Otsuka Toshimi Scholarship — Bachelor's Scholarship

The Otsuka Toshimi Scholarship supports international students already enrolled at a university or graduate school in Japan who study fields tied to human health or business administration. It is run by the Otsuka Toshimi Scholarship Foundation, set up in Osaka in 2007 by Toshimi Otsuka and registered as a public interest incorporated foundation in 2012, with the stated aim of nurturing people who can build goodwill between Japan and other countries. Recipients stay at their own Japanese university and receive an annual cash award rather than a placement.

About 90 new awards were planned for fiscal 2026, and 198 students in total held the scholarship that year once renewals are counted. Students apply directly to the Foundation; no university nomination is involved.

Benefits & funding

Annual award of ¥2,000,000, ¥1,500,000 or ¥1,000,000, set by the Foundation from the application documents and the interview.
A small number of renewing recipients showing excellent research performance may receive ¥2,500,000 a year.
Recipients who also hold another scholarship receive ¥500,000 for the year regardless of the other amount, and their other awards must total less than ¥1,700,000 over the scholarship period.
A book purchase grant of roughly ¥10,000 for books that support the recipient’s research, Japanese-language study and international understanding.
Payments are generally made twice a year, on set dates in August and December, by direct deposit to the recipient’s bank account.
No repayment is required, except where a false declaration was made.
The award runs one year (April 2026 to March 2027 in the fiscal 2026 cycle) and can be renewed year by year, up to the minimum period needed to complete the degree being pursued.

Eligibility

Applicants must be self-supporting international students living in Japan with “College Student” residence status and must not hold Japanese nationality; no other nationality restriction applies.
Applicants must be 38 or younger as of 1 April of the award year (1 April 2026 for the fiscal 2026 cycle).
Applicants must be enrolled in a regular degree program at a university or graduate school in Japan. First- and second-year undergraduates cannot apply. Third-year and above undergraduates may apply only if their record is exceptionally strong, such as straight A grades. Non-degree research students are not eligible.
Eligible fields are those closely related to human health, namely medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, biology, nutrition and physical education, plus business administration. Engineering applicants must show how their work relates to medicine or pharmacology.
Applicants must be in Japan for the application, the document screening, the interview, the announcement of results and the certification ceremony. Anyone planning 40 or more cumulative days outside Japan during the scholarship period is ineligible.
The Foundation looks for financial need, an outstanding academic record, creative or innovative research, personal integrity, and the ability to act as a bridge between Japan and other countries.
Recipients must take part in Foundation events, be willing to study Japanese, submit the required documents each year, and stay involved as alumni.

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Residence required
Japan
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled
Age requirement
≤ 38 yrs

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Application process

1
Read the Scholarship Guide, which the Foundation posts on its website in early March each year, and confirm the field of study and residence status qualify.
2
Submit the application online during the posted window, which ran 5 March to 20 April 2026 for new applicants in the fiscal 2026 cycle (13 April for renewing applicants).
3
Mail the original documents so they reach the Foundation by the stated date and time, which was 15:00 on 23 April 2026 for new applicants (16 April for renewing applicants). The set covers the handwritten application form, a sealed letter of recommendation carrying a handwritten signature, a recent 4.5 × 3.5 cm photograph, an academic transcript, a certificate of enrolment issued after 1 April, a certificate of residence, and proof of any other scholarship held.
4
Attend the interview in Osaka or Tokyo between late June and early July if selected from the document screening. Attending in person is compulsory.
5
Receive the result by mid-July and attend the certification ceremony in late July.

Program timeline

The Foundation posted the Scholarship Guide for fiscal 2026.
Mar 4, 2026
Online applications opened for new applicants.
Mar 5, 2026
Online applications closed for new applicants (13 April for renewing applicants).
Apr 20, 2026
Mailed originals had to arrive by 15:00 for new applicants (16 April for renewing applicants).
Apr 23, 2026
Interviews held in Osaka or Tokyo.
Late June to early July 2026
Results announced to applicants.
Mid-July 2026
Certification ceremony, compulsory for recipients.
Jul 24, 2026 to Jul 25, 2026
The Foundation announced 198 scholarship recipients for fiscal 2026.
Aug 7, 2026