SEF Website
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/
Preschool Education
Activity database
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/sef/preschool/
Members of the Board
Representative Director, Chairman of the Board
Masao Morita
Representative Director, President
Kazuaki Takanose
Managing Director
Kazunori Toyonaga
Directors
Masako Atsumi
Attorney
Kiyomi Akita
Director, The Center for Early Childhood Development, Education and
Policy Research, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo
Makoto Asashima
Vice-President, Tokyo University of Science (TUS)
Kazushi Ambe
EVP, Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Corporation
Yumi Okazaki
Concert Pianist
Shiro Kambe
EVP, Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Corporation
Shigeki Kadoya
Professor, Nippon Sport Science University
Reiko Kuroda
Professor, Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University
of Science
Takashi Sakita
Ex-President, Sony Science Teachers Association
Hideaki Koizumi
Corporate Officer, Hitachi, Ltd. & Hitachi Fellow
Kaori Sasaki
Founder & CEO, ewoman, Inc
Yurika Sanmori
Director, Tsukuba Language Arts Institute, Ltd.
Keiichiro Shimada
Corporate Executive, Sony Corporation
Hideki Shirakawa
Emeritus Professor, University of Tsukuba
Keiko Takahashi
Director-General, Center for Earth Information Science and Technology
(CEIST)
Kiyoshi Nishitani
Ex-President, Sony Education Foundation
Kazuo Tsuyuki
Professor, Waseda University
Ken Hayami
Managing Director, The Japan Committee For UNICEF
Yoshiharu Naito
Director, Serendip Consulting Co.,Ltd
Yasushi Mitarai
Managing Director, Kyoritsu Women's Educational Institution
Yoshinori Hashitani
Senior General Manager, Corporate Communications & CSR Department.
Sony Corporation
Midori Miyazaki
Dean, Facility of Global Studies, Chiba University of Commerce
Tsugie Miyashita
President, Sony Institute of Higher Education Shohoku College
Miyoko O. Watanabe
Deputy Executive Director, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Auditors
Koichiro Okada
Certified Public Tax Accountant
Hirotoshi Korenaga
Senior General Manager, Global Accounting Division, Sony Corporate
Services (Japan) Corporation
Councilors
Teruaki Aoki
Special Adviser, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
History of the Foundation
1959: Start of the Sony Fund for the Promotion of Science Education in
Elementary Schools
1963: Organization of the League of Schools Receiving Sony Science Education
Funding
1969: Establishment of the Early Development Association
1972: Establishment of the Sony Foundation for Education (Chairman Ibuka)
2001: Launch of the Sony Education Foundation through integration of the Sony
Foundation for Education and the Early Development Association
2002: Launch of the Sony Science Teachers Association (SSTA) by reorganization
of the League of Schools Receiving Sony Science Education Funding
Start of the Sony Preschool Education Program for Children
2011: Change of status to a non-profit organization
4-2-1, Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-0001 Japan
TEL +81-3-3442-1005 FAX +81-3-3442-1035
URL http://www.sony-ef.or.jp
Vision
In Sony’s Founding Prospectus, co-founder Dr. Masaru Ibuka set “the
promotion of education in Science among the general public” as a primary
goal. He was convinced that enhancing Scientific Literacy would be critical
for the recovery of post-war Japan and that Science Education for children
was the key.
In 1959, 13 years after Sony’s establishment, he set up the Sony Fund for
the Promotion of Science Education to support elementary schools in the
pursuit of science education excellence.
In order to continuously develop this activity, “Public Interest Incorporated
Foundation: Sony Education Foundation” was founded in 2011, even
spreading the area to preschool education.
Supporting Teachers
Sony Science Teachers
Association: SSTA
SEF financially supports various activities
of the SSTA that consists of over 2,000
teachers for elementary and junior high
schools from 48 branches all over Japan.
SSTA performs research and training
programs to improve the competence of
members for their science education.
Science Principle Seminar
Targeting the teachers of elementary and
junior high schools, SEF hosts a seminar
for further understanding of the
principles of science in the background
of various scientific facts and
phenomena.
“Case Study” for Preschool
Education
SEF published a booklet of “case study of
distinctive practices” selected from the
practices described in the winning
Reports of the said Competition. It can
also be downloaded from the SEF
website.
Philosophy
To realize the vision of Dr. M. Ibuka, Sony Education Foundation (= SEF) aims in obtaining a goal where children
shall learn from nature with a rich sensibility to challenge new things through the power of science.
Also, SEF supports schools & teachers who work with passion to foster such children
for them to grow their curiosity and creativity.
Hands-on Activities for Children
Through activities and crafting in nature, SEF creates opportunities for children to foster their curiosity and creativity.
“Kagaku no Izumi”- Science Summer Camp
Financial Aid and Support
Dr. M. Ibuka has provided Financial Aid and Support to primary & junior high schools in Japan since 1959. The activity
has been extended to kindergarten & nursery schools in 2002. SEF encourages school teachers and child-minders to
submit papers which describe their teaching practices and plans to motivate children to learn science for
competitions. SEF offers education subsidy and Sony products to the winners of outstanding papers.
SEF widely introduces excellent practices and plans to other schools and kindergartens/nurseries by hosting events
displaying presentations of the best practices, which are also published in documents and on the SEF website.
Report Competition for elementary and junior
Report Competition for kindergartens and
high schools
nurseries
Theme: Supporting the growth of children who like
science
Assistance: Presentation of an education subsidy of
3 million yen (30,000 dollars) and Sony products to the
winning school.
Theme: Nurturing a scientific mindset
~ germinating seeds of rich sensibility and creativity ~
Assistance: Presentation of an education subsidy of
1 million yen (10,000 dollars) and Sony products to the
winning Kindergarten or nursery.
Practice of the best school and kindergarten
Award ceremony at the Sony headquarters building
1 week of Summer Science Camp for children (grade 5-8) with
Dr. Shirakawa, Nobel Prize Winner in 2000 for the Chemistry
Award. Selected science teachers and Sony engineers support
the camp under leadership of Dr. Shirakawa. Children deeply
and intensively work on the theme “learning from nature” at
this camp.
Sony “Monozukuri” (Craftsmanship) Workshop
Sony Engineers and SSTA teachers assist children to experience
Craftsmanship by making hand made products based on the
principles of science and technology.
Band of Parents and Children
SEF helps parents together with Child-minders to create chances to observe the growth of their children to establish a closer tie
with their children.
Photo Contest
This contest invites submission of photos from parents that
capture instants affording a glimpse of the “Scientific Mindset”
of preschool children aged 0 to 6 years old.
Prize-winning works:
Message from Dr. M. Ibuka on Nurturing
An abiding message for nurturing
that Dr. M. Ibuka was made into a
booklet. It can be downloaded
from the SEF website.
Vision
In Sony’s Founding Prospectus, co-founder Dr. Masaru Ibuka set “the
promotion of education in Science among the general public” as a primary
goal. He was convinced that enhancing Scientific Literacy would be critical
for the recovery of post-war Japan and that Science Education for children
was the key.
In 1959, 13 years after Sony’s establishment, he set up the Sony Fund for
the Promotion of Science Education to support elementary schools in the
pursuit of science education excellence.
In order to continuously develop this activity, “Public Interest Incorporated
Foundation: Sony Education Foundation” was founded in 2011, even
spreading the area to preschool education.
Supporting Teachers
Sony Science Teachers
Association: SSTA
SEF financially supports various activities
of the SSTA that consists of over 2,000
teachers for elementary and junior high
schools from 48 branches all over Japan.
SSTA performs research and training
programs to improve the competence of
members for their science education.
Science Principle Seminar
Targeting the teachers of elementary and
junior high schools, SEF hosts a seminar
for further understanding of the
principles of science in the background
of various scientific facts and
phenomena.
“Case Study” for Preschool
Education
SEF published a booklet of “case study of
distinctive practices” selected from the
practices described in the winning
Reports of the said Competition. It can
also be downloaded from the SEF
website.
Philosophy
To realize the vision of Dr. M. Ibuka, Sony Education Foundation (= SEF) aims in obtaining a goal where children
shall learn from nature with a rich sensibility to challenge new things through the power of science.
Also, SEF supports schools & teachers who work with passion to foster such children
for them to grow their curiosity and creativity.
Hands-on Activities for Children
Through activities and crafting in nature, SEF creates opportunities for children to foster their curiosity and creativity.
“Kagaku no Izumi”- Science Summer Camp
Financial Aid and Support
Dr. M. Ibuka has provided Financial Aid and Support to primary & junior high schools in Japan since 1959. The activity
has been extended to kindergarten & nursery schools in 2002. SEF encourages school teachers and child-minders to
submit papers which describe their teaching practices and plans to motivate children to learn science for
competitions. SEF offers education subsidy and Sony products to the winners of outstanding papers.
SEF widely introduces excellent practices and plans to other schools and kindergartens/nurseries by hosting events
displaying presentations of the best practices, which are also published in documents and on the SEF website.
Report Competition for elementary and junior
Report Competition for kindergartens and
high schools
nurseries
Theme: Supporting the growth of children who like
science
Assistance: Presentation of an education subsidy of
3 million yen (30,000 dollars) and Sony products to the
winning school.
Theme: Nurturing a scientific mindset
~ germinating seeds of rich sensibility and creativity ~
Assistance: Presentation of an education subsidy of
1 million yen (10,000 dollars) and Sony products to the
winning Kindergarten or nursery.
Practice of the best school and kindergarten
Award ceremony at the Sony headquarters building
1 week of Summer Science Camp for children (grade 5-8) with
Dr. Shirakawa, Nobel Prize Winner in 2000 for the Chemistry
Award. Selected science teachers and Sony engineers support
the camp under leadership of Dr. Shirakawa. Children deeply
and intensively work on the theme “learning from nature” at
this camp.
Sony “Monozukuri” (Craftsmanship) Workshop
Sony Engineers and SSTA teachers assist children to experience
Craftsmanship by making hand made products based on the
principles of science and technology.
Band of Parents and Children
SEF helps parents together with Child-minders to create chances to observe the growth of their children to establish a closer tie
with their children.
Photo Contest
This contest invites submission of photos from parents that
capture instants affording a glimpse of the “Scientific Mindset”
of preschool children aged 0 to 6 years old.
Prize-winning works:
Message from Dr. M. Ibuka on Nurturing
An abiding message for nurturing
that Dr. M. Ibuka was made into a
booklet. It can be downloaded
from the SEF website.
SEF Website
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/
Preschool Education
Activity database
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/sef/preschool/
Members of the Board
Representative Director, Chairman of the Board
Masao Morita
Representative Director, President
Kazuaki Takanose
Managing Director
Kazunori Toyonaga
Directors
Masako Atsumi
Attorney
Kiyomi Akita
Director, The Center for Early Childhood Development, Education and
Policy Research, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo
Makoto Asashima
Vice-President, Tokyo University of Science (TUS)
Kazushi Ambe
EVP, Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Corporation
Yumi Okazaki
Concert Pianist
Shiro Kambe
EVP, Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Corporation
Shigeki Kadoya
Professor, Nippon Sport Science University
Reiko Kuroda
Professor, Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University
of Science
Takashi Sakita
Ex-President, Sony Science Teachers Association
Hideaki Koizumi
Corporate Officer, Hitachi, Ltd. & Hitachi Fellow
Kaori Sasaki
Founder & CEO, ewoman, Inc
Yurika Sanmori
Director, Tsukuba Language Arts Institute, Ltd.
Keiichiro Shimada
Corporate Executive, Sony Corporation
Hideki Shirakawa
Emeritus Professor, University of Tsukuba
Keiko Takahashi
Director-General, Center for Earth Information Science and Technology
(CEIST)
Kiyoshi Nishitani
Ex-President, Sony Education Foundation
Kazuo Tsuyuki
Professor, Waseda University
Ken Hayami
Managing Director, The Japan Committee For UNICEF
Yoshiharu Naito
Director, Serendip Consulting Co.,Ltd
Yasushi Mitarai
Managing Director, Kyoritsu Women's Educational Institution
Yoshinori Hashitani
Senior General Manager, Corporate Communications & CSR Department.
Sony Corporation
Midori Miyazaki
Dean, Facility of Global Studies, Chiba University of Commerce
Tsugie Miyashita
President, Sony Institute of Higher Education Shohoku College
Miyoko O. Watanabe
Deputy Executive Director, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Auditors
Koichiro Okada
Certified Public Tax Accountant
Hirotoshi Korenaga
Senior General Manager, Global Accounting Division, Sony Corporate
Services (Japan) Corporation
Councilors
Teruaki Aoki
Special Adviser, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
History of the Foundation
1959: Start of the Sony Fund for the Promotion of Science Education in
Elementary Schools
1963: Organization of the League of Schools Receiving Sony Science Education
Funding
1969: Establishment of the Early Development Association
1972: Establishment of the Sony Foundation for Education (Chairman Ibuka)
2001: Launch of the Sony Education Foundation through integration of the Sony
Foundation for Education and the Early Development Association
2002: Launch of the Sony Science Teachers Association (SSTA) by reorganization
of the League of Schools Receiving Sony Science Education Funding
Start of the Sony Preschool Education Program for Children
2011: Change of status to a non-profit organization
4-2-1, Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-0001 Japan
TEL +81-3-3442-1005 FAX +81-3-3442-1035
URL http://www.sony-ef.or.jp