Administrative Information

Eligibility:

Fellowships are intended for emerging American leaders between the ages of 30 and 45, who have not had prior substantial experience in Japan. Fellows are drawn from academia (including think tanks), government (including the executive and legislative branches at both the federal and state levels), business and the media. Fellows are selected on the basis of their academic and professional accomplishments and promise, as well as on the merits of the specific research or action projects they propose for their stays in Japan.

The plan may include Japanese language study that is ancillary to the candidate's principal program in Japan. Knowledge of the Japanese language is not a requirement for selection. The program does not fund pre- or post-doctoral scholarly research, work toward a degree, or the completion of projects on which substantial progress has been made prior to the Fellowship period.

Applicants may be considered for an International Affairs Fellowship in Japan, a general International Affairs Fellowship, or some combination of the two, as appropriate to the applicant's research or professional objectives.

Selection Procedure:

Application for fellowships is primarily by invitation, on the recommendation of a national panel of individuals in academic, government and other institutions, each with the occasion to know young persons particularly well suited for the experience that the program provides. Others who inquire directly and who meet preliminary requirements may also be invited to apply without formal nomination. Those invited to apply will be forwarded application materials.
Candidates must provide a reasonably detailed plan for their research or related professional activities in Japan and furnish the names and addresses of five references. Following a preliminary screening by the Advisory Selection Committee, those selected as finalists may be asked to furnish additional materials and to participate in a personal interview.