スタディツアー)
• Asianet Newsletter (会報誌アジアネット)

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,254基の井戸を建設 (as of March 2023)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AFS Network (アジア18カ国70地域)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1979JAFS operates through the AFS network comprising local partner organizations in 18 Asian countries and 70 regions. These partnerships enable JAFS to implement water, education, livelihood, and environmental projects with deep local knowledge and community trust.
• JANIC (国際協力NGOセンター)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJAFS is a member of JANIC, Japan's central coordination body for international cooperation NGOs. JANIC provides the Accountability Self-Check (ASC) diagnostic tool, which JAFS completed in 2021, demonstrating organizational transparency and self-governance standards.
• Kansai NGO Council (関西NGO協議会議)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJAFS participates in the Kansai NGO Council, a regional network of NGOs based in the Kansai area of Japan.
• Japan Platform (日本紛争予防研究所)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJAFS is affiliated with Japan Platform, a major emergency humanitarian response organization in Japan.
• 関西国際交流団体協議会minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJAFS participates in this Kansai-based council of international exchange organizations.
• 関西SDGsプラットフォームminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJAFS participates in the Kansai SDG platform, working toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• 京セラ労働組合本部minorOthersKyocera Labor Union headquarters is a corporate supporter (法人賛助会員) providing ongoing financial support for JAFS's water projects.
• イオングループ労働組合連合会minorOthersAEON Group Workers' Union is a corporate supporter providing ongoing financial support for JAFS projects.
• 仁愛会minorOthersRecipient of the Sustainable Water Award 2023 for 3 years of continuous well support contributions.
• 唐招提寺minorOthersTōshōdaiji temple in Nara has been donating wells to India through JAFS since 1982, contributing a total of 69 wells over 38 years as of 2020.
• エアーワールド株式会社minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAir World Co., Ltd. is a licensed travel agency (観光庁長官登録旅行業961号) that serves as the travel organizer for JAFS study tours to Indonesia. The company handles logistics, travel arrangements, and participant registration.
• 大阪ボランティア協会minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsaka Volunteer Association organizes the annual 'Meet the Volunteer' event, at which JAFS exhibited for the first time in 2026.
• 株式会社オルタナティブツアーminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlternative Tour Co., Ltd. is a licensed travel agency (兵庫県知事登録旅行代理店業第170号) acting as the direct booking agent for JAFS study tours.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves2 records

Broad incumbents

• Japan Platform: Japan's major emergency humanitarian response consortium, of which JAFS is a member. It pools corporate, NGO, and government resources for rapid disaster response, making it a comparable large-scale coordination body operating in the same Japanese international cooperation space as JAFS.
• World Vision Japan: Japanese arm of a global humanitarian organization focused on child sponsorship, education, water, and livelihood programs across Asia. Operates a much larger sponsorship model serving overlapping Asian communities and competing for the same Japanese household donors as JAFS.
• Plan International Japan: Japanese affiliate of Plan International, focused on children's rights, education, and gender equality in developing countries including Asia. Competes for similar Japanese individual donors through sponsorship and one-time giving, with a wider portfolio than JAFS.
• Save the Children Japan: Japanese affiliate of Save the Children, delivering child-focused education, health, and emergency relief programs across Asia. Larger, broader portfolio with overlapping beneficiary populations and donor base in Japan.

Direct peers

• AMDA (Association of Medical Doctors of Asia): Japan-headquartered NGO conducting humanitarian assistance and community health programs across Asia. Comparable as a Japanese-rooted Asia-focused NGO drawing on individual members, corporate donors, and volunteer engagement, though with a primary health-care delivery emphasis.
• Peace Winds Japan: Japan-based NGO focused on emergency relief, reconstruction, and community development in Asia. Operates a similar donor-and-membership-supported model serving Asian communities, making it a close peer in scale, geography, and fundraising approach.
• OISCA International: Japanese international cooperation NGO with a long history of rural development, agriculture, and education programs across Asia. Overlaps directly with JAFS on livelihood support, education, and community-based development in Asian countries, and competes for similar Japanese individual and corporate donors.
• AAR Japan: Japan-based international cooperation NGO supporting people with disabilities, landmine victims, and refugees, primarily in Asia. Comparable in being a Japanese NGO reliant on individual supporters and corporate donations to deliver assistance in Asian countries.

Others

• JANIC (Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation): JAFS is a member of JANIC, the central coordinating body for Japanese international cooperation NGOs. While not a direct program operator, JANIC sets accountability standards (e.g., ASC diagnostic) and represents the same Japanese NGO ecosystem in which JAFS competes for donors and visibility.

Emerging players

• CWS Japan (Church World Service): Smaller Japanese NGO supporting Asian communities through resettlement, refugee assistance, and disaster response. Comparable as a community-led, donation-funded Japanese organization, though with a more concentrated programmatic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClg56EEmMuMlFJyvRHxuEuQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/JAFS.NGO
• Instagraminstagram.com/jafs_ngo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jafsngo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about JAFS (Japan Asian Association & Asian Friendship Society)