Blakemore Foundation-Seattle

In 1939, our founder Thomas Blakemore traveled to Japan as a fellow with the Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA), an experience that would shape his life’s work and ultimately inspire the creation of the Blakemore Foundation.

Today, that story comes full circle.

Building on more than three decades of investing in language fluency and regional expertise, we are delighted to announce the new Blakemore–ICWA Fellowship, a two-year partnership designed to develop the next generation of specialists in East and Southeast Asia, beginning with Japan.

The fellowship combines one year of intensive advanced language study with one year of independent field research, writing, and cultural immersion, bringing together the complementary strengths of both organizations.

We are honored to support Julia Walton, the inaugural Blakemore–ICWA Fellow, as she builds on her year of advanced Japanese language study through the Blakemore Foundation and begins her next chapter of independent research in Japan this fall.

What began with Thomas Blakemore’s ICWA fellowship nearly a century ago continues through a new generation of individuals whose work depends on deep language fluency, cultural insight, and regional expertise.

This partnership reflects Blakemore’s continuing commitment to creating innovative pathways for meaningful engagement across Asia.

Read the full announcement: https://bit.ly/Blakemore-ICWA

Congratulations to Julia Walton, our inaugural Blakemore–ICWA Fellow, and to our colleagues at ICWA on this exciting new partnership.

We’re proud to see a connection that began with Thomas Blakemore’s own ICWA fellowship in Japan come full circle through a new generation of scholars.

We are proud to share that Blakemore Foundation chair Mimi Gardner Gates has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon by the Emperor of Japan, recognizing her decades of leadership in introducing Japanese culture to the United States and strengthening cultural ties. Mimi’s vision continues to inspire the Blakemore community, opening doors to understanding other cultures through language and art. We celebrate this recognition of her extraordinary contributions.

Meet our 2026-27 Blakemore Freeman Fellows, heading to Yokohama.

This fall, David Mendoza and Emma Jean Hermacinski will begin the 2026-27 academic year at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies. David is building toward a career as a Foreign Service Officer strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. Emma Jean is writing the English-language history of a pivotal moment in Japanese nation-building that has gone largely untold for decades. Both are doing work where Japanese fluency is essential.

They are a fitting close to a cohort that spans five countries, five languages, and careers across science, government, diplomacy, scholarship, and the arts. To every member of our 2026-27 cohort, congratulations. This fall, the real work begins, and we are honored to be part of it.

Meet our 2026–27 Blakemore Freeman Fellow, heading to Vietnam.

Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Phong Hong will continue strengthening his Vietnamese while advancing his work on disease early warning systems. As a Senior Social Scientist at Oxford University’s Clinical Research Unit, his work depends on close coordination with local partners across Vietnam.

We can’t wait to see how this next stage of language study supports the impact of his work.

Meet our 2026–27 Blakemore Fellow, heading to China.

Justin This will spend the year in Beijing at Tsinghua University’s Inter-University Program. His research examines how identity is expressed in online gaming communities, work that relies on understanding language as it is used in everyday digital spaces.

We look forward to seeing how this immersion deepens the insights driving his research.

Meet our 2026–27 Blakemore Foundation Fellows, heading to South Korea.

In Seoul, two fellows will continue their Korean studies at leading language programs in the city. Eura Choi will study at Seoul National University where her work in law depends on engaging Korean-language sources. Loren Macon will study at Sogang University where her work in visual culture requires Korean-language contexts more directly.

We’re excited to see how their language mastery strengthens the way they engage Korean sources and contexts.

Meet our 2026–27 Blakemore Foundation Fellows, heading to Taiwan.

This fall, five fellows will spend the academic year in Taipei at the International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University. They come from fields including policy, research, and international affairs, where stronger Chinese will allow them to engage more directly with the people and ideas shaping their work.

We’re eager to see how this year deepens their perspectives and future work. Swipe to meet them.

The best way to understand another culture is to understand its language. The Blakemore Foundation is delighted to announce our 2026-27 fellows: twelve scholars and professionals from across science, business, government, and academia, committed to developing full professional fluency in the Asian languages that matter most to America's future.

As other long-standing sources of funding for international study fall away, the ability to understand nuance, build trust, and make informed decisions across borders has never been more necessary.

They join a network of more than 550 alumni who live and work bilingually in Asia and America, spanning diplomacy, law, medicine, technology, journalism, and beyond. We are honored to welcome them into our community. More on each fellow and where they're headed, coming soon.

With gratitude to The Freeman Foundation, whose support makes the Blakemore Freeman Fellowships possible, and The Kingfisher Foundation, whose support makes the Blakemore Kingfisher Fellowships possible.

A new report from the U.S.-China Education Trust finds fewer than 2,000 Americans currently studying in China, a fraction of the 11,000 who were there in 2019.

The working group on America's China talent challenge documents the forces behind this decline and makes a clear case. Deep, on-the-ground expertise in China is essential for U.S. policy, business, and national security, and it's quietly eroding.

Deepening that expertise is at the heart of what we do. Since 1992, the Blakemore Foundation has supported more than 550 fellows from academia, diplomacy, business, and beyond in working fluently in an Asian language.

We remain committed to understanding nuance, building trust, and making informed decisions across borders. Let's keep building bridges.

Fewer Americans are studying in China, and opportunities for in-country experience have become more limited. USCET’s new Working Group report offers practical recommendations to help address this… | US-China Education Trust Fewer Americans are studying in China, and opportunities for in-country experience have become more limited. USCET’s new Working Group report offers practical recommendations to help address this challenge. The hybrid program will feature virtual remarks from Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns and conve...