What's On

Applications are now open for our head office grants: the Japan Foundation Japanese Studies Fellowship Program for Ph.D. candidates and researchers, the Grant Program for Japanese Studies Projects, and the Program for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields.

Applications for Fellowships in collaboration with other institutions are also open: JF-CIJS-EAJS Fellowship programme for Ph.D. candidates in Europe, the JF-GJS Fellowship Program for post-doctoral researchers, and the JF-Nichibunken Fellowship Program for post-doctoral researchers.

Details on each programme and application information follows below.

Japanese Studies Fellowship Programme

This program provides preeminent foreign scholars and researchers in the field of Japanese studies with opportunities to conduct research in Japan, with the aim of supporting them and promoting Japanese studies overseas. Experts in the fields of natural science, medical science, and engineering are excluded.

There are three subcategories as follows.

1. Scholars and Researchers (Long Term) (4 - 12 months)

For scholars and researchers who have a Ph.D. degree or equivalent professional experience at the time of application and are conducting research related to Japan (comparative research included) in the humanities and social sciences, whose projects require them to travel to Japan to carry out research over a long period of time. A named affiliate in Japan is also required at the time of application.

2. Scholars and Researchers (Short-term) (21 days - 89 days)

For scholars and researchers who have a Ph.D. degree or equivalent professional experience at the time of application are conducting research related to Japan (comparative research included) in the humanities and social sciences, whose projects require them to travel to Japan to carry out research, gather materials, etc., intensively over a short period of time. A named affiliate in Japan is also required at the time of application.

3. Doctoral Candidates (4 - 12 months)

For doctoral candidates working in the field of Japanese Studies, the humanities and social sciences who are in the closing stages of their Ph.D. and who need to undertake fieldwork in Japan in order to complete their dissertation/thesis. A named affiliate in Japan is required at the time of application.

Grant Coverage:

• Round-trip airfare (discount economy class - most direct and economical route)
• Stipend and other allowances

Dates for FY 2026-2027 programme:

• Applications available: Apply through our Online Application Portal. Details on the programme list on our Tokyo site.
• Application Deadline: Apply through Online Application Portal by 4am GMT (1pm JST) on Tuesday 2 December 2025
• Notification of Results: By the end of April 2026
• Project Duration: Research trips must commence between 20 June, 2026 and 20 March, 2027.

US citizens residing in the UK without UK permanent resident status should submit their applications on-line via the website of the Japan Foundation, New York.

For further information, please contact the Japan Foundation London The Japan Foundation, London (LO_JapaneseStudies@jpf.go.jp) or go to the programme list on our Tokyo site.

Please contact the Japan Foundation to discuss eligibility before applying.

Grant Programme for Japanese Studies Projects

This programme is designed to promote Japanese Studies overseas by providing grants to non-profit organisations such as higher education institutions and research institutions that are implementing Japanese Studies activities.

Eligible projects must fall into any of the following four categories:

• Research or conference on Japan; study or training in Japan; or publications that promote and contribute to the development of Japanese studies;
• Inviting scholars or researchers from Japan or other countries to deliver lectures on Japan;
• Purchase of books and materials on Japanese studies;
• Other relevant projects which would further promote and expand the horizon of Japanese studies.

*Projects in the field of natural sciences, commercial activities, arts and cultural activities, activities in support of specific doctrines or claims, and so forth are not eligible for this programme.

Grant Coverage:

Part of the following expenses:

• Travel expenses (international airfares and other transportation expenses, daily allowances and accommodation fees)
• Honoraria (for lecturers, collaborators, interpreters, etc.)
• Meeting expenses (for preparing materials, venues, equipment, public relations, etc.);
• Other direct expenses (for purchasing materials, etc.)

Dates for FY 2026-27 programme:

• Applications available: Apply through our Online Application Portal. Details on the programme list on our Tokyo site.
• Application Deadline: Apply through Online Application Portal by 4am GMT (1pm Japan Standard Time) on Tuesday 2 December 2025.
• Notification of Results: By end of April 2026.
• Project Duration: Projects must be implemented and completed during FY 2026-25 (Between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027)

For further details on this programme and application forms either contact the Japan Foundation London The Japan Foundation, London (LO_JapaneseStudies@jpf.go.jp) or go to our Tokyo site.

Please contact the Japan Foundation to discuss eligibility before applying.

Programme for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields

This programme provides a six-month residential language course for specialists (researchers, postgraduate students, librarians, museum and art gallery curators, etc.) who need to improve their Japanese for academic or professional purposes. Courses take place at our Japanese-Language Institute in Kansai, Japan. Tuition, accommodation and meals are included in the programme but UK based applicants bear their own return travel expenses to Japan. The programme is open to those who are in a field of Japan-related humanities and social sciences, who are aged under 40, and who have a proficiency in Japanese, equivalent to or higher than level JLPT N4 (level 3 of the old JLPT).

Dates for FY 2026-27 programme:

Course Dates:

• Course Dates: 6 month course, from early-October 2026 to late-March 2027
• Applications available: on the programme list on our Tokyo site
• Application Deadline: Apply through Online Application Portal by 4am GMT (1pm Japan Standard Time) on Tuesday 2 December 2025 
• Notification of Results: Late April 2026

For further details on this programme, please contact the Japan Foundation London The Japan Foundation, London (LO_JapaneseStudies@jpf.go.jp) or go to our Tokyo site.

Please contact the Japan Foundation to discuss eligibility before applying.

JF-CIJS-EAJS Fellowship Program

Tohoku University's Center for Integrated Japanese Studies (CIJS), in collaboration with the Japan Foundation (JF) and supported by the European Association for Japanese Studies (EAJS) has announced a research fellowship programme that allows Ph.D. candidates who conduct research related to Japan in the humanities or social sciences, and feel the need to visit Japan to complete their doctoral research to do so at Tohoku University.

Dates and length of fellowship: The fellowship will last between 4 and 12 months, commencing between September 1, 2026 and March 1, 2027.

Application Deadline: Applicants must send their application paperwork to JF-CIJS-EAJS@jpf.go.jp before Friday 21 November, 2025 (Japan Standard Time).

Full eligibility details and application information can be found at:

https://cijs.oii.tohoku.ac.jp/en/news/detail---id-69.html

For any inquiries, please email: JF-CIJS-EAJS@jpf.go.jp.

2026 JF-GJS Fellowship Program

In order to promote Japanese Studies overseas, this programme, jointly organised by the Japan Foundation (JF) and the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia of the University of Tokyo (Tobunken), provides post-doctoral researchers in the field of Japanese Studies with opportunities to conduct research in Japan while belonging to Tobunken. The Fellows will also be expected to gain experience as project facilitators through operation and management work at various meetings or workshops, and to form and expand networks with people involved in international exchange.

Dates and length of fellowship: The fellowship will last between 6 and 24 months, commencing between September 1, 2026 and March 1, 2027.

Application Deadline: Applicants must send their application paperwork to JF-GJS@jpf.go.jp before Monday 1 December, 2025 (Japan Standard Time).

Full eligibility details and application information can be found at:

https://gas.ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/networking/2026-jf-gjs-fellowship/

For any inquiries, please email: JF-GJS@jpf.go.jp.

JF-Nichibunken Fellowship Program

This programme is jointly organised by the Japan Foundation and the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, National Institutes for the Humanities (Nichibunken). It provides post-doctoral researchers in the field of Japanese Studies with the opportunity to conduct research in Japan while belonging to Nichibunken. The Fellows will also be expected to gain experience as project facilitators through operation and management work at various meetings or workshops, and to form networks with people involved in international exchange.

Eligibility

Eligible research themes examine Japanese culture from an international, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive perspective in the fields of the humanities and the social sciences. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. at the time of application, and must have received the Ph.D. within 6 years as of April 1, 2026.

Grant Coverage

• Round-trip airfare (discount economy class - most direct and economical route)
• Stipend and other allowances

Dates for FY 2026-27 programme:

• Applications available: Apply by filling out and sending the Application Form to JF-Nichibunken@jpf.go.jp. For full details and Application Form, click here.
• Application Deadline: Monday, 1 December (JST) 
• Notification of Results: Applicants who pass the first screening will be invited for interview in January, 2026. Successful Fellows will be informed in April 2026.
• Project Duration: Fellows will be invited to stay continuously in Japan for a period from over 6 months to a maximum of 24 months. Projects must commence between September 1, 2026 and March 1, 2027.

If you have any questions regarding the JF-Nichibunken Fellowship, please email JF-Nichibunken@jpf.go.jp .

The Japan Foundation London has begun collecting information for the Japanese Studies Survey 2025.

JF London, with the cooperation of the British Association for Japanese Studies (BAJS), conducts a survey every 5 years. Our survey targets universities, researchers and students undertaking Japan-related studies in the humanities and social sciences, to analyse trends and support researchers in expanding their networks.The survey is essential in investigating the current landscape of Japanese Studies and Japan-related research in the UK

What will the survey include?

(1) University Directory Survey - This directory aims to provide students and the general public with useful reference information by listing universities that offer humanities and social sciences programs related to Japanese studies, employ faculty members specialising in such areas, or provide Japanese language education.

(2) Student Survey - This survey is intended for students in academic departments offering Japan-related studies programs, students in the humanities and social sciences whose topic of research or primary interest includes Japan, and undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students majoring in Japanese language or translation studies. (Students studying only Japanese language are not eligible.) 

(3) Researcher Survey - This survey is intended for researchers affiliated with Japan-related studies departments, as well as researchers in the humanities and social sciences whose research includes Japan as a research subject.

(4) Researcher Directory Survey - To facilitate networking among students and researchers, we will create a directory of humanities and social sciences researchers whose work includes Japan-related studies, regardless of whether they are affiliated with Japanese studies department. This directory will be published on our website.

Deadline for All Responses: 12th September 2025

How can I help?

We have begun requesting information from universities across the UK, their students, and researchers in the field.

If you would like to participate in the survey or you would like any further information, please contact us at:

LO_JapaneseStudies@jpf.go.jp (CC Natsumi_Abe@jpf.go.jp and Iona_Vos@jpf.go.jp)

We look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your cooperation.

You can view the 2020 Japanese Studies Survey here.