With Asia Pacific emerging as an economic and political power, mutual understanding between the United States and Japan is more critical than ever. Paul Terasaki ’50, M.A. ’52, Ph.D. ’56 and Hisako Teraski have put this principle into action with a transformational gift to educate a new generation of scholars specializing in today’s Japan. Their gift has been recognized in the renaming of the Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies in the UCLA International Institute. The center is seeking to recruit an eminent senior scholar to hold the newly established Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Chair in Contemporary Japanese Studies. In addition to this endowed chair, plans call for graduate fellowships for emerging scholars and for community outreach. As UCLA professor emeritus of surgery and a pioneer in transplant medicine, Paul has made a wide range of contributions to the university. Now, as a philanthropic leader and member of The UCLA Foundation Governors, he is focused on global issues. The university's Asian history program has long been highly ranked nationwide, Paul notes. “With this gift, we hope to build a similarly excellent program for the study of contemporary Japan.”