The Ryozen Foundation
At the end of the Second World War, the sanctuary where the spirits of the leaders of the Bakumatsu period and the Meiji Restoration are enshrined lay in ruins. Concerned citizens sought assistance from local business leaders such as Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Panasonic Corporation. In 1968, the Meiji centennial year, the Ryozen Foundation was established to restore the sanctuary to its former state, and in 2012, Japan’s Cabinet Office approved its status as a public interest foundation. The Ryozen Foundation’s mission is to preserve and promote traditional Japanese spiritual values for the benefit of future generations. One of its activities is operating the Ryozen Museum of History, which collects and researches artifacts associated with the Bakumatsu period and the Meiji Restoration. The Ryozen Foundation seeks understanding and support for its mission across various fields, and has numerous special corporate members.
Foundation branches have been established by volunteers in Gifu, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima prefectures.