Yazaki Kizuna Foundation awards 15 Scholarships to USP students

By Jeannie Penehuro/

Apia, SAMOA – 6 May 2026: Fifteen students at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Samoa have received scholarships from the Yazaki Kizuna Foundation Program.

The program is dedicated to strengthening bonds between Japan and Samoa through educational support.

The scholarship recipients include 14 Bachelor students and one Masters student recognized for their hard work and dedication.

Among the scholarship recipients is Thomas George Tofaeono, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Journalism and Law.

Thomas shared that the scholarship has eased the financial burden on his family.

“In my family, I have only one brother who is supporting us and his own young family. The Yazaki Kizuna Foundation Scholarship has helped lessen the financial stress on my mother and our family,” he stated.

Thomas chose his field of study because, when he enrolled at USP, there were no other students pursuing Media and Journalism.

His passion for the subject and the opportunity to be among the few students in the program motivated him to follow this path.

USP Samoa Campus Director, To’oto’ooleaava Dr. Fanaafi Aiono-Le Tagaloa, expressed her support for the scholarship program.

“I love scholarships because they are based on your effort and hard work. They are not awarded based on your parents’ status, politicians, or districts.”

Dr. Fanaafi highlighted that the success of scholarship recipients could lead to more opportunities in the future.

She congratulated the students and acknowledged both the Yazaki Kizuna Foundation and the students’ families for their unwavering support.

Yazaki Kizuna Foundation was established in 2018, following the closure of Yazaki Samoa, which had been operating since 1991.

The foundation was created to give back to the Samoan community in recognition of the support Yazaki received over the past 26 years.

According to Mr. Shiego Hozokawa, Managing Director of the Foundation, their work in Samoa focuses on two main activities.

One is to provide scholarships to students and two, to support small businesses through the donation of plants.

“The Foundation provided five scholarships in 2024, ten in 2025, and an increase to fifteen in 2026,” said Hozokawa.

The foundation’s name, Kizuna, signifies the bond of connection between Japan and Samoa, emphasizing the importance of fostering stronger relationships between the two countries.

The Yazaki Kizuna Foundation continues to play a vital role in supporting the educational aspirations of Samoan students, fostering stronger ties between Samoa and Japan, and empowering young people to contribute to their communities in a meaningful way.