The International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken) in Kyoto hosts foreign scholars as Visiting Research Fellows. This route is for researchers backed by another funding organization or dispatched by a foreign government.
Fellows pursue their own research in Japanese studies within the humanities and social sciences. They also take part in at least one of Nichibunken’s team research projects, with a full-time faculty member acting as their counterpart.
Nichibunken supplies the research base and facilities. The money for the stay comes from the fellow’s own funder or government.
Benefits & funding
- A research appointment at Nichibunken in Kyoto for up to 12 months, in principle.
- Shared office space, the library, computers, and other facilities of the center.
- On-site housing at Nichibunken House can be requested for a fee; a room is not guaranteed.
- Nichibunken publishes no stipend, travel grant, or fee for this route; living and travel costs are covered by the fellow’s external funder or government.
Eligibility
- Open to researchers of any nationality.
- Applicants must hold a doctorate and be employed by a university or research institution outside Japan.
- Alternatively, applicants whose qualifications or research ability the Director-General judges equivalent may be accepted.
- The research must fall within Japanese studies in the humanities or social sciences.
- The route is for fellows of other funding organizations or researchers supported by a foreign government.
- A full-time Nichibunken faculty member must agree to serve as the applicant’s counterpart.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1Identify the funding organization or government program that will support the stay, and note its application deadline.
- 2Find a full-time Nichibunken faculty member whose field matches the project, and ask them to act as counterpart.
- 3At least one month before the funder’s deadline, submit a CV, a list of publications, a research title, and a research plan to the Director-General through the counterpart.
- 4Nichibunken reviews each request case by case as it arrives. Questions go to the Research Cooperation Section at vrsinquiry@nichibun.ac.jp.
- 5Apply to the external funder by its own deadline.
Program timeline
Anytime
Nichibunken accepts requests on a rolling basis
One month before the funder’s deadline
Application due to Nichibunken through the counterpart
On receipt
Case-by-case review by Nichibunken
Funder’s deadline
Application to the external funder
Start date set with the funder
Research stay of up to 12 months begins