The Bill Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund

THE BISHOP FAMILY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation and the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), with approval of the family, has established the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of Bill, Izumi, and Sophianna Bishop. The Bishop Fund will support U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in Japan for a semester or academic year. Scholarship awardees will enroll in a credit-bearing program at a Japanese university where they will pursue classes in Japanese culture and language. Our intention is to award scholarships to students who will study at Temple University Japan where Bill served as a longtime board member and lecturer.

We welcome donations to the Fund in any amount. In addition, ACCJ and the Bridging Foundation welcome conversations with companies that may wish to support the initiative through other giving opportunities such as sponsorships.

LIVES LIVED FOR BRIDGING THE U.S. AND JAPAN

William ‘Bill’ Bishop spent more than 40 years living and working in Japan in the pharmaceutical industry. Arriving in Tokyo in 1974 as a student at Sophia University, he quickly developed a love for Japan and its people. After earning a M.A. from Temple University, where he later taught and served on its Board of Overseers, Bill built a career in healthcare and went on to hold positions at the subsidiaries of Eli Lilly and Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and Becton, Dickinson and Company. In his role as a trade representative for the state of Indiana, he had an enormous impact on U.S.-Japan business dealings and formed many relationships that were instrumental in bringing Japan and the U.S. closer together. Later, he established a professional consultancy, Bill Bishop & Associates, leveraging his fluency in Japanese and deep experience in the field to provide services related to government relations, market development, and trade investment. From these achievements came recognition. Bill was selected as Chair of Healthcare Committee of The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) and was a lecturer at Temple University’s Tokyo Campus. Bill was known for his sense of humor, his very friendly personality, his fascinating stories, and spot-on recommendations of methods to bridge cultural differences.

Izumi Morita Bishop was a remarkable woman whose life touched the hearts of her family and those around her. She and her husband Bill shared a bond forged at Sophia University. They often traveled together to Bill’s hometown in South Dakota. Alongside Bill, she regularly joined the American Chamber of Commerce's Charity Ball, supporting worthy causes and strengthening their bond with the community. Izumi's dedication to her family was unparalleled, and her love and influence will forever inspire us. Her contributions and devotion will be cherished as we recognize the beautiful life she lived.

Sophianna Morita Bishop was a creative specialist at Ogilvy Japan. Sophianna's extraordinary talent and vast intellect was quickly noticed by management and she was swiftly promoted to associate strategy director, resulting in a significant expansion of responsibilities. She was a rising star in the company both in Japan and across Asia. Sophianna was an exceptional person—not only bright and intelligent, but a dedicated team leader who showed a strong commitment and passion for her work and clients. She will be remembered by all for her smile and ability to fill every room with positivity.

Bill’s love of Japan, dedication to education, and strengthening ties with the U.S. was an important part of his life. Recognizing and sustaining his and his family’s achievements, the Bishop Family Memorial Scholarship is intended to provide opportunities to U.S. students—who would otherwise be unable—to study abroad in Japan so that they too can experience and contribute to one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world.

The scholarship will enable one U.S. college or university student each year to study in Japan at Temple University to learn Japanese language and culture. The scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to research a theme of their choosing so that they too can contribute to the growth of understanding and ties of friendship between the U.S and Japan. No achievement would hold the Bishop Family in higher honor than to see their work continued by others.

THE U.S.-JAPAN BRIDGING FOUNDATION

The Fund is established, in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, at the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation, an organization that has provided over 2,000 American undergraduates scholarships to study abroad in Japan for the last 20 years. Semester grants are $3,500 (a $2,500 stipend for the student and $1,000 to support student programming); academic-year grants are $6,000 (a $4,500 stipend for the student and $1,500 to support student programming). Grantees depart twice a year, once in September and once in January.

The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation provides mentoring, networking, and study abroad scholarships to undergraduates determined to build a Japan-related career.

The goal of the Bridging Scholars program is to nurture U.S. undergraduates to broaden their worldview through long-term study abroad in Japan. Many of graduates of the Bridging Scholar program assume leadership roles supporting the U.S.-Japan relationship by becoming experts in arts, education, culture, business, diplomacy and security.

Bridging Scholars become proficient in Japanese culture and language, enabling them to engage effectively with their Japanese counterparts and to positively influence public life in the United States. Through their experience in Japan, Bridging Scholars cultivate a lifelong affinity for the country and become attuned to the cultural differences that facilitate working with people from any part of the world. The Foundation awards 75-100 scholarships annually at a total value of $350,000. Nearly 600 students apply for Bridging scholarships each year. All Scholars study in credit-bearing programs for a semester or academic-year.

Three core activities comprise the Bridging Foundation’s mission:
1. Advocating for increased participation in study abroad to Japan
2. Funding scholarships for undergraduate study abroad to Japan
3. Mentoring and nurturing those students throughout their experience in Japan and upon return to the U.S.

An eight member Board of Directors and one staff member operate the Foundation. American and Japanese corporations provide the majority of funding. Additional funding comes from individuals and private foundations. The Bridging Foundation and the American Association of Teachers of Japanese work closely together to implement the Bridging Scholars program. The Bridging Foundation has partnered with the U.S. Department of State on several major programs, including the Friendship Blossoms-Dogwood Tree Initiative as well as the Team-Up campaign, which connected U.S. and Japanese universities.