Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, has announced a $10 million gift from alumnus Toshizo "Tom" Watanabe ('73) to provide scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students from Japan.

The single largest gift ever to Brandeis from an international alum will create the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship Program and provide support for Watanabe Scholars each year who have studied or currently are studying at a top-tier Japanese university with which Brandeis has a relationship. 

Watanabe, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in politics, is chair emeritus and former president and CEO of Nikken Global, a home wellness products company, as well as president of the Toshizo Watanabe Foundation. He credits his career success to the scholarship support he received from Brandeis, which of all the universities he applied to was the only one to offer him the financial aid he needed — through the Wien International Scholarship Program, an initiative established in 1958 by Lawrence and Mae Wien — to realize his dream of going to college in the U.S.

Watanabe was first inspired to make the gift thirty years ago upon hearing a speech by Lawrence Wien at a thirtieth-anniversary celebration of the program. "That is when a seed was planted for me," said Watanabe. "Since then, I have always wanted to repay the Wien family's generosity by helping other students." 

"It is crucial that institutions of higher learning foster cross-cultural collaboration and understanding. This program will further strengthen Brandeis' bonds with Japan and equip students to make an impact across the world," said Kathryn Graddy, dean of Brandeis International Business School. Through the school, Brandeis has established partnerships with Keio University and Waseda University in Tokyo and is pursuing additional partnerships.