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.
Grant Snapshot
Maximum award amount
Open to
Expected output
Period of performance
Application available
Application due
Expected notification date
Project start date
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. The program aims 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 for the research 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).
What's New for 2021
Some changes have been made to the application format, including:
- a new required attachment presenting the proposed plan of work (the plan of work is no longer included as part of the narrative statement)
- a new required attachment listing the locations where you plan to conduct work during the grant period
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for complete instructions regarding the application format.
Watch a Recording of the Online Information Session
An online information session was held on March 18, 2021. 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 or on the image below. The main presentation is 30 minutes, followed by approximately 15 minutes of questions and answers.
Begin by reading the full grant guidelines and studying the application. The files are linked below. You want 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: 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity
Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan Grants.gov application package
Program Resources
Fellowships Frequently Asked Questions, 2020 and 2021 (PDF)
List of previously funded projects in this program
Sample Application Narratives
The Cold War and Japan's Postcolonial Power in Asia
As soon as you know you're ready to apply for this grant, make sure you register for a grants.gov account as this is vital to the grants process. If you already have registered for an account, make sure it is up to date.
Be sure to follow the instructions outlined in the notice of funding opportunity guidelines and the Grants.gov instructions.
You will receive a confirmation from Grants.gov when you've successfully submitted your application.
After you submit your application, Grants.gov will send you up to five e-mail messages confirming receipt of your application. These messages represent different stages in the application acceptance process. You should verify that you have received all confirmation messages. Please note that email filters may send these messages to your spam or junk folder.
NEH requests letters of reference from your recommenders approximately seven to ten days after the application deadline. You will be notified by e-mail when each of your letters of reference has been received. After you have received the fifth message from Grants.gov (confirming that NEH received your application), 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.
