Nichibunken Academic Encouragement Award

The Award is designed to honor outstanding researches in Japanese Studies from an international perspective, as well as to subsidize the future development of such researches and foster the next generation of researchers in Japanese Studies.

For further details, please refer to the Recommendation Guidelines from the link below.
【 Recommendation Guidelines（Japanese）】
【 Recommendation Guidelines（English）】

Eligible candidates are limited to doctoral students recommended by overseas institutions holding academic exchange agreements with Nichibunken or international member institutions (Full Member) of the Consortium for Global Japanese Studies.

• (1) Applicants must aspire to lead in the internationalization of Japanese Studies and comprehensive research on Japan in the humanities and social sciences, and aiming to produce doctoral dissertations that explore the diversity and multifaceted nature of Japanese history, society, or culture.
• (2) Applicants can be of any nationality.
• (3) Applicants already enrolled in or affiliated with another institution within Japan at the time of application are ineligible.
• (4) Applicants must be able to arrive in Japan on or after April 1, 2025 and depart on or before March 31, 2026.
  Candidates may request their desired research period from among the designated period shown in the Recommendation Guidelines (up to 90 days including the dates of arrival and departure) and Nichibunken shall have final say over the period granted.

Three awardees are selected each year, in principle.

• Application Procedure

  Only one candidate may be recommended by the President or Faculty/Graduate School Dean of eligible institution.

  [ Documents to be prepared by the recommender ]

  • (1) Recommendation Form ( English ) ( Japanese )

  [ Documents to be prepared by the candidate ]

  • (1) Application Form
  • (2) Outline of research activities to date
  • (3) Research proposal (about 2,000 characters in Japanese)
  • (4) One of the following written by the candidate: Master's thesis, a published academic research paper, a paper presented at an international academic conference, or some equivalent piece of written work
  • (5) Proof of current enrollment in a doctoral program at graduate school
• Recommendation Deadline

  Before the midnight (Japan time) on Monday, September 30, 2024

Around February 2025

Nichibunken Academic Encouragement Awards Selection Committee shall select the successful candidates and issue notification to their home institution.

The following supports are provided to aid awardees who are doctoral students intending to produce a doctoral dissertation.

• (1) Up to 90 days pursuing research at Nichibunken to include airfares (economy class), accommodation and per diem allowances in accordance with regulations of the National Institutes for the Humanities. No salary will be paid.
• (2) Free use of the Visiting Researchers' Room, Library, computers, and other facilities at Nichibunken for their research activities.
• (3) Accommodation at Nichibunken House (fees apply).
• (4) A faculty member to mentor and assist research (Please inform Nichibunken if you have any preferred faculty member).
• (5) Assistance to awardees whose nationality require them to apply for a visa to stay in Japan.
• (6) Nichibunken does not have Overseas Travel and Disaster Compensation Insurances. Awardees will be requested to enroll in these insurances at their own expenses before arrival in Japan.

International Research Center for Japanese Studies
Research Cooperation Division, International Research Promotion Unit
3-2 Goryo Oeyama-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 610-1192
Phone: +81(0)75-335-2041 Fax: +81(0)75-335-2092
Email: nichibunaward＊nichibun.ac.jp（Please replace＊with @.）