FY2025 Nichibunken Academic Encouragement Award: Recommendation Guidelines

1. AimThe International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken) established the Nichibunken
Academic Encouragement Award in 2023 with the aim of nurturing junior researchers who are basedoutside Japan and who are likely to lead internationalization of Japanese Studies throughcomprehensive research in the field. The Award is designed to honor outstanding researches inJapanese Studies conducted from an international perspective, as well as to subsidize the future
development of such researches and foster the next generation of researchers.
2. Eligibility
Eligible candidates are limited to doctoral students recommended by overseas institutions holding
academic exchange agreements with Nichibunken or International member institutions (Fullmember) of the Consortium for Global Japanese Studies.
(1) Applicants must aspire to lead in the internationalization of Japanese Studies thoughcomprehensive research on Japan in the humanities and social sciences, and aims to produce
doctoral dissertations that explore the diversity and multifaceted nature of Japanese history,society, or culture.
(2) Applicants can be of any nationality.
(3) Applicants already enrolled in or affiliated with another institution within Japan at the time ofapplication are ineligible.
(4) Applicants must be able to arrive in Japan on or after April 1, 2025 and depart on or before March31, 2026. The length of stay shall be up to 90 days including the dates of arrival and departure.
Please note that arrival and departure during the year-end and New Year period (December 29January 3) are not permitted.

*Candidates may request their desired research period from among the designated below.
However, Nichibunken shall have final say over period granted.
(A) 90 days within the period from April 1, 2025 to August 31, 2025
(B) 90 days within the period from August 1, 2025 and December 28, 2025
(C) 90 days within the period from December 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026

- 1 -3. Recommendation of Candidates
Only one candidate may be recommended by the President or Faculty/Graduate School Dean of any
eligible institution. Recommendations by other parties, or self-recommendations, are not accepted.
4. Overview of Support for Awardees
The following support will be provided:(1) Up to 90 days pursuing research at Nichibunken, to include airfare (economy class),
accommodation and per diem allowances in accordance with the regulations of the National
Institutes for the Humanities. No salary will be paid.
(2) Free use of the Visiting Research Fellows’ Room, Library, computers, and other facilities atNichibunken.
(3) Accommodation at Nichibunken House (fees apply).
(4) A faculty member to mentor and assist research (please inform Nichibunken if you have apreferred faculty member).
(5) Assistance to any awardee whose nationality requires them to apply for a visa.

5. Application Procedure (documents may be written in English or Japanese; however, the researchproposal must be in Japanese)
Send the following documents by e-mail to the address in article 9 below.
Documents to be submitted by recommender:
・Recommendation Form
Documents to be submitted by candidate:・Application Form・Outline of research activities to date・Research proposal (write about the research you plan to undertake at Nichibunken in about
2,000 Japanese characters (kana and kanji)
・One of the following: Master’s thesis, published academic research paper, a paper presented at
an international academic conference, or some equivalent written work
・Proof of current enrollment in a doctoral program
6. Number of Awardees
Up to three awardees will be selected each year, in principle. If fewer, or no candidates are considered- 2 -suitable, fewer or no awards shall be made.
7. Determination of Awardees
Selection is made by the Nichibunken Academic Encouragement Awards Selection Committee.
8. Selection and Notification of OutcomesAround February 2025, the Nichibunken Academic Encouragement Awards Selection Committee
shall select the successful candidates and issue notification to their home institution .

9. Applications and Recommendations to be sent toInternational Research Promotion Unit, Research Cooperation Section, International ResearchCenter for Japanese Studies
3-2 Goryo Oeyama-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 610-1192 Japan
Telephone: +81(0)75-335-2041

Fax: +81(0)75-335-2092

E-mail: nichibunaward*nichibun.ac.jp (replace the character * with @)URL: https://www.nichibun.ac.jp/en/research/award/academic-encouragement/

10. Recommendation Deadline
Before the midnight (Japan time) on Monday, September 30, 2024

11. Other1)

No changes or additions to application documents are accepted after submission.

2)

Submitted documents are not returned.

3)

Nichibunken does not respond to inquiries regarding selection outcomes.

4)Awardees may be requested to cooperate in future activities of the Consortium for Global
Japanese Studies promoted by Nichibunken.

5)

All personal information contained in application documents is managed in accordance with theNational Institutes for the Humanities Personal Information Protection Regulations and related
laws and regulations, and used solely for the purpose of selecting awardees. Nichibunken shalldispose of such information responsibly when the selection process is complete.

- 3 -6)

Nichibunken does not have Overseas Travel and the Disaster Compensation Insurances.
Awardees will be requested to enroll in these insurances at their own expense before arrival inJapan.

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