dissertation grants in japanese studies

Stanford University

Dissertation Grants in Japanese Studies

Accepting Applications

January 01, 2024 - February 15, 2024

The Japan Fund announces the availability of limited funds to support research-related activities for advanced-level graduate students specializing in Japanese studies.

Current application period starts on January 1

Applications must be received by February 15

The program is intended to fill in the gaps between the availability of university and external funding for graduate dissertation work. As a result, awards will be made on a competitive basis to students who are conducting dissertation field research, or writing up the results of dissertation research.

General Requirements and Overview:

• Advanced standing assumes that residency requirements have been met.  Recipients must be registered in TGR status by the time of award disbursal, i.e. during the period of support.
• Applicants required to have completed course work before the period covered by the grant, and should be prepared to undertake full-time research and write-up of the dissertation topic.
• Former recipients who have received 6 or more quarters, or equivalent, of support from the Japan Fund are ineligible to reapply.
• A full fellowship offer may provide up to three [3] quarters of TGR tuition, up to three [3] quarterly cost of living stipends , and may include a one-time travel stipend for research travel to, from, and within Japan. Cost of living expenses as listed budget items are reflected in the Financial Aid Office standard single graduate student budget. No funds will be available to cover travel or maintenance costs of dependents.

Application Process:

Applicants should submit the following components with their applications:

1. Curriculum Vitae

2. Detailed Project Description

This description should be clear and concise, especially to readers outside of your discipline, and should be no longer than five double-spaced or three single-spaced typewritten pages. The description should include the following:

• The principal focus of the dissertation research;
• How the data will be organized in the dissertation;
• How the topic relates to Japanese Studies;
• An indication of what you expect will develop in the dissertation (hypotheses, no matter how tentative, which will enable the committee to determine the direction of your thinking and what you hope to accomplish intellectually);
• For applicants in Ph.D. programs in the professional schools, career plans and objectives should also be described, with particular emphasis given to background factors demonstrating a commitment to a career involving Japan or Japanese-American relations.

3. Research Timetable - one page maximum

Timetable for the Completion of Research or of Dissertation. State where your research now stands, what remains to be done, and the estimated date of completion. Should be no longer than one page.

4. Statement of Income - one page maximum

A statement of anticipated grants, loans, and other sources of income should be disclosed with every application. Unless receipient is living outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, cost of living awards to students in the dissertation write-up stage of their academic career will be awarded at a standardized level (to be established annually by FSI) and a detailed expense budget is not required.  Stipend portion of awards may be adjusted, for recipients residing in areas with a different cost of living index.

5. Detailed Budget - one page maximum

*Required when requesting travel funds or living outside of the San Francisco Bay Area

Include an itemized list of estimated costs and expenditures to be covered during the grant period. The budget should be no longer than one page, with a separate page for budget justification when appropriate (whenever proposed expenses are unusually high).

6. Transcripts

Transcripts should cover all coursework, including evidence of work most recently completed. It need not be an official transcript (i.e. Axess print outs are acceptable).

Request Letters of Recommendation (maximum 2 letters)

A letter of recommendation (no more than 2 pages) is required. All letters should be submitted directly from faculty members, one of whom is the applicant's major advisor.  All letters should be sent directly to Patrick Laboon at [email protected] .

PLEASE SEND APPLICATION TO:  Patrick Laboon at [email protected]

An e-mail n otification will be sent to every applicant approximately 6-8 weeks after the deadline.

Fellowship Coordinator

Japanese Studies Funding

All funding is sponsored by the CEAS Committee on Japanese Studies , unless otherwise noted. Questions?  Please contact [email protected] .

Eligibility:   University of Chicago legacy Ph.D. candidates (i.e., 8th year and above in 2024-2025 who are not under the University's new Ph.D. funding model) writing dissertations on topics related to Japanese studies. Students must be admitted to candidacy before the start of the fellowship (Autumn Quarter).  In exceptional cases, CEAS will consider applications from University of Chicago Ph.D. students under the University's new funding model (such students should consult CEAS before applying).

Deadline:     Friday, April 5, 2024 by 3:00 pm

Description:   This fellowship provides funds for a year of dissertation work on a topic relating to Japanese studies. It is preferred that research for the dissertation is completed, and priority is given to those who have a chapter or two completed. Students who have been admitted to candidacy may apply in the spring for funding that will begin the following autumn.

Terms:   This fellowship provides a stipend (up to $33,000 in 2024-2025), plus student health insurance, tuition, and student service fees over the course of three quarters in one academic year (i.e., autumn, winter and spring quarters).  All applicants must be able to provide proof of candidacy by the end of the academic year in which they apply.  Even though this fellowship is NOT a dissertation completion fellowship with a graduation mandate, awardees are only eligible for this fellowship once, except in the case of compelling circumstances.

It is strongly recommended that students apply simultaneously for the Toyota Dissertation Fellowship and for other grants and fellowships (both internal and external to the University of Chicago) and include this information in their CEAS application; in case of success, students are expected to inform CEAS of the amount of the award at their earliest convenience as CEAS may need to modify the award accordingly.

Because the intent behind this fellowship is to enable students to devote their full attention and effort to completion of their dissertation, the grant prohibits students to engage in any remunerative activity, on or off campus, or to pursue course work. The sole exception, which must be approved by the Committee, is that students may undertake a modest teaching assignment in the second half of the academic year when it is clear that teaching in the winter or spring will not delay completion of the degree. Requests to undertake a teaching assignment must be made in writing to the Chair of the  Committee on Japanese Studies .

Application Requirements: The following should be uploaded in PDF format as part of your online application, with the exception of letters of recommendation:

• Statement of purpose discussing the work you plan to do on your dissertation during the year.  Limit two pages. Be sure to include information on other internal and external funding sources.
• A statement from your department indicating that you have been admitted to Ph.D. candidacy and in good standing.
• Dissertation proposal.
• One complete dissertation chapter.
• Two letters of recommendation.

Please note:   upon submitting the online application, the faculty members you specify will receive an email with directions to   submit a letter of recommendation .  This email is intended as a courtesy reminder; you should be in contact with your professors regarding a letter of recommendation prior to your submission.

Apply Online .  Applications submitted by email or hardcopy are not accepted.

Eligibility:   University of Chicago graduate students engaged in dissertation research related to Japan (i.e., students are ABD after passing qualifying exams and defending their dissertation proposal).

Deadline:  Friday, April 5, 2024 by 3:00 pm

Description:  This award is for up to $5,000 and supports dissertation research in Japanese studies. Typically, funds are used to finance summer research in the target country but can also be utilized throughout the academic year.  Applications proposing research including U.S. domestic travel will also be considered. The grant funds are intended to enable University of Chicago graduate students to conduct additional field research (for example, visit key archives and collections; meet with scholars, practitioners, and advisers to conduct interviews, ethnographies, and/or surveys in Asia).

CEAS will consider applications from students who have previously received CEAS Dissertation Research Grants (DRG) on a case-by-case basis. Applicants will need to 1) explain why the research did not occur during previous CEAS DRG; 2) demonstrate due diligence in seeking other internal and external funding; and 3) provide a detailed proposal of what archives or field work will be undertaken, a proposed budget, and a letter of recommendation from the Chair of their dissertation committee OR an advising faculty member.

Allowable expenses include economy airfare, local travel, accommodations, meals and up to $500 for research materials.

Application Requirements: The following should be uploaded with your online application in PDF format, with the exception of the project budget and letters of recommendation:

• A statement of how the proposed use of the grant furthers your larger research goals.  (Please include information in your application about pending internal and external funding applications.  If the application is for a second CEAS PDRG, be sure to explain why the research did not occur during the first CEAS grant.)
• A project budget.
• One letter of recommendation.   (If the application is for a second CEAS PDRG, this letter of recommendation must be from the Chair of your dissertation committee OR an advising faculty member.)

Please note:   upon submitting the online application, the faculty member you specify will receive an email with directions to  submit a letter of recommendation .  This email is intended as a courtesy reminder; you should be in contact with your professor regarding a letter of recommendation prior to your submission.

Apply Online .  Applications submitted by email or hardcopy are not accepted.

Eligibility:   University of Chicago graduate students engaged in pre-dissertation research related to Japan.

Deadline:    Friday, April 5, 2024 by 3:00 pm

Description:   This award is for up to $4,000 and supports pre-dissertation research in Japanese Studies. Typically, funds are used to finance summer research in the target country.  The funds are intended to enable University of Chicago graduate students to lay the foundations for their research plans (for example, to survey holdings in archives, or to identify and meet with scholars and advisers with whom a student plans to work in Asia).  Normally, a student is eligible for this grant only once during his/her/their graduate school career.

CEAS will consider making an exception for applications from students for a  second  CEAS Pre-Dissertation Research Grant (PDRG) on a case-by-case basis.  Applicants will need to 1) explain why the research did not occur during the first CEAS PDRG; 2) demonstrate due diligence in seeking other internal and external funding; and 3) provide a detailed proposal of what archives or field work will be undertaken, a proposed budget, and a letter of recommendation from the Chair of their dissertation committee OR an advising faculty member.

Allowable expenses include economy airfare, local travel, accommodations, meals and up to $500 for research materials.

Application Requirements: The following should be uploaded in PDF format as part of your online application, with the exception of the  project budget and  letters of recommendation:

• A statement of how the proposed use of the grant furthers your larger research goals.   (Please include information in your application about pending internal and external funding applications. If the application is for a second CEAS PDRG, be sure to explain why the research did not occur during the first CEAS grant.)

CEAS supports the study of less commonly taught languages and related area studies courses through the FLAS Fellowship Program, which is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education.

FLAS Fellowships are awards for students concentrating in modern foreign language and international or area studies. CEAS administers FLAS awards for University of Chicago graduate students to study Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

The FLAS program provides funding for:

• ACADEMIC YEAR study on the University of Chicago campus
• SUMMER study on the University of Chicago campus or elsewhere (domestic or abroad)

The 2024-2025 FLAS Fellowship competition will begin when the application opens in December 2023.

Application Deadline:    Wednesday, February 28, 2024 AT 11:59 pm Central Time

For more information and to apply, please visit  UChicagoGRAD .

Questions?   Please direct inquiries to  Abbey Newman , CEAS Associate Director

Eligibility:   University of Chicago graduate students attending the IUC in Yokohama, Japan

Description:   Supplements tuition and stipend for selected students attending the  10-month program at the IUC in Yokohama .  To be eligible, students must also apply for external fellowships to support the cost of attending IUC and must have been enrolled in Japanese language courses at UChicago during the preceding year. Students who have not continually been enrolled in Japanese classes normally will not be considered for supplemental funding. This grant is considered taxable income for citizens of the United States.

• A statement of purpose discussing how attending the IUC will benefit your scholarly work.
• Proof of enrollment in Japanese language courses during the academic year.
• One letter of recommendation.

Please note:   upon submitting the online application, the faculty member you specify will receive an email with directions to  submit a letter of recommendation . This email is intended as a courtesy reminder; you should be in contact with your professor regarding a letter of recommendation prior to your submission.

Eligibility:   University of Chicago graduate students in PhD and MA programs (program duration of 2 years or longer) focusing on Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and/or East Asian transregional studies

Description:    The CEAS Professional Training Grant in East Asian Studies funds participation in formal programs, organized courses, and workshops that offer training in specific skills that are essential to the student's dissertation/thesis research or their professional profile and not available at the University of Chicago. The grant is normally awarded for advanced language training (3rd year and beyond; modern and classical/literary) and/or pedagogy. The Committee will also consider grant applications for workshops and courses that focus on specific skill-building that is crucial to a student's overall course of study and professional development. Students must research, select, and apply directly to the class or program they feel best fits their research needs. Normally for language study, applicants must have been enrolled in language courses at UChicago during the preceding year, or they must explain the extenuating circumstances. Students must also demonstrate due diligence in seeking both internal UChicago and external funding opportunities.

Terms:   Fundable expenses include tuition, housing, and travel expenses (e.g., round trip economy class airfare, train passes, etc.).  Non-allowable expenses include meals, books, miscellaneous expenses, and other materials.

Application Requirements: The following should be uploaded in PDF format as part of your online application, with the exception of the project budget and letters of recommendation:

• A letter of application that describes the training sought and its justification detailing how it is imperative for your course of study and professional development.
• Unofficial transcript
• A letter of acceptance from the workshop or program you plan to attend.
• A project budget.  
• Proof of enrollment in relevant EA language courses during the academic year (if applicable).
• One letter of recommendation from faculty advisor.

Please note:   upon submitting the online application, the faculty member you specify will receive an email with directions to  submit a letter of recommendation .  This email is intended as a courtesy reminder; you should be in contact with your professor regarding a letter of recommendation prior to your submission.

Eligibility:   University of Chicago graduate students in 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year terminal M.A. programs

Deadline:     Thursday, August 15, 2024 by 3:00 pm

Description:   The University of Chicago Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) sponsors an annual prize of $250 awarded for the best University of Chicago M.A. thesis dealing with topics related to Japan. University of Chicago students in 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year terminal M.A. programs with a final thesis requirement are eligible to apply.  Starting in 2020, up to two prizes can be awarded each year. The selection committee considers the specific content, regional focus, and methodologies of annual submissions.  Preference will be provided to papers utilizing original source materials in an East Asian language. Note: Students in 2-year and 3-year terminal M.A. programs are eligible to apply for this Prize in the year they complete their M.A. thesis requirement.

Application Requirements: The following should be uploaded in PDF format as part of your online application, with the exception of the letter of recommendation:

• M.A. Thesis
• One Letter of Recommendation from UChicago Faculty 

Please note:   This application requires one letter of recommendation, also due by the deadline. Upon submitting the online application, the faculty member you specify will receive an email with directions to  submit a letter of recommendation . This email is intended as a courtesy reminder; you should be in contact with your professor regarding a letter of recommendation prior to your submission.

Winners of the CEAS M.A. Thesis Prize in Japan Studies

2020 LING Xi Min , Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) Japanese Military Memoirs of World War 2 in Singapore and Malaya

2021 Michelle HA , Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) Decolonizing Migration Theory: Korean Indentured Labor Migration to Mexico as Case Study *Special 2021 CEAS M.A. Thesis Prize in Japan and Korean Studies, awarded by the CEAS Committee on Japanese Studies and the CEAS Committee on Korean Studies

2022 Zinan WANG , Master of Arts Program in Digital Studies of Language, Culture, and History Horyuji After Fire

2023 Simon LENOE , Master of Arts Program in Humanities Racialization as Gaze across Languages and Disciplines in the Early Works of Mori Ōgai

Eligibility:   University of Chicago graduate students traveling to present papers at conferences OR actively participate in a specialized workshop.

Deadline:   Rolling applications each academic year, but must be submitted at least one month prior to conference or workshop travel. 

Contact:   Chair of the  CEAS Committee on Japanese Studies

Description:   This grant provides modest support for students traveling outside the Chicago metropolitan area to present a paper at a conference OR actively participate in a specialized workshop that they have been invited to attend on a topic relating to Japanese studies.  Specialized workshops are those that include an application process, preparation (e.g., pre-readings), and active participation during the event.  A limited number of grants are available each year.  Students may apply for and receive this grant more than once in an academic year, but such awards are pending availability of Committee funding. If approved for the grant, original receipts and reimbursement paperwork requests MUST   be submitted within 30 days after the end of travel. No exceptions.

Apply Online .  Applications submitted by email or hardcopy are not accepted.  This application MUST be submitted at least a month before your planned travel.

Post Award:    How to Submit a Reimbursement Request

Eligibility:   University of Chicago graduate students preparing an East Asian studies-related 1) paper/manuscript for final submission to a publication OR 2) dissertation for final submission to a degree program.

Deadline:   Rolling

Description:   This award is up to $500 and supports the costs of hiring a professional copy editor to help students with final submission of an East Asian studies-related paper/manuscript to a publication OR final submission of an East Asian studies-related dissertation to a University of Chicago degree program.  Normally, a student is eligible for this grant only once during his/her/their graduate school career.  Students may apply for an additional award of up to $500 pending annual funding availability.

Application Requirements: The following should be uploaded with your online application in PDF format, with the exception of the letter of recommendation: 

• A draft of the relevant paper/manuscript and information about forthcoming publication (including confirmation/agreement with publisher) OR the relevant draft chapter(s) of dissertation.
• One letter of recommendation from advisor.
• Copy of invoice from professional copy editor detailing costs for service. 

Please note:  upon submitting the online application, the faculty member you specify will receive an email with directions to  submit a letter of recommendation .  This email is intended as a courtesy reminder; you should be in contact with your professor regarding a letter of recommendation prior to your submission.

Summary:   The Bob Adams and Hatsue Shinohara Emergency Fund (“the Fund”), administered by the Center for East Asian Studies (“CEAS”), provides a Japan studies graduate student with immediate financial assistance to prevent him/her from withdrawing from a University of Chicago Ph.D. or M.A. * program due to sudden, catastrophic financial hardship prior to completing his/her/their degree.  In most cases, the Fund will not provide more than US$500, although requests for greater amounts will be considered based on the circumstances. The Fund is intended to be a one-time award to address immediate, unforeseen short-term financial crises. Money from the Fund is not a loan, and does not need to be repaid. Emergency funds are taxable.

Student Eligibility:   The applicant must be able to show that he/she is registered in good standing ** on a full-time basis in a University of Chicago Ph.D. program with a focus on Japan studies in the Humanities, Social Sciences, or Divinity School; has a strong likelihood of success completing her/his graduate program with the assistance of this one-time award; and has exhausted other avenues for financial support. Students in 2-year Divinity Master of Arts and Master of Arts in Religious Studies programs, as well as the 2-year Language Option of the Masters of Arts Program in the Humanities (TYLO-MAPH), focusing on Japan studies are also eligible.

Eligible Expenses:   The Fund provides financial assistance to reimburse actual expenses that have already been incurred by a student. Unanticipated expenses include but are not limited to medical, dental, or legal fees that cause financial hardship and cannot reasonably be resolved through fellowships or loans. Any unanticipated or unusual expenses (e.g., medical, dental, legal, or travel related to a family emergency) outside of the typical student budget will be considered. In cases where family or personal illness causes hardship, medical evidence must be supplied in the form of invoices from hospitals or doctor’s and dentist’s offices. All application information will be kept in the strictest of confidence.

Application Process:   Applications are accepted on a rolling, as-needed basis each year. Applications are completed on-line and submitted securely and electronically to CEAS. The CEAS Associate Director verifies the applicant’s academic standing and funding contingencies with the relevant Dean of Students in the Division or School where the student is pursuing graduate studies. The application is then reviewed by the Chair of the CEAS Committee on Japanese Studies, who will make the final determination. If the Chair is an advisor of the applicant, the Chair will recuse herself/himself and ask that the CEAS Director or other relevant faculty member review the confidential application.

Required Application Documents:

• Completed  online  application form. 
• Documentation of expenses such as copies of billing statements or receipts.  If requesting funds to cover medical or dental costs, actual invoices from the hospital or doctor’s and dentist’s office are required.

* ​​​​ Restrictions:  Students registered on a part-time basis or for one-year degrees are not eligible.  Funds are granted for the use of the applicant, not his/her/their family members.  The Fund is not to be used to minimize indebtedness for student loans.

**  A student in good standing is progressing successfully and appropriately in his/her/their program (i.e., up-to-date with all required forms, meeting degree milestones on schedule, good GPA, etc.)

For information about additional funding opportunities (not administered by CEAS), please visit the  UChicagoGRAD website .

The University of Chicago Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) sponsors an annual prize of $250 awarded for the best University of Chicago B.A. thesis dealing with topics related to East Asia (China, Japan and/or Korea).  Starting in 2009, one prize has usually been awarded to a paper in the area of humanities and one in the area of social sciences.  The selection committee also considers the specific content, regional focus, and methodologies of annual submissions.  Preference will be provided to papers utilizing original source materials in an East Asian language.

Deadline:  Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 3:00 pm

Apply Online .  Applications submitted by email or hardcopy are not accepted.

This application requires one letter of recommendation, also due by the deadline.  Upon submitting the online application, the faculty member you specify will receive an email with directions to  submit a letter of recommendation .  This email is intended as a courtesy reminder; you should be in contact with your professor regarding a letter of recommendation prior to your submission.

For more information, please email Hyeonjin Schubert at  [email protected]

About Asada Eiji

This prize is named in honor of Asada Eiji, the recipient of the first Ph.D. degree awarded by the University of Chicago in 1893. Professor Asada went on to enjoy an illustrious career at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Read more about Asada Eiji by clicking here .

Previous Prize Winners

2023 Bonnie Kexin Hao, Art History Mirroring the Nude Vogue: Pictorial Representations of the Woman-with-Mirror Motif in the First Chinese National Fine Arts Exhibition of 1929

Estrella Hernandez, Law, Letters, and Society; Global Studies “Downfall of the 700 Emperors”: The 1990 Wild Lily Student Movement and Taiwan’s Democratization

2022 Ella Bradford, Anthropology Sharing Vulnerabilities: Being and Becoming in the Wake of Japan's HPV Vaccination Campaign Cessation

2021 C. Aiko Johnston, East Asian Languages & Civilizations Memorial Rites for Credit Cards: The Framing of Kuyō by Shrines and Temples in Japan

Camrick Solorio, Anthropology Circulation that Confuses: Tokyo Electronic Music from MOGRA to YouTube

2020 Mark Chen, History Translating a Paradigm: Empiricism in Nineteenth-Century Japanese Chemistry

Yufan Chen, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Fundamentals: Issues and Texts Spectacular Surfaces: Lure, Transaction, and the Limits of Self-Representation

2019 Alexander Hall, Global Studies Kogai: The Disconnect Between Japanese Ontology and Environmental Policy Peilun Hao, History The Scramble for Rice in Wartime Shanghai, 1937-1945

2018 Gabrielle Dulys, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) How to Speak Like an Otaku: Otaku Identity through the Lens of Self-Referentiality, Commodity, and Art Elizabeth Smith,   Laws, Letters, and Society "We invited Shinzo Abe, but he was unable to attend." The First Conference of Museums Addressing the "Comfort Women" Issue

2017 Aliyah Bixby-Driesen, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) What's New about New Baihua? Language Change and Indirect Contact in Modern Chinese Literature Michelle Shang, History "I Almost Forgot I Was A Girl": Maoist Gender Politics and the Memory of Gender in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976

2016 Dake Kang, History Not So Revolutionary: Soviet Insprirations and Military Justifications for the Planning and Construction of Beijing's First Subway Line, 1950-1969 Shauna Moore, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Sore Na!: Youth Politeness Strategies on Japanese Video Blogs

2015 Zhou Fang, History Navy and Nation: The Fuzhou Arsenal and China's Early Modernization Keyao Pan, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Dissecting the East Asia Reparation Movement: A Case Study of the Unit 731 Germ Warfare Reparation Class Suit

2014 Alexander Hoare, History; East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) The Secret History of Manga and History Textbooks Jeffrey Niedermaier, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) I Shall Tell Both Home and Name: The Imperial Voice and the Yamato Political Imaginary in the Man'yōshū

2013 Sandra Park, History Remembering the ‘Jerusalem of the East’: Recalling the Christian Heritage of North Korean in Light of the Recent Phenomenon of Christianization among Refugees from the DPRK”

2012 Keith Jamieson, History Peculiar Circumstances: Hong Kong in Britain’s Empire, 1945-52 Feiyang Sun, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Dreams within Dreams: Fiction Commentary and the ‘Later Dream of the Red Chamber’

2011 Yini Shi, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Stories of the Stone: The Multiple Voices of ‘Honglou meng’ Arieh Smith, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Democrats or Dictators: The CCP in Western Eyes

2010 Hannah Airriess, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Suffering as Resistance: Subjectivity, Genre and the Female Body in Masumura Yasuzo’s ‘A Wife Confesses’ Rickisha C. Berrien, International Studies Anti-African Prejudice in Modern China: Beyond the Racial Construct of Discrimination

2009* Camila Dodik, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Eros and Resistance: Politicized Portrayals of Sexual Deviance in Two Postwar Japanese Works Qi Zhu, International Studies Happy Body, Healthy Spirit: Conceptions of the Body and Wellness in Contemporary Shanghai

2008 Lauren Kocher, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Japanese Feminisms and the ‘Gender-Free’ Controversy

2007 Christopher Chhim, International Studies New Beijing, New Olympics, New Wenming: A Study of the History, Theory, and Practice of Civilizing Campaigns Up to the 2008 Olympic Games

2006 Pendry Haines, International Studies Korean Ancestors and National Identity Marianne Tarcov, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Beautiful Shadows of Ugly Things: Translations of Kuroda Saburo

2005 Adam Bronson, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Japanese Folklore Studies and History: Pre-War and Post-War Inflections Alexander Hsu, Religious Studies The Means to Meaning: Viewing ‘The Journey to the West’ as Upaya Juliane Jones, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Chinoiserie in Puccini’s ‘Turandot’

2004 Andrew Elliott-Chandler, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Beyond Classroom Doors: Individuality in the Japanese Middle School Matthieu Felt, East Asian Languages & Civilizations (EALC) Primacy of Text in the Discourse on Japanese Animation in America Kinh N. Ngo, Political Science Out of Their Element: The Indochinese Refugee Crisis and Japan Sonia Rupcic, International Studies Toward a Comprehensive Theory of Civil Society: The Organic Movement as an Example of Japanese Civil Society

* In 2009 it was decided to standardize the award by offering a $250 prize to a paper in each of the divisions of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Jiuji Kasai (Class of 1913) Japan Summer Research Travel Grant provides $3,500 to support an undergraduate student conducting summer research in Japan.  In most cases this award supports research leading to a B.A. paper.  However, another academic research project may also be considered.  Preference will be given to students with advanced Japanese language ability.  The award is provided by the Committee on Japanese Studies at the Center for East Asian Studies.  One award will be given out each academic year.  Allowable expenses include travel, accommodations, meals, and museum/archive entrance fees.

Eligibility

Eligible students must be currently registered at the University of Chicago for Spring Quarter of AY 2023-2024 and must plan on registering for Fall Quarter of AY 2024-2025.  Applicants must have completed or tested out of Japanese 20403 (Advanced Modern Japanese 3) by the project start date.

Research grants are primarily for third-year students in the College, but exceptional second-year students and fourth-year students who plan to spend part or all of a fifth year in the College are also eligible to apply.

Awardees are expected to submit a 2-page, double-spaced report by September 1st detailing what they accomplished using the grant.

To Apply,   Click Here .  You will need to provide a statement of purpose/research plan, transcript, and a budget, as well as email contacts for letters of recommendation from your language instructor and your B.A. advisor.  Upon submitting the online application, the faculty members you specify will receive an email with directions to  submit a letter of recommendation .  This email is intended as a courtesy reminder; you should be in contact with your professors regarding a letter of recommendation prior to your submission.

About Jiuji Kasai

The award honors Jiuji “George” Kasai, member of the University of Chicago Class of 1913, lifelong friend of the university, and tireless advocate for U.S.-Japan friendship.  It was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his winning the Julius Rosenwald Prize for Excellence in Oratory for his speech on “The Mastery of the Pacific,” delivered at Mandel Hall on June 3, 1913.

The Japanese Foreign Language Acquisition Grant (FLAG) offers undergraduate awards of $5,000 to defray the costs of advanced Japanese language study in Japan during the summer.  Grants can be used at any accredited summer intensive Japanese language study program in Japan.  Study programs must be at least eight weeks in duration of intensive language study (at least 15 hours/week).

Two awards each academic year are provided by the Committee on Japanese Studies at the Center for East Asian Studies.

Eligibility and Deadline

Eligible undergraduate students are those registered at the University of Chicago for the spring quarter before the summer they go abroad and who will be registered the following fall quarter.  Applicants must have completed or tested out of Japanese 203 by the program start date.

Deadline:    Monday, February 5, 2024 AT 11:59 pm CST 

Students must apply for a Japan FLAG grant through the University of Chicago  Study Abroad Office .

The Supplement for Japanese-Language Study at KCJS offers $1,500 to help defray the international travel costs for an undergraduate student attending the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies academic-year program.  The award is provided by the Committee on Japanese Studies at the Center for East Asian Studies.

Eligible students are those registered at the University of Chicago for the quarter before they go abroad and who will be registered (and taking classes) the quarter that follows the completion of their program in Japan.  In exceptional circumstances, applications from graduating students will be considered.  Preference will be given to applicants attending KCJS for the full academic year, but students enrolling for only Fall or Spring semester are also eligible.  Applicants have to have completed or tested out of Japanese 103 (or the equivalent) by the program start date.

To Apply,  Click Here

You will need to provide a PDF statement of purpose, a PDF of your letter of acceptance from KCJS, and a current transcript.

For information about additional funding opportunities (not administered by CEAS), please visit the University of Chicago  College Center for Research and Fellowships  and the  Study Abroad Office.

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Dissertation Grants in Japanese Studies

The program is intended to fill in the gaps between the availability of university and external funding for graduate dissertation work. As a result, awards will be made on a competitive basis to students who are conducting dissertation field research, or writing up the results of dissertation research. General Requirements and Overview: Advanced standing assumes that residency requirements have been met. Recipients must be registered in TGR status by the time of award disbursal, i.e. during the period of support. Applicants required to have completed course work before the period covered by the grant, and should be prepared to undertake full-time research and write-up of the dissertation topic. Former recipients who have received 9 or more quarters, or equivalent, of support from the Japan Fund are ineligible to reapply. A full fellowship offer may provide up to three [3] quarters of TGR tuition, up to three [3] quarterly cost of living stipends, and may include a one-time travel stipend for research travel to, from, and within Japan. Cost of living expenses as listed budget items are reflected in the Financial Aid Office standard single graduate student budget. No funds will be available to cover travel or maintenance costs of dependents.

Eligibility

For advanced-level graduate students specializing in Japanese studies.

Related Opportunities

• Fellowship / internship
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Center for Latin American Studies Internship Grants

Small Grants

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Reischauer institute of japanese studies, graduate noma-reischauer prize in japanese studies.

To honor the memory of Professor Edwin O. Reischauer, who served as Ambassador to Japan from 1961 to 1966, and to assist in the further advancement of Japanese studies in the United States, Japan, and elsewhere, Kodansha Ltd., Publishers, has established the Noma-Reischauer Prizes in Japanese Studies. The prizes will be awarded annually for the best essays on Japan-related topics written by Harvard University students.

• Read more about Graduate Noma-Reischauer Prize in Japanese Studies

Reischauer Institute Supplementary/Completion Dissertation Grants

The Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies provides support to Harvard doctoral candidates who are in the dissertation research or completion stage in any field of Japanese studies in the humanities or social sciences, when other sources of funding are insufficient.

• Read more about Reischauer Institute Supplementary/Completion Dissertation Grants

Reischauer Institute Summer Research Grants for Graduate Students

The Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies offers several Summer Research Grants to Harvard graduate students in the humanities or social sciences whose work focuses on Japan. In addition to doctoral candidates, continuing students in Harvard Masters programs will be considered, as will graduating Harvard Masters students who will enter a Harvard Ph.D. program in the following year. Applicants must usually have completed at least three years of Japanese language study, or have comparable proficiency in the language.

• Read more about Reischauer Institute Summer Research Grants for Graduate Students

Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies Undergraduate Summer Language Study Grant

Reischauer Institute Undergraduate Summer Japanese Language Grants are awarded to Harvard undergraduates in any concentration who plan to enroll in a summer Japanese language study program in Japan. The grant will provide funding towards tuition, travel, and living expenses.

• Read more about Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies Undergraduate Summer Language Study Grant

Reischauer Institute Graduate Summer Language Grant

The Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies offers a limited number of summer grants to Harvard doctoral candidates in the humanities or social sciences for language study, directly related to a Ph.D. dissertation in Japanese studies, which cannot be conveniently pursued during the academic year. Students not primarily pursuing Japanese studies who require Japanese language training will also be considered to extent funds are available.

• Read more about Reischauer Institute Graduate Summer Language Grant

Reischauer Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships in Japanese Studies

The Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies at Harvard University will offer several postdoctoral fellowships in Japanese studies to recent PhDs of exceptional promise, to give them the opportunity to turn their dissertation into publishable manuscripts.

• Read more about Reischauer Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships in Japanese Studies

Harvard College Japan Summer Internship Program

Harvard College Japan Summer Internship Program provides funds for Harvard undergraduates in any concentration to undertake a summer internship in Japan. Applicants are encouraged to arrange their own internship directly with a host organization in Japan. Those students who do not arrange their own internship must specify the type of internship they seek in as much detail as possible.

• Read more about Harvard College Japan Summer Internship Program

Dissertation Completion Grants (Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies)

These small grants for qualified Harvard doctoral candidates in the field of Japanese studies in the humanities or social sciences help cover word-processing, binding, or other costs for the final draft of the dissertation.

• Read more about Dissertation Completion Grants (Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies)

Reischauer Institute Conference Attendance Grants

The Reischauer Institute will provide small grants (up to $800) for Harvard graduate students in the field of Japanese studies in the humanities or social sciences to help defray cost of travel, registration fees and other expenses incurred during attendance at scholarly conferences where they present papers or serve as panel discussants.

• Read more about Reischauer Institute Conference Attendance Grants

The Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies at Harvard University supports research on Japan and provides a forum for related academic activities and the exchange of ideas. It seeks to stimulate scholarly and public interest in Japan and Japanese studies at Harvard and around the world.

• Read more about Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies

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Japanese Studies Fellowship Programs

This program provides support to outstanding scholars, researchers, and professionals in the field by offering the opportunity to conduct research in Japan.

NOTE : For applicants who are non-U.S citizens or permanent residents, please visit the Japan Foundation Headquarters .

2024-2025 Fellowship Categories

Application deadline : 11:59pm EST on Friday, December 1, 2023

(Please note: different application processes apply to applicants who do not hold American citizenship, permanent residency or Americans with permanent residency in other countries. Please see “3. Eligibility” in the Application Guidelines and Instructions)

Notification of results : Principal awardees will be notified of the results in April, 2023 through the Japan Foundation, New York. Alternate awardees will be notified as fellowships become available.

Specialists and/or professional practitioners of Japanese art who wish to conduct short-term research in Japan should apply to the Ishibashi Foundation/The Japan Foundation Fellowship for Research on Japanese Art .

Guidelines and Login

Application Guidelines and Instructions (PDF) (PLEASE READ THESE BEFORE CREATING AN ACCOUNT) Read carefully to make sure you meet all eligibility requirements and understand application guidelines and instructions.

Create Account To access the Fellowship Application form, click below to create an account. (please note this link will redirect you to an external website from the JFNY website.)

Frequently Asked Questions

This list of FAQs covers common questions about the Japanese Studies Fellowship Programs. Fellowship Program FAQs (PDF)

Lists of Past Awardees

For past recipients of the Japanese Studies Fellowship, please click here .

For further inquiries, please contact: [email protected] or (212) 489-0299

Association for Asian Studies Grants

• Divinity School
• Social Sciences
• Fall Quarter (September-December)
• International Research or Work
• Research Grant
• Short-term travel or conference grant
• No citizenship requirements
• Open to international students from specific countries
• Permanent resident
• U.S. Citizenship required

The Association for Asian Studies Grants (AAS) offers a number of grants to support long-term and short-term research on specific topics in Asian Studies. Read the description for each grant for specific information about eligibility requirements.

AAS East and Inner Asia Council (EIAC) Small Grants

The East and Inner Asia Council of the AAS (EIAC) makes awards of up to $2,000. Dissertation-level graduate students and scholars with special interests in China, Taiwan, East or Inner Asia are invited to submit proposals.

AAS-Gale Fellowship

The AAS-Gale Non-Residential Fellowship will support research or teaching projects that rely on Gale Primary Sources and use digital humanities methodologies.

AAS Northeast Asia Council (NEAC) Japan Studies Grants

NEAC supports a variety of grant programs in Japanese studies designed to facilitate the research of individual scholars, to improve the quality of teaching about Japan on both the college and precollege levels, and to integrate the study of Japan into the major academic disciplines.

AAS Northeast Asia Council (NEAC) Korean Studies Grants

NEAC offers a grant program in Korean studies designed to assist the research of individual scholars based in North America to improve the quality of teaching about Korea on both the college and precollege levels, and to integrate the study of Korea into the major academic disciplines.

Cultivating the Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Research Grants in South and Southeast Asia

Cultivating the Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Research Grants are available for short- (up to 2 months), medium (2-6 months), and long-term (12 months) research projects that advance the fields of the humanities and social sciences in  South and Southeast Asia.  Junior faculty, graduate students, senior or independent scholars, women, and ethnic minority groups with South or Southeast Asian nationality are encouraged to apply.

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   The Center for Japanese Studies occasionally receives announcements of funding opportunities for students in Japanese studies.  As they are received, information in this section will be updated. This is not an exhaustive list of funding opportunities, nor a complete description of funding opportunities.  Students are encouraged to consult their faculty advisors and the CJS Academic Services Coordinator for advice, to conduct their own research using databases at the library, and to consult funding organizations for complete information on eligibility, application information, and deadlines.   

Funding for Language Study

Funding for summer language study.

• Critical Language Scholarship : Funded by the US State Department, Critical Language Scholarship provides funding for intermediate and advanced summer intensive language study at designated programs.  For Summer 2013, the Japanese program takes place at Doshisha University in Kyoto.  Intermediate (equivalent to UM third year) and advanced (equivalent to UM 4th year) levels are available.  Deadline: November 20, 2013.
• Katherine Davis Fellowship for Peace for summer intensive study of Japanese language at the Middlebury Japanese School.  The fellowship will cover the full cost of one summer of language study from the beginner to the graduate level.  Deadline: February 1 annually.

Funding for the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC)

• Blakemore Foundation Fellowships for advanced language study in the 10-month program at IUC.  Deadline: late December annually.
• Nippon Foundation Fellowship for PhD students in Japanese Studies to enroll in the 10-month program at IUC.  Provides full tuition and modest living stipend.  Apply through IUC; application forms posted on the IUC website.  Deadline: December 13, 2013.
• Boren Fellowship for International Study provides up to $30,000 for graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Boren Fellowships support study and research in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and developing proficiency in less commonly taught languages.  Applicants must be US citizens and must agree to a NSEP service requirement.  Deadline: January 28, 2014.

Funding for Study and Research in Japan

Information on funding for language study in Japan may be found in the Funding for Language Study section.

Funding for Study Abroad in Japan

• Undergraduate Student Scholarship : up to five years of funding to enroll in a Japanese university to pursue an undergraduate degree
• Research Student Scholarship : up to two years of funding for graduate students to study at a Japanese university as a research student
• Japanese Studies Scholarship : for undergraduate students in Japanese Studies to enroll in a study abroad program in Japan
• Fulbright Fellowships for students, administered by the Institute for International Education on behalf of the US Department of State, offer opportunities to study and conduct research in Japan.  More information at the website us.fulbrightonline.org .  Graduate students as well as graduating seniors may apply.  Current students at the University of Michigan apply through the International Institute .  Deadline: pre-registration deadline in August, application deadline in early September annually.
• Japanese Association of University Women offers International Fellowships for women to carry out independent research or advanced study at the graduate level.  Deadline: April annually.
• Freeman Awards for Study in Asia  (Freeman-ASIA), administered by the Institute for International Education  provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents studying at the undergraduate level at a two-year or four-year college or university who demonstrate financial need.

Funding for Dissertation Fieldwork Research in Japan

• The Japan Foundation provides funding for doctoral students for up to 12 months of research in Japan.  Deadline: November 1 annually.
• Mombukagakusho Scholarship , from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology.  The local contact for information and application is the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit .  The Research Student Scholarship , which enables graduate students to enroll as a research student (kenkyusei) at a Japanese university for up to two years, may be used for dissertation research.
• Fulbright-Hayes Fellowship for Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad provide support for 6-12 months of fieldwork in Japan for doctoral students in non-Western area studies.  This fellowship is funded by the US Department of Education, but current University of Michigan students apply through the International Institute .
• Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship administered by the Social Science Research Council supports dissertation research in the humanities and social sciences that is empirical and site-specific that advances knowledge about non-US cultures and societies.  This fellowship provides for 9 to 12 months of field research.  Deadline: early November annually.
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowships are administered by the Japan Program of the Social Science Research Council .  Doctoral students within two years of degree completion are eligible for short term (1 to 12 months) fellowships.
• The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) offers Mellon Fellowships for Dissertation Research in Original Sources , which provides 9-12 months of support for full time dissertation research using original sources at libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and related repositories in the US and abroad.  Open to non-US citizens;  applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral program in a graduate school in the United States.
• The Metropolitan Center for Far Eastern Art Studies in Kyoto, Japan, offers support for fieldwork on East Asian art for doctoral candidates.  Applicants must have completed all PhD degree requirements except the dissertation.  Postmark deadline: December 31.
• Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Grants to Individuals in East and Southeast Asian Archaeology and Early History offers Dissertation Fellowships to graduate students at US or Canadian institutions for research in East or Southeast Asia, or if research is complete, for writing the dissertation in North America.  This fellowship is administered by the American Council of Learned Societies .  Deadline: November annually.

Travel Grants

Funding for library and museum research.

• The Northeast Asia Council (NEAC) of the Association for Asian Studies provides funding to related to dissertation research for PhD candidates for research travel to museums, archives, and library collections in the US.
• Columbia University Libraries (including the C. V. Starr East Asian Library): Libraries Research Awards Program
• Harvard-Yenching Library : Travel Grant Program
• Library of Congress : Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship Program
• Triangle Center for Japanese Studies (Duke University Library; Ackland Museum of Art, UNC Chapel Hill; Gregg Museum of Art and Design, North Carolina State University): Travel Grant Program

Funding for Conference Travel

• Modern Languages Association provides Graduate Student Travel Grant to qualified PhD candidates for travel to the MLA Convention.

Funding for Dissertation Writing

• Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships intended to support doctoral students in the humanities and the related social sciences in their final year of dissertation writing.  The fellowship is administered by the American Council of Learned Societies . Deadline: early October annually.
• Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship in Women's Studies provides support for final year of dissertation writing for PhD candidates in the humanities and the social sciences conducting original and significant research about women that crosses disciplinary, regional, or cultural boundaries and whose work addresses topics of women and gender in interdisciplinary and original ways.  Deadline: October 15.
• Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship in religion and ethics provides 9-12 months of support to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences.  Deadline: November 15.
• Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowships provide 9-12 months of support for PhD research in a variety of disciplines in the humanities,  social sciences, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math).  US citizenship, permanent residency, or deferred action status (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) required.  Deadline: November 15.
• Smith Richardson Predoctoral Fellowships , awarded by the International Security Studies (ISS) program at Yale University provides one academic year of funding for up to two students.  Students must be in residence in New Haven during the fellowship year and must make substantial progress toward completing their dissertation.  No teaching during the fellowship year; no citizenship requirement.  Deadline: First Friday of April.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

Fellowships in japanese studies, fellowships in the united states.

• Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies offers Harvard Postdoctoral Fellowships to recent PhDs in Japanese studies to turn their dissertations into publishable manuscripts.  Deadline: January annually.
• Program in US-Japan Relations, Weatherhead Center on International Affairs, Harvard University offers postdoctoral fellowships to social scientists .  Deadline: January 15.
• Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship at the  Center for Japanese Religions and Culture (CJRC) and the School of Religion at the University of Southern California.  Field of specialization: Japanese religions.  Deadline: January 1.
• Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellows in Contemporary Asia-Pacific Studies at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University.  The primary focus of the fellowship is on contemporary political, economic, or social change in the Asia-Pacific region (including Northeast, Southeast, and South Asia), or topics in international relations and international political economy.  Send questions and application materials to: [email protected].  Deadline: December 31.

Fellowships Outside US and Japan

• Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellowships at the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures , the United Kingdom.  One year fellowship and short term (3-6 months) fellowship are available.  Deadline: March 1.

Fellowships for Research in Japan

• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowships are administered by the Japan Program of the Social Science Research Council (for humanities and social sciences) and the National Science Foundation (sciences, including some social sciences).  Both short term (1-12 months) and long term (12-24 months) fellowship are available.  Deadline: December 1 annually.

Fellowships in Related Disciplines

• Weatherhead Initiative on Global History Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University.  Deadline: January 15.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences for recent PhD recipients in the humanities and the social sciences.  Deadline: March 1.
• Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in Comparative World History at Colby College .  PhD in history within last four years required.  Deadline: January 7.
• Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities at the Johns Hopkins University.  Deadline: November 14.
• University of Southern California Provosts Postdoctoral Scholars in the Humanities .  Deadline: November 15.
• Princeton University Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts postdoctoral fellowships for recent PhDs in the humanities and allied social sciences.  Deadline: October 1.
• Andrew W. Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellows at the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities (IPRH) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for recent PhDs.  Deadline: October 29.
• University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for women and minority PhD recipients in all disciplines to pursue academic careers at University of California.  Deadline: November 1.
• Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies Postdoctoral Fellowship Program offers two years of support for recent PhDs in the social sciences working on topics in security, development or governance.  Deadline: November 15.
• Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships provide one year of stipend support for postdoctoral research at a non-profit institution of research (university, museum, or other research facility) normally in the US.  US citizenship, permanent residency, or deferred action status (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) required.  Deadline: November 15.
• James Smithson Postdoctoral Fellowship for scholarly research in the sciences, humanities and the arts at the Smithsonian Institution.  Deadline: January 15.
• Yale University's Henry Chauncey Jr. '57 Postdoctoral Fellowships , administered jointly by the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy and International Security Studies program, offers one or more fellowships for research and teaching in "grand strategy" broadly defined.  Award is for one academic year, with possibility of renewal for a second year by mutual agreement of fellow and program.  Fellows are expected to conduct their own research and teach at least one course.  Deadline: First Friday of April.

Online Resources

Online lists of grants and fellowships related to japan.

Association for Asian Studies , the professional association for scholars of Asia, keeps a list of grants, fellowships and prizes related to Asian Studies.  Not all items listed are intended for students, so check the eligibility guidelines for each item carefully.

U-M Library Resources

U-M's Hatcher Graduate Library has several resources that can help students find grants and fellowships for a variety of purposes.  Library staff are also available to assist in using these resources by conducting workshops and providing individual assistance by appointment. Please note that access to some resources may be limited to those with U-M library privileges.

Research Guide on foundations and grants, including information on resources available and contact information for library staff.

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• Japan-U.S. Educational Commission

Grants for Japanese

• Grants for Americans
• List of Grantees

Below is an English translation summary of the official information provided in Japanese. For the complete information, please refer to the Japanese version.

The Japan-United States Educational Commission (Fulbright Japan) offers approximately 30 to 40 Fulbright grants for Japanese citizens to study or conduct research in the U.S. in the fields listed below.

All awards are subject to budget appropriations from the governments of Japan and the United States. Grants are for the 2025-2026 JUSEC program year.

A Fulbright award cannot be held simultaneously with another grant intended for the same purpose, nor can it be postponed in order to first accept another grant intended for the same purpose.

Fields of Study

The Commission provides grants to Japanese applicants for proposed study or research in the United States in: 　

●Humanities 　 ●Social Sciences 　 ●Natural Sciences 　 ●Applied Sciences (includes Engineering)

‐　Applicants proposing interdisciplinary study or research between any of the above fields are also eligible for grants.

‐　Applicants must have interests in American culture and society in the broad sense, not limited within their proposed fields of study or research.

‐　Applicants demonstrating study or research plans/goals that are strongly related to furthering mutual understanding and cooperative pursuits between Japan and the United States will generally be preferred over those who lack such intent.

Note: The Fulbright Program is not appropriate for students and scholars wishing to pursue projects/ programs involving graduate medical education or training at accredited U.S. schools of medicine or scientific institutions. The Fulbright Program is also not appropriate for unsupervised research or academic study involving direct contact with human or animal patients, subjects, or specimens.

Eligibility requirements for ALL applicants

• Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of Japan. Persons holding dual Japan-U.S. citizenship or permanent U.S. residency are NOT eligible for Fulbright grants to the U.S.
• Residency in Japan: Applicants must be residing in Japan as of July 1, 2024.
• English proficiency: Sufficient English proficiency to pursue proposed activities in the U.S. In principle, interviews will be conducted in English. If judged necessary, successful candidates may be required to pursue language study at their own expense before departure.
• Applicants must have interests in American culture and society in the broad sense, not limited within their proposed fields of study.
• Health Condition: Submitting a health report and obtaining medical clearance is required for all successful candidates; however, submitting the report at the time of application is unnecessary.

*The following persons are NOT eligible:

• Individuals who are currently studying (including language study), researching or lecturing at U.S. universities.
• Individuals who plans to start studying (including language study), researching or lecturing at U.S. universities as of July 1, 2024 and before the 2025 fall term.
• Individuals who have resided in the U.S. for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application (July 1, 2024). For the purpose of this section, an individual who has lived in the United States for nine months or more during a calendar year is deemed to have resided in the U.S. for that year.
• Individuals who plan to stay overseas for longer than 90 days within the period from July 1, 2024 to the grant start date.
• Board members and employees of the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission and their immediate families.
• Employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for the International Development and their immediate families.
• Officers of an organization, in the United States or abroad, including members of boards of trustees or similar governing bodies, and individuals otherwise associated with the organization, wherein the organization and the individuals are responsible for nominating or selecting individuals for participation in any exchange program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs．

Two-year home-country residency requirement

An exchange visitor (J-1) visa will be provided to all Fulbright grantees and will be required to return to Japan upon completion of their academic project and to reside in Japan for an aggregate of two years. Unless this requirement is fulfilled, they are not eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, for permanent residence, or for a non-immigrant visa as a temporary worker ("H" visa) or trainee, or as an intra-company transferee ("L" visa) to re-enter the United States. This does not preclude the individual from going to the United States on other visas during the two-year period. This U.S. law is under section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Second Fulbright Grant

As a general matter, preference for Fulbright opportunities will be given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright grant.

Any misrepresentation (e.g., falsification or plagiarism) included in the application forms or documents will result in immediate disqualification and termination from the program.

Grant Categories

1. graduate study program.

This grant is intended to provide an opportunity for students who have outstanding academic and personal traits, and fully understand the purpose and objectives of the Fulbright Program, to study at a U.S. institution of higher learning for the purpose of obtaining a Doctoral or a Master's degree.

２. Doctoral Dissertation Research Program

This grant is intended to provide an opportunity for outstanding students and researchers who are seeking a doctoral degree from a Japanese university to conduct doctoral dissertation research at a U.S. institution of higher learning.

３. Research Program

This grant is intended to provide an opportunity for non-degree research in Social Science and Humanities for university faculty and professionals of non-profit organizations to develop their academic and professional expertise in collaboration with American colleagues and through auditing of graduate seminars.

４. Journalist Program

This grant is intended to provide an opportunity for non-degree research to practicing journalists who wish to enhance their professional expertise at a U.S. institution of higher learning or research facility, in one of the fields of study as outlined previously. This grant is NOT for the study of journalism techniques or theories. Upon returning to Japan, grantees are expected to publish articles in Japanese newspapers/periodicals relating to their U.S. experience.

5. Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program

The grant is intended to provide an opportunity for potential teachers of English to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency and extend their knowledge of the society and culture of the U.S., by serving as teaching assistants or primary instructors in the Japanese language classes at university in the U.S. FLTAs are required to enroll in two courses per semester.

6. Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (S-I-R) Program

U.S. institutions apply to the Institute of International Education (IIE) to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence for either one semester or an academic year. https://www.cies.org/program/fulbright-scholar-residence-program

Schedule (for the Grant Categories 1-4 above)

Applicants must submit the required documents in accordance with the schedule outlined below.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview conducted in English by a panel of experts. Based on the recommendations made by the selections panel, the Commission selects the candidates and submits their names for final approval to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) in the U.S. Grants become effective when the commission confirms the candidate's university or institutional affiliation in the U.S.

Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (Fulbright Japan)

Sanno Grand Building 207, 2-14-2 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan 100-0014

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Recorded Events

Click here to watch recordings of our past events

CJS RESPONSE TO NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

To help limit the coronavirus risk to our campus, community, and guests, the Center for Japanese Studies office is closed with staff working remotely. Please forgive any delay in communication at this time. 

For information on how UC Berkeley is responding, please go to this webpage: https://news.berkeley.edu/coronavirus/

We encourage all friends of CJS to follow the guidelines set by health and government officials and to stay safe and healthy.

The Center for Japanese Studies supports and promotes an encyclopedic array of research and teaching related to Japan; we also support the study of historic and contemporary connections between Japan and Japanese Americans. Throughout the year, we host a regular  lecture series, colloquia, and symposia  bringing to campus a stimulating and always-changing community of intellectuals and public figures, including journalists, performers, artists, and business leaders. Our nearly forty  faculty , one hundred graduate students and two thousand undergraduates engage in study and original research that the Center supports with fellowships and grants. The Center also serves as a home for specialists from throughout the world who come to Berkeley as  Visiting Scholars . We invite you to join us at our many activities as we strive to cultivate innovative and ever-richer study of Japan.

"An Invitation to Kabuki" A History and Demonstration of Kabuki with Kyozo Nakamura (November 7, 2019)

Professor Duncan Williams (USC) presents his new book, "American Sutra" (February 25, 2019)

Panel Discussion with Documentary Filmmaker Hanayo Oya (November 19, 2019)

Visiting Scholar Activity - Trip to Angel Island (April 16, 2022)

Japan Studies Dissertation Workshop (March 26-29, 2019)

Takaaki Kajita, Nobel Award-winning physicist, receives the Berkeley Japan Prize (October 31, 2017)

Students present Japan America Student Conference program and CJS scholarships (November 18, 2019)

CJS Graduate Student Meeting "BAKAI" (September 4, 2020)

Announcements

Recent stories, november 27, 2023, october 30, 2023, march 10, 2023, don't see any upcoming events.

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Home Grants & Awards Council Grants

East and Inner Asia Council Small Grants The East and Inner Asia Council of the AAS (EIAC) makes awards of up to $2,000. Dissertation-level graduate students and scholars with special interests in China, Taiwan, or Inner Asia are invited to submit proposals.

Council of Conferences Outreach Grants AAS Council of Conferences (COC) Outreach Grants of up to $2,000 are made available to encourage education in Asian Studies.

Northeast Asia Council Japan Studies Grants The Northeast Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies (NEAC), in conjunction with the Japan-US Friendship Commission, supports a variety of grant programs in Japanese studies designed to facilitate the research of individual scholars, to improve the quality of teaching about Japan on both the college and precollege levels, and to integrate the study of Japan into the major academic disciplines.

Northeast Asia Council Korean Studies Grants The Northeast Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies (NEAC), in conjunction with the Korea Foundation, offers a grant program in Korean studies designed to assist the research of individual scholars based in North America to improve the quality of teaching about Korea on both the college and precollege levels, and to integrate the study of Korea into the major academic disciplines. 

Northeast Asia Council Distinguished Speakers Bureau The Northeast Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies (NEAC) solicits applications from American colleges or universities (especially those without well-established programs on East Asia) to invite a distinguished scholar to give a public lecture on their campus, to meet with teachers and students, and possibly to visit classes. (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DSB events have the option to be conducted virtually or in-person.)

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Graduate Summer Research Grant

The Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies (RIJS) supports Harvard graduate students in the humanities or social sciences whose work is focused on Japan. In addition to doctoral candidates, continuing students in Harvard Master’s degree programs will be considered, as will graduating Harvard Master’s degree students entering a Harvard PhD program in the following year. Preference will be given to GSAS students in Japanese studies. Awards are normally for summer research travel from Harvard to Japan, and return. (Grants up to $5,000.) Applicants must usually have completed at least three years of Japanese language study or have comparable proficiency in the language. Students who have already received an RIJS wintersession grant are less likely to receive RIJS summer funding. Please note, if applying to more than one RIJS graduate funding application, you must apply via separate CARAT applications.

Please note that all support related to travel must follow current Harvard University travel guidelines and safety protocols before, during and after travel. Please see the following sites for the most up-to-date guidance:  Harvard Travel Guidance  and  Harvard GSS COVID-19 Travel Advice . APPLICATION DEADLINE : February 9, 2024 by 5:00pm EST on CARAT

University of Pittsburgh Library System

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Course & Subject Guides

Japanese studies databases for researchers and graduate students @ pitt.

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How to Search Japanese Dissertations

Databases for japanese dissertations.

• English Dissertations This link opens in a new window
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• NDL Search Guide for Dissertations Best research guide for dissertations held by NDL and other institutions. In Japanese.
• NDL Digital Resources-Dissertations (Full text and citation) The National Diet Library (NDL) started providing digitized doctoral dissertations on the Internet. 15,000 dissertations, which received between 1991 and 2000, are available in full text. Citations are available for other dissertations.
• CiNii Dissertation (full text and citation) You can search more than 600,000 dissertations from here.
• - Quick Guide for CiNii Dissertation (Japanese) Download PDF.
• IRDB (full text and citation) Japanese Institutional Repositories Online. Meta search engine for institutional repositories that include Thesis or Dissertation. Full text of theses and dissertations submitted after 2014 are available.
• IRDB-List of Institutional Repositories As of October 2015, number of institutions is 442.
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• Last Updated: Mar 5, 2024 9:17 AM
• URL: https://pitt.libguides.com/JpnStudiesDBs