Emergency Disaster Assistance

MUFG is supporting reconstruction in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake from a medium- to long-term perspective through our core financial business and social contribution activities. As time passes, the needs of the disaster-stricken areas continue to change. While making efforts to meet these changing needs, all companies in the Group are working together to provide assistance programs in the disaster-affected areas. It is our hope that these programs will allow those affected by this disaster to return to their normal lives as quickly as possible.

Providing Financial Assistance through Public-Private Partnerships

MUFG Bank (the Bank) has established the Reconstruction Public-Private Partnership Office at its local branch office in Sendai under the aim of promoting investment in the regions targeted for reconstruction through partnerships with national and local government agencies. the Bank has also been supporting reconstruction through its business by offering loans that make use of the Reconstruction Agency's assistance programs.

Establishing Financial Support Scheme that Leverages Electronically Recorded Monetary Claims

For reconstruction efforts in the disaster-stricken areas, the construction of public housing for people displaced by the disaster continues to be an urgent matter. However, when constructing this public housing, payments to contractors are made in a lump sum once housing construction is completed. This has led to financial issues for contractors as it can take a considerable amount of time until payments are made. As part of its efforts to support reconstruction, MUFG Bank (the Bank) has established a financial support scheme that leverages electronically recorded monetary claims for the Public Housing for Reconstruction Promotion Committee in Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture. This scheme addresses the financial issues contractors are facing by allowing them to receive substantial piecework payments before all the housing is transferred to the new residents. As a result, this scheme has helped reduce the financial burden of contractors.

Building site for public housing for reconstruction in Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture

Settlement Scheme for Public Housing for Reconstruction in Onagawa Town

Providing Financial Support through the Interest Subsidy Program

For funding of core projects as part of reconstruction plans in designated Special Zones for Reconstruction in the disaster areas (in 227 municipalities), the national government subsidizes up to 0.7% of the interest for five years. By utilizing this program, businesses carrying out core projects within the area's reconstruction plan are able to receive low-interest rate loans and, as a result, this program has allowed businesses to smoothly undertake these projects.
Up to fiscal 2018, MUFG Bank (the Bank) has offered a total amount of ¥33.8 billion as loans utilizing this program (46 projects; as of the end of March 2019). In this way, the Bank is supporting the reconstruction of disaster-stricken areas by engaging in initiatives through its core financial business.

Efforts through Social Contribution

Providing Support through the MUFG NFUAJ East Japan Earthquake Recovery and Scholarship Fund

MUFG and MUFG Bank (the Bank), in cooperation with, the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ), established the MUFG NFUAJ East Japan Earthquake Recovery and Scholarship Fund in April 2011. For up to 15 years, the fund will be working with local schools in operating a scholarship program and holding various support projects for orphaned students (children who lost one or both of their parents as a result of the earthquake or tsunami) from elementary through high school. The fund is expected to grow to around ¥3 billion.

Scholarship Program

At the start of the program, each student is awarded ¥100,000 and subsequently awarded ¥20,000 every month until high school graduation. Since the program was introduced, 1,500 students have so far received scholarships. The program offered its final round of new scholarships to children who entered elementary school in FY 2014, and these scholarships will continue until those students have graduated from high school in 2026.

MUFG NFUAJ East Japan Earthquake Recovery and Scholarship Fund (in Japanese)

Participation in the TOMODACHI Initiative

MUFG participates in the TOMODACHI Initiative, which is running a U.S.-Japan exchange program led by the U.S. Embassy of Tokyo and the U.S.-Japan Council, a U.S. non-profit organization. We support the TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program, which arranges visits from each country to the other between students and teachers from areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and their counterparts in the U.S. In 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, students and teachers from Japan visited the U.S., and in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, students and teachers from the U.S. visited Japan. Through this program, we work to support the healthy growth of children in both Japan and the United States.

Staging of the 8th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program

For about two weeks from June 22 to July 7, 2019, 20 high school students from the United States travelled to Japan to visit disaster-stricken areas in Fukushima Prefecture, as well as Tokyo, Hiroshima and other places.

On this trip, the exchange students for the first time visited Fukushima Prefecture, where they took part in exchanges, volunteer activities and so on with the mayor (at the time of the disaster) of Minami Soma and local high school students. In Tokyo, they visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Reconstruction Agency, while in Hiroshima Prefecture, they visited the Governor, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and so on. In doing so, the students learned about reconstruction efforts and disaster prevention measures and so forth in Japan.

Moreover, on this trip, the students stayed in the homes of MUFG employees. An employee who hosted a student said, “The student was very obedient and well-mannered. This was the first time we accepted a homestay student, but I think it was a very good experience for parents and children alike.”

TOMODACHI Initiative

TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program

Visit to a high school in Fukushima (July 1~3, Fukushima)

Visit to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (July 4~5, Hiroshima)

Supporting Concerts Held in Disaster-Affected Areas

Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS (NICOS) sponsors concerts by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra held in disaster-affected areas to provide moments of peace to those who have suffered disaster. As of March 2020, concerts have been held at 152 different venues, including community centers, meeting rooms of temporary housing facilities, and schools. NICOS also engages in other ingenious activities to help people experience the joy of music, such as through instrument and conductor experiences and by directing musical performances.

Concert in an elementary school gymnasium in the town of Yamada, Iwate Prefecture

Supporting Reconstruction through MUFG Employee Volunteer Activities

Mitsubishi UFJ Nicos has been conducting volunteer activities called “Tohoku Yell Volunteer”, in which MUFG employees travel to the area affected by the earthquake to support the local people.
These efforts are deepening relationships with the community through responding to their specific needs, such as helping farmers with field works like harvesting and weeding, and supporting organizations that plant salt-tolerant cotton in tsunami-stricken fields no longer suitable for growing rice.

Harvesting leeks in Minamisanriku town, Miyagi

（As of August 2020）

Donation and Support Activities

Group Companies' Contribution Activities to Society

Contribution Activities to Society