For Japanese

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

• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Applied Sciences (including 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.

• 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.

Important

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

1. Graduate Study Program

This grant is intended for Japanese applicants to study in the U.S. at a graduate school to obtain a Doctoral or a Master's degree.

2. Doctoral Dissertation Research Program

This grant is intended to provide an opportunity for students who are enrolled in a doctoral degree program at a Japanese university to conduct dissertation research at a U.S. institution of higher learning toward completing their Japanese doctorate.

3. Research Program

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

This grant is intended to provide an opportunity for current or future 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

This grant is intended to internationalize U.S. higher education institution’s curriculum and local community. U.S. host institutions will apply to the Institute of International Education (IIE) to host the potential Japanese expert.

• Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program

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.