Short answers, pulled from the story.
JAniCA, the Japanese Animation Creators Association, is a non-profit organization formed in June 2007 to improve working conditions for workers in the anime industry. It was legally incorporated as an unlimited liability company intermediary corporation in June 2008.
JAniCA was formed under its president Toyoo Ashida, with more than 500 animators gathering on the 15th of October 2007 to announce its formation. Speakers at the 13th of October press conference included director Satoshi Kon, animation directors Moriyasu Taniguchi and Akihiro Kanayama, professor Yasuki Hamano, and editor Nobuyuki Takahashi.
JAniCA received 214.5 million yen, approximately US$2.27 million, from Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs. The funds were distributed to studios to train young animators on the job.
The agency was concerned that an increasing share of the Japanese animation production process was being outsourced overseas, which was reducing opportunities to teach animation techniques within Japan. Funding in-studio training was intended to preserve domestic skill transmission.
The Association of Japanese Animation took over operation of the training program in 2014, after JAniCA had launched it in 2010 and it was renamed in 2012. A further renaming occurred in 2016.
JAniCA was legally incorporated in June 2008 as an unlimited liability company intermediary corporation, approximately one year after it was initially formed in June 2007.