By Pablo Puga, Rotary Club of Tokyo Hiroo, Japan
I was born and raised in Mexico. Since childhood, I have admired Japan and dreamed of one day going there to study and work. I envisioned serving as a bridge between Japanese and Latin American cultures. After graduating from university, my desire to deepen my studies led me to pursue graduate school.
I applied and was accepted for a scholarship from the Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation. The foundation is primarily supported by contributions from Japanese Rotary members and provides scholarships to foreign students for pursuing academic studies and/or research in Japan. Named after Umekichi Yoneyama, known as the “Father of Rotary in Japan,” the program has supported approximately 25,000 individuals to date.
The Yoneyama Scholarship is more than just financial aid. It is a system designed to support international students who wish to “understand Japan and build friendly relations with it.” It is a “treasure” of Rotary in Japan and a wonderful system unparalleled in the world.
During my two years as a Yoneyama Scholar at International Christian University (ICU) in Japan, from 2006-08, I frequently attended Rotary club meetings and was invited to participate in service projects and fellowship opportunities. The Rotary members I met there possessed rich life experiences, were humble, and became role models for me.
The things I learned from them are countless: Japanese values, etiquette, an attitude of respect for others, and a culture of mutual support. While the selection process for Yoneyama Scholars is rigorous, the experiences gained through this scholarship create profound impact and broaden one’s horizon.
The connections I forged through the scholarship have not faded since graduation. During the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, I was working in Tokyo. Friends I had met through the program reached out to me, asking if I was alright and if there was anything they could do for me. Though my connection with Rotary had become distant by then, I was deeply moved by the strength of the bonds I had been able to build through the scholarship. The most important thing I learned was the power to connect people. Inspired by this connection, I joined a Rotary club in 2018.
Japan is a wonderful country to study and live in. I respect and love this country. To truly understand and learn a country, it’s essential to live there and experience its culture and history. As the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” You gain so much by learning while respecting the local culture.
In 2025, I became the 6th Yoneyama Ambassador, visiting Rotary clubs to share the significance of the scholarship and the friendships it fosters. I feel it is now my turn to pass on the warm support and learning I received as a scholar. Moving forward, I wish to carry what I learned as a Yoneyama Scholar in my heart and expand the circle of peace and understanding throughout the world.
https://blog.rotary.org/2026/03/24/yoneyama-scholarship-builds-bridges-between-cultures/