Hakuho Japanese Research Fellowship, 2021/2022

Applications are now opened fort the Hakuho Japanese Research Fellowship programme. With the goals of further strengthening the fundamentals of international research into and deepening understanding of Japan, the Hakuho Japanese Research Fellowship invites leading international researchers of the Japanese language, Japanese language education, Japanese literature and Japanese culture to Japan to conduct residential research.

The Hakuhodo Foundation was established in 1970, aiming at helping children grow and develop rich human qualities. The foundation support various activities carried out by teachers and researchers on the front line of child and language education, including not only the Hakuho Award but also the Japanese Research Fellowship, Japanese Language Exchange Program, and Survey Research Program.

Programme Details

• Areas: Japanese language, Japanese language education, Japanese literature and Japanese culture research.
• Number of awards: A total of around 15 fellows will be invited per year.
• Duration: Long-term (12-month) and short-term (6-month) fellowships are available.
• Target group: Open to all.
• Host Institution(s): Fellows will conduct their research with the cooperation of one of the following receiving organizations:
  • National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics;
  • International Research Center for Japanese Studies;
  • The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa;
  • Ochanomizu University;
  • Kyoto University;
  • Tokyo University of Foreign Studies;
  • Ritsumeikan University;
  • Waseda University.

Hakuho Japanese Research Fellowship Benefits

Fellows will have the following expenses necessary for conducting residential research in Japan covered.

1. Airfares: Return economy class air tickets Note : Fellows who are already present in Japan prior to the beginning of the Fellowship period will not receive inbound tickets.
2. Likewise, Fellows who remain in Japan after the end of the Fellowship period will not receive outbound tickets.
3. Relocation allowance: 350,000 yen
4. Living and research expenses: 350,000 yen per month
5. Housing subsidy: Up to 150,000 yen per month (actual cost; subject to provision of receipts each month)
6. International travelers’ illness and injury insurance

Hakuho Japanese Research Fellowship Eligibility

Researchers who reside outside Japan and meet all of the criteria below.

• Affiliated with a higher education or research institution (including postdoctoral scholars, adjunct professors and part-time lecturers), or have equivalent research and educational background
• Researchers with a doctoral degree (including degrees to be granted on or before December 2020) OR an equivalent level of research or education background
• Sufficient Japanese language proficiency to be able to conduct research in Japanese
• Non-Japanese national residing outside Japan or Japanese national who has resided outside Japan for 10 years or more and been active in the academic community of the country of their residence
• Able to stay continuously in Japan for the duration of the Fellowship period and participate in research reporting sessions arranged by the Foundation
• Applications are not sought from those whose purpose is to write a doctoral thesis.
• As research reporting and communications with the Fellowship secretariat on various procedures will be conducted in Japanese only, a suitable level of Japanese language ability is required.
• Those who have previously received support for residential research in Japan may also apply.

Application instructions

Please click on the apply button below and follow instructions to submit your application.

1. Application Form complete in Japanese, except where otherwise indicated
2. Applicants must complete all pages of the Application Form
3. Letter of Recommendation (If the Letter of Recommendation is written in a language other than Japanese, please provide both the signed original and a Japanese translation.)
4. (Required) Written recommendation of the head of the organization to which you belong
5. (Optional) À written recommendation from a previous research supervisor, Japanese research institution or similar organization may also be provided
6. Submit the signed original and a Japanese translation if the original recommendation letter is written in a language other than Japanese.
7. Letters of Recommendation must include the handwritten signature and name of the recommender and should be uploaded in a PDF format through the online application form.
8. The Foundation will contact recommenders for confirmation.
9. Applications will not be accepted by fax or email. If you are unable to apply through the online form, please contact the Fellowship Secretariat as soon as possible.
10. Applications with incomplete documentation will not be considered.

The deadline to submit applications is October 30, 2020. For more details on the Hakuho Japanese Research Fellowship, please visit the official page. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.