Herbert and Helen Kawahara

Terasaki Center For Japanese Studies

Established in 1991, the UCLA Terasaki Center has been a platform for research on Japan. Our distinguished faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scholars, and the board of advisors have been contributing to the field of Japanese studies for over 20 years.

Faculty Board of Advisors Chair in US-Japan Relations Postdoctoral Fellows Alumni

Students Visitors Staff Supporters Dr. Paul I. Terasaki

The Terasaki Center sponsors a vast array of events throughout the year. With its colloquium series, the Center brings academics from diverse fields to UCLA each year. Special workshops and annual conferences bring leading scholars to discuss topics relating to Japan.

Center News Annual Newsletter

Center Events Community Events Past Events

The Center is proud to support our faculty, current and prospective students, and the local community through a variety of grants and fellowships.

Internal Funding
Learn more and apply for Center funding here.

External Funding
Funding sources in this section are not administered by the Center.

Center programs were established with strong support from the local community to promote research and instruction in Japanese studies, with a recent focus on the profound transformations unfolding in contemporary Japanese society.

UCLA Japanese Studies
Programs by Faculty and Students

Global Japan Initiative
Understanding Japan/Japanese culture within a global context.

The Terasaki Center is actively expanding support for faculty and graduate students, building relationships with other universities as well as Japan and Japanese Studies related organizations, and enhancing its role in the community.

Mission & History
Digital Archive

Global Hub
The Center is dedicated to connecting Japanese communities around the world with those engaged in the study of Japan and the Japanese.

DONATE Your gift can make a difference to Japanese studies at UCLA!

global japan initiative Understanding Japan/Japanese
culture within a global context

Herbert and Helen Kawahara

Philanthropists

Herbert and Helen Kawahara are philanthropists who are deeply involved with organizations throughout Los Angeles that serve the Japanese American community.

Herb Kawahara is a philanthropist, retired president of the Pacific Stock Exchange, chair emeritus of the UCLA Foundation, and one of the original Nikkei Bruins. He is also a longtime champion and supporter of Japanese Studies at UCLA. In 1997, his gift to the Terasaki Center established The Herbert and Helen Kawahara Fellowship to support UCLA graduate students wishing to develop expertise in Japanese culture while pursuing professional training in any academic discipline.

The Herbert and Helen Kawahara Fellowship was established in 1997 to provide fellowship support for graduate students who wish to develop Japan expertise as they pursue professional training in any given academic discipline. In 2006, this endowment was strengthened by further funding from the Shapiro Family in honor of the Kawahara Family - a marvelous testament to Herb’s magnificent leadership.

To date, Kawahara Fellowships have provided over $125,000 for 20 graduate students, many of whom have gone on to earn PhDs and become experts in their fields.

Helen Kawahara passed away on May 4, 2012.