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.
Teach two undergraduate or graduate courses, or a combination of both, per semester in field of specialization. Since a normal load for Fulbright teaching grantees in Japan is four courses, this reduced teaching load allows grantees to conduct research on a topic of their choice. Courses meet usually once a week for 90-105 minutes. Courses are determined in coordination between grantees and host universities.
The research project should be consistent with the grantee's area of expertise and the project should be feasible, especially with regard to language, time and venue constraints. The proposal must also make clear why residence in Japan is essential to undertake the research.
Any appropriate institution. Affiliation to be finalized by the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission.
Grants may be either five or ten months.
5-month (1-semester) grants to begin in mid-September 2026 or mid-March 2027
10-month (2-semester) grants to begin in mid-September 2026
Grant can be extended to cover final exam period if exams are scheduled after the original grant period.
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.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
A letter of invitation must indicate support for both the research and the teaching of two courses.
All teaching will be in English.
For research, Japanese language fluency sufficient to complete the research project is required. If projects require Japanese language skills, applicants must submit the Language Proficiency Report: Self Evaluation and Language Proficiency Report: External Evaluation in their application. (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.
Applicants must have at least three years of university or college teaching experience beyond their terminal degree. Teaching at a community college counts toward the required three years. A teaching assistantship does not qualify. Applicants in the arts, including creative writing, must have an institutional affiliation in the United States.
Individuals who are living in Japan are not eligible to apply.
U.S. Department of State - Japan
Japan-U.S. Educational Commission
Email the East Asia and the Pacific Team with questions about applying.
(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 10 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).
Up to 1,000,000 yen (approximately $7,190) /child, maximum of two children per family for a 10-month grant. Up to 500,000 yen (approximately $3,600)/child, maximum of two children per family for a five-month grant. Applicable to children in grades 1-12.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
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.
Grantees will be required to attend a post-arrival group orientation, as well as a mid-year conference. Grant dates are firmly fixed. Changes to the grant dates are not possible due to nature of teaching credit-bearing courses.