Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Conduct research in area of specialization. Grantees are expected to submit a publishable report about their research within six months after the end of the grant. Applicants must demonstrate how their research will contribute to the Japan-U.S. relationship in their field and to their own professional development.
Any appropriate institution. The Japan-U.S. Educational Commission will finalize all affiliation arrangements.
Three to nine months
Grants must begin between July 1, 2026 and May 31, 2027.
The Serial (Flex) Grant is designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the host country. This option allows grants to be conducted over short segments, preferably during the fall and/or spring semesters. Interested applicants must clearly indicate plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline.
Serial (Flex) grant parameters:
The Flex Award is designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the host country. This option allows grants to be conducted over two or three short segments. Applicants must select Flex in the application form, and clearly describe their plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline. Flex grantees may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host-country academic community.
Applicants must have interests in Japanese culture and society in the broad sense, not limited within their proposed fields of study.
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.
Fulbright East Asia Pacific Regional Travel Program
As conditions allow, Fulbright Scholars in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region may have the opportunity to apply for funds to support short-term (3-14 days) travel to other countries in the EAP region for activities such as lectures, workshops, graduate or faculty seminars, master classes or recitals, curricular advising or panel presentations. EAP Regional Travel Program funding covers transportation only. Regional Travel Program activities/host sites should not be included in the initial Fulbright application. Scholars may start the process of seeking out invitations for short-term activities in other EAP countries once notified that they have been selected for a Fulbright grant, but will only be able to apply for travel program funds, conditions permitting, once they have actively started their Fulbright grant in their host country. Scholars on Flex grants are not eligible for the regional travel grant.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Japanese language fluency sufficient to complete the research project is required. For projects that require Japanese language skills, research applicants must submit the Language Proficiency Report: Self Evaluation and Language Proficiency Report: External Evaluation. (Native speakers need only to complete the Language Proficiency Report: Self Evaluation.) Applicants without Japanese language skills should explicitly address the issue in their discussion of the feasibility of the project in their project proposal.
Applicants may be Japan specialists or nonspecialists who wish to pursue comparative research in their fields.
Academics must be three years beyond their terminal degree at the time of application.
Applicants in the arts, including creative writing, must have an institutional affiliation in the United States.
U.S. Department of State - Japan
Japan-U.S. Educational Commission
Email the East Asia and the Pacific Team with questions about applying.
Housing allowance of 120,000-200,000 yen (approximately $860-1,440) per month is provided, depending on the number of accompanying dependents.
(Conversion rate at 139 yen/1 US dollar)
Roundtrip international travel arranged by Fulbright commission for grantee and a primary dependent who accompanies the grantee on a grant of nine months.
Baggage allowance: $300-$500 for Japan-bound and 60,000-100,000 yen (approximately $430-720) for U.S.-bound, based on length of grant.
Settling-in allowance: equivalent to one month's housing allowance (120,000 - 200,000 yen: approximately $860-1,440).
Research allowance: 300,000-500,000 yen (approximately $2,160-3,600), depending on the length of the grant.
Research travel allowance: 30,000-100,000 yen (approximately $220-720), depending on the length of the grant.
Honoraria for guest lecturing may be accepted under the terms of the award.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
The third largest economy on Earth and Asia’s most prosperous democracy, Japan is home to world-leading universities and research institutions that have produced countless scholars of global distinction, along with cutting-edge innovations that have improved the lives of all.
Since 1952, generations of American Fulbrighters have immersed themselves to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and society that make Japan one of the most fascinating civilizations in history, as well as the most indispensable partner nation for the United States today.
Visiting scholars enjoy unsurpassed freedom to interact with the people and the land, to experience the beauty of four distinct seasons, and to appreciate the daily contrasts between ancient tradition and cosmopolitan modernity.
The academic year for Japan's approximately 800 universities typically commences in April, but there are an increasing number of programs that align closer to the U.S. school calendar.
More information on programs for Japan can be found on the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission website.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
As arranging housing can take a while, applicants are welcome to contact their prospective host institutions regarding the availability of institutional housing at the time of application. However, applicants should not expect that housing will be arranged by the host institution or the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission.