Social Contribution Activities
Through its support for cultural activities, research and development, international exchange, and technological aid, Iwatani contributes to society.
Joint Efforts with the Activities of the NHK Symphony Orchestra
Iwatani has worked with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, which performs around the world, as a special supporting corporate member since 1987. This reflects our support for the Orchestra’s stated purpose, “To augment Japan’s music and artistic standards through symphonic music performances and to achieve its social and cultural mission.”
We help provide communities with opportunities to experience classical music by sponsoring the NHK Symphony Orchestra summer concert series every year.
Supporting the Japan Chamber Music Foundation
Iwatani supports the Japan Chamber Music Foundation, established to communicate the wonders of chamber music to Japan and the world. We support activities including the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, in which groups of young musicians from around the world compete, and the Osaka International Chamber Music Festa, which is freed from the classical music only genre constraint by allowing folk music and other genres from around the world.
Contributing to Society by Promoting Athletics
Established in April 2017, the Iwatani Athletics Club welcomed head coach Hisakazu Hirose, who has trained numerous long-distance runners over the years. In January 2019, we welcomed Athens Olympic gold medalist Mizuki Noguchi as a Club advisor.
In 2023, the Club won the Princess Ekiden, the qualifying long-distance replay race for the All Japan Industrial Teams Women’s Ekiden (Queen’s Ekiden) for the second consecutive year. This marks the 3rd consecutive year the Club has qualified for the Queen’s Ekiden.
Based on its cornerstone interests in contributing to society and communities through athletic activity and the training efforts of some of Japan’s leading athletes, the Club is working hard to achieve its goal of first place in the All Japan Industrial Teams Women’s Ekiden.
A Comfortable Planet - All Japan Elementary School Essay Contest
Iwatani has sponsored the All Japan Elementary School Essay Contest since 2010, reflecting our corporate slogan: Creation of a more comfortable space on the Earth is what Iwatani wishes and strives for. The contest is open to elementary school children from across Japan. In 2023, its 14th year, the contest attracted 5,384 entries from 625 schools. We will continue helping to raise the level of children’s interest in energy and the environment through this contest.
Hydrogen Awareness-Raising Activities
Our responsibilities include pioneering the future and passing on technologies for a new era to the next generation. Through courses on hydrogen energy held across Japan and experimentation using of water electrolysis and miniature fuel-cell vehicles, we give children opportunities to experience clean hydrogen energy.
Sponsorships of the Japan International Birdman Rally
Since 2010, as a program to commemorate our 80th anniversary, we have sponsored the Japan International Birdman Rally, a contest to see which human-powered aircraft can fly the farthest. We support this contest as its concept contest (to see which human-powered aircraft can fly the farthest) coincides with our ambitions to realize a clean energy society.
Technology Promotion through the Iwatani Naoji Foundation
The Iwatani Naoji Foundation
With the goal of improving the lives of the public and promoting international mutual understanding through sustained progress in science and technology, the Iwatani Naoji Foundation encourages and provides subsidies for research and development, supports international exchange, and undertakes human resource development activities.
Iwatani Subsidies for Science and Technology Research; Iwatani Naoji Commemorative Award; Iwatani Scholarship for International Students
The Iwatani Subsidies for Science and Technology Research provide research grants of up to 2 million yen per project for outstanding research projects involving energy and the environment. In FY2022, this program awarded a total of 142.11 million yen to 72 projects. The cumulative total through FY2022 was 2,191.47 million yen awarded to 1,094 recipients.
The Iwatani Naoji Commemorative Award, honors outstanding achievements in research and development on energy and the environment. This award consists of a commemorative certificate, a medal, and an additional prize of 5 million yen. Through now, it has presented a total of 110 million yen to 47 winners.
The Iwatani Scholarship for International Students, a program providing financial support to self-financed graduate students from East Asia and Southeast Asia enrolled in programs in the natural sciences, awarded scholarships of 1.8 million yen per year to each of 14 students. To date, this program has provided 498 students with a cumulative total of 947.04 million yen in scholarships.
Improving and Promoting Welding Skills in Asia
Iwatani supports various efforts to improve welding skills in Asia, including the Dalian City - Iwatani Japan-China Welding Technology Seminar and Contest, held for ten years starting in 1997; the Iwatani Welding Seminars held in Hanoi, Jakarta, and other locations since 2007; and the Iwatani-API/IWS Welding Contest held jointly with the Indonesian Welding Society (IWS) in suburban Jakarta from 2016 through 2019. We remain committed to supporting improved welding skills in Asian nations through these activities.
Cleanup Activities
As part of contributions to local communities and volunteer activities, we undertake cleanup activities near our business sites. These continual activities in the vicinities of business sites across Japan are intended to contribute to the local communities on which we depend on a daily basis and to promote friendship and harmony among employees.
