Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan
Division of Research Programs
THE DEADLINE FOR THIS CYCLE HAS PASSED.
Updated guidelines will be posted in advance of the next deadline. In the meantime, please use these guidelines to get a sense of what is involved in assembling an application.
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Starting February 21, 2022, you will be required to sign in to Grants.gov with Login.gov credentials. Create and link your account now.
The Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan program is a joint activity of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The goals of the program are to promote Japan studies in the United States, to encourage U.S.-Japanese scholarly exchange, and to support the next generation of Japan scholars in the United States.
Awards support research on modern Japanese society and political economy, Japan's international relations, and U.S.-Japan relations. The program encourages innovative research that puts these subjects in wider regional and global contexts and is comparative and contemporary in nature. Research should contribute to scholarly knowledge or to the general public’s understanding of issues of concern to Japan and the United States. Appropriate disciplines include anthropology, economics, geography, history, international relations, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Awards usually result in articles, monographs, books, e-books, digital materials, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources.
Special Encouragement for Junior Scholars
In keeping with the JUSFC’s commitment to foster the next generation of leaders in developing and maintaining the Japan-U.S. relationship, NEH encourages applications to this program from junior scholars (that is, scholars who have earned their terminal degree within the last seven years).
Watch a Recording of the Online Information Session An online information session was held on March 10, 2022. The session explained the program's goals, the eligibility requirements, and how to prepare and submit an application. To watch a recording of the session, click here. The main presentation lasts about 30 minutes, and it is followed by a question-and-answer period lasting about 20 minutes. The recording will remain available through the application deadline.
Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity to ensure you understand all the expectations and restrictions for projects delivered under this grant and are prepared to write the most effective application.
Application Materials
Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan: 2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity
Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan Grants.gov application package
Program Resources
Fellowships Frequently Asked Questions, 2022 and 2023 (PDF)
List of previously funded projects in this program
Sample Application Narratives
The Paralympic Movement, Sports, and Disability in Postwar Japan
Register for a Grants.gov account as soon as you decide to apply to this program. If you have already registered for an account, confirm that your registration is current.
Follow the instructions outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and the Grants.gov instructions.
You will receive a confirmation from Grants.gov when you've successfully submitted your application.
NEH will request letters of reference from your recommenders approximately seven to ten days after the application deadline. You will be notified by email when each of your letters of reference has been received. Once you receive final confirmation of receipt from Grants.gov, you may check the status of your letters by logging in to the secure area of NEH’s website. Enter your NEH application number and your Grants.gov tracking number. You will be able to see the names and e-mail addresses of your letter writers and whether their letters have arrived. If necessary, you may send reminders to your letter writers (including the upload link) from this site. You are responsible for ensuring that your letter writers have received the solicitations from NEH and submitted their letters.
