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Grant applications FAQ

Asian Neighbors Program (Special Subject) Preservation, Utilization, and Transmission of Indigenous Documents in Asia

What are considered to be "indigenous documents" for the purposes of this program?
I am unsure about whether to use digital technology or analog microfilm to preserve (record) indigenous documents. What approach is recommended?
What, specifically, is meant by the "utilization and transmission" of indigenous documents?
What points should be kept in mind regarding team composition when undertaking projects on indigenous documents?
I want to preserve a particular document. When publishing the results of that work, is it necessary to produce a facsimile of the original indigenous document as well?
I know of a document that should be preserved, but at the present time I have no clear idea of how it might be applied or transmitted to future generations. Does this disqualify me from applying for a grant?
Do you support a project based on Japan?
Do you accept the budget for purchasing Machines/Equipments for the project?
I did not attend the Application Workshop. Can I apply to the Research Grant Program?
Do you support conferences, symposiums, and events?

	What are considered to be "indigenous documents" for the purposes of this program?
	At the present stage, our thinking is as follows. Indigenous documents are those that record the history, customs, folklore, myths, almanacs, locally created techniques, or local wisdom (knowledge) of a particular area. These documents have value in terms of research on the region in question, as well as the potential to become central to local residents' identity. These documents may also include maps that reflect the worldview of the region's people, letters exchanged in their daily lives, and other written materials. One common quality to all these documents is that they are written by hand. Documents already available in printed form will not be considered in this program.

What are considered to be "indigenous documents" for the purposes of this program?

At the present stage, our thinking is as follows. Indigenous documents are those that record the history, customs, folklore, myths, almanacs, locally created techniques, or local wisdom (knowledge) of a particular area. These documents have value in terms of research on the region in question, as well as the potential to become central to local residents' identity. These documents may also include maps that reflect the worldview of the region's people, letters exchanged in their daily lives, and other written materials. One common quality to all these documents is that they are written by hand. Documents already available in printed form will not be considered in this program.

	I am unsure about whether to use digital technology or analog microfilm to preserve (record) indigenous documents. What approach is recommended?
	The rapid development in recent years of new technologies, such as computers, scanners, and digital cameras, has made it easier to use digital technology to archive documents. However, these digital technologies continue to change rapidly, and it is unclear whether those in use today will still be available 10 years from now. We therefore recommend the use of microfilm, a stable technology unlikely to change, or the use of both microfilm and digital technology.

I am unsure about whether to use digital technology or analog microfilm to preserve (record) indigenous documents. What approach is recommended?

The rapid development in recent years of new technologies, such as computers, scanners, and digital cameras, has made it easier to use digital technology to archive documents. However, these digital technologies continue to change rapidly, and it is unclear whether those in use today will still be available 10 years from now. We therefore recommend the use of microfilm, a stable technology unlikely to change, or the use of both microfilm and digital technology.

	What, specifically, is meant by the "utilization and transmission" of indigenous documents?
	Broadly speaking, funding may be provided for two categories of activity. The first category is projects that publish indigenous documents that have been transferred to microfilm or digital media under this Special Subject grant program. This publication may involve cataloging, transcription, translation (including annotation), and production of facsimiles of the documents. The second category is projects that aim to utilize the indigenous documents for the purpose of deepening local community consciousness or promoting research on local history and to spread understanding of them among local residents, relevant organizations, and the research community. These activities may include organizing workshops or symposiums and putting the documents to use as teaching materials in local educational institutions.

What, specifically, is meant by the "utilization and transmission" of indigenous documents?

Broadly speaking, funding may be provided for two categories of activity. The first category is projects that publish indigenous documents that have been transferred to microfilm or digital media under this Special Subject grant program. This publication may involve cataloging, transcription, translation (including annotation), and production of facsimiles of the documents. The second category is projects that aim to utilize the indigenous documents for the purpose of deepening local community consciousness or promoting research on local history and to spread understanding of them among local residents, relevant organizations, and the research community. These activities may include organizing workshops or symposiums and putting the documents to use as teaching materials in local educational institutions.

	What points should be kept in mind regarding team composition when undertaking projects on indigenous documents?
	First, the Toyota Foundation recommends that the project coordinator be a person with deep ties to the region in question. As the indigenous documents are deeply rooted in the locale where they are found, full consideration must be given to the feelings of local residents when handling them. For this reason it is important for the team to include respected elders, members of notable families, religious officials, and private-sector researchers from the region in question. A team without such members will likely find it difficult to decipher the documents, understand the bibliographical information, or clearly identify the nature of the documents. Furthermore, the inclusion of researchers and other knowledgeable people from outside the region is important from the perspective of bringing a balanced approach to the project, adding outside expertise to the team, and distributing the project's results more broadly. In this way, it is hoped that a team composed of members from both within and outside the region in question will strike a happy medium for the project.

What points should be kept in mind regarding team composition when undertaking projects on indigenous documents?

First, the Toyota Foundation recommends that the project coordinator be a person with deep ties to the region in question. As the indigenous documents are deeply rooted in the locale where they are found, full consideration must be given to the feelings of local residents when handling them. For this reason it is important for the team to include respected elders, members of notable families, religious officials, and private-sector researchers from the region in question. A team without such members will likely find it difficult to decipher the documents, understand the bibliographical information, or clearly identify the nature of the documents. Furthermore, the inclusion of researchers and other knowledgeable people from outside the region is important from the perspective of bringing a balanced approach to the project, adding outside expertise to the team, and distributing the project's results more broadly. In this way, it is hoped that a team composed of members from both within and outside the region in question will strike a happy medium for the project.

	I want to preserve a particular document. When publishing the results of that work, is it necessary to produce a facsimile of the original indigenous document as well?
	Even though preservation efforts are carried out for the document, the accuracy of the preservation work may be called into question if the original is not reproduced as part of the project. To avoid this, it is preferable to produce a facsimile of the original document as well.

	I know of a document that should be preserved, but at the present time I have no clear idea of how it might be applied or transmitted to future generations. Does this disqualify me from applying for a grant?
	If an indigenous document is in danger of vanishing without proper attention, efforts to preserve it may be meaningful to undertake on their own. There are also cases where it is difficult to draw up a plan for utilizing and transmitting the document that takes the long-term perspective into consideration. In cases like these, the Toyota Foundation will accept proposals for projects focusing only on preservation. (Funding for such projects will be limited to one year.) There is a checkbox on the first page of the application form to show that a proposal is for this sort of project. Please note that it is preferable, even in these cases, to extend the project at some time in the future into the areas of utilization and transmission of the indigenous documents, thereby contributing to the lives of the region's people.

I know of a document that should be preserved, but at the present time I have no clear idea of how it might be applied or transmitted to future generations. Does this disqualify me from applying for a grant?

If an indigenous document is in danger of vanishing without proper attention, efforts to preserve it may be meaningful to undertake on their own. There are also cases where it is difficult to draw up a plan for utilizing and transmitting the document that takes the long-term perspective into consideration. In cases like these, the Toyota Foundation will accept proposals for projects focusing only on preservation. (Funding for such projects will be limited to one year.) There is a checkbox on the first page of the application form to show that a proposal is for this sort of project. Please note that it is preferable, even in these cases, to extend the project at some time in the future into the areas of utilization and transmission of the indigenous documents, thereby contributing to the lives of the region's people.

	Do you support a project based on Japan?
	Sorry, we do not support.

	Do you accept the budget for purchasing Machines/Equipments for the project?
	There is no rule. No restriction to purchase the necessary items for the project. However, a project that is purposed for purchasing equipments is not accepted.

	I did not attend the Application Workshop. Can I apply to the Research Grant Program?
	Yes, of course.

	Do you support conferences, symposiums, and events?
	Basically we do not support a project only for the symposium and an event held on a regular basis due to not matching the objectives of our programs.