Application Guide for“Scholarship for Nikkei Communities in
Latin America and the Caribbean:
Program for Developing Leaders in Nikkei
Communities”
FY 2025

June 2024

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

FY2025 Application Guide for“Scholarship for Nikkei Communities in Latin America
and the Caribbean: Program for Developing Leaders in Nikkei Communities”
Japan International Cooperation Agency (hereinafter JICA) calls for applications to the2025 “Scholarship for Nikkei Communities in Latin America and the Caribbean: Program forDeveloping Leaders in Nikkei Communities” as detailed below.
1. Aim of the Program and Expected Participants
The aim of this program is to assist Japanese emigrants in their resettlement efforts andto help them establish their lives overseas by nurturing future leaders among Nikkei
communities. To this end, the program gives an opportunity of studying abroad in Japan to
Japanese emigrants and their descendants living in Central, South America and the
Caribbean. This program is open to those Nikkei who have been admitted to study at a
graduate school in Japan, including individuals who wish to do so.

In light of this, those

who are deemed able to fulfill the above-mentioned purpose are invited to apply.
2. Ideal candidate profile
Those who wish to contribute to the development of the Nikkei communities in Latin
America and the Caribbean and act as a “bridge” or “co-creation partner” between Japanand Latin America and the Caribbean.
3. Participating Countries (11 countries)
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay,
Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
4. Application period
July 1 (Mon.) 2024 – September 24 (Tues.) 2024
The application documents must be sent to JICA overseas office from outside Japan, orto the Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad from domestic applicants in Japan (herein
after “JICA overseas office, etc.”) during the said period.
5. Expected Number of Participants
JICA will accept approximately 10 participants.
6. Fields of StudyAreas of research that can benefit the economic and social development of Nikkei
communities and the countries they reside.
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[Note 1]: Those majoring in medicine and odontology/dentistry cannot take part inclinical work, such as examining patients and conducting operations until
receiving approval from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare based on theJapanese law.
[Note 2]: Practical training such as special technical skills to be gained at factories is notincluded as part of the designated fields of study to be conducted at Japanese
university.
7. Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible for this program, applicants must meet all of the following requirements.
(1) Be a Japanese emigrant and descendant (In principle, up to third generation Nikkei)(2) Age: Under 40 years of age as of April 1, 2025 (born after April 2, 1985)(3) Academic Background: Completion of undergraduate-level education (bachelor’s
degree holders) including those expecting to graduate by
March 2025
(4) Admission into Graduate Schoola) Those who have been admitted as full-time graduate students, and as research
students or non-degree/part-time students at undergraduate/graduate level(hereinafter non-regular student), as well as those who are enrolled as above;b) In addition, among those wishing to enter graduate school, individuals who havereceived informal consent from Japanese graduate school for admission as fulltime students upon passing the entrance exam, or similarly received such consent
as non-regular students.
(5) Japanese Language Proficiency: Having a sufficient level of Japanese language
ability for daily living in Japan.
(6) Work/Employment: If the applicant is currently under employment, he/she needs toresign or take leave of absence from work prior to entering
university so as to concentrate on his/her studies. During the period
in which JICA provides support, with “Student” visa status, theapplicant will not be allowed to engage in work, except activities
within the scope allowed by the Minister of Justice as “activity otherthan that permitted under the status of residence previously
granted.”(7) Health: Being in a physically and mentally fit condition[Note 1]: Military personnel on active duty or civilians employed by the military cannot
apply for this program under their present status.
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[Note 2]: In principle, those who have already arranged to receive scholarship/financial
aid from other organizations, or those who plan to engage in employment during
the scheduled study period are not entitled to apply for this program.
[Note 3]: “Research Student” signifies a person who has been admitted to conduct
research in a specified field of study for a semester or for one academic year, apart from
regular curriculum to obtain a degree. *If you are going to submit your research plan
only as a research student, allowance will not be provided.
8. Period of Allowance Provision(1) After arriving in Japan, allowance will be provided up to a year for those who needresearch period as a non-regular student (research student or non-degree/part-timestudent, etc.)(2) After the above-mentioned period, when the student enrolls as a full-time status,
additional years of allowance will continue to be provided: 2 more years to those enteringa master’s course, 4 more years for doctoral course in medicine and odontology, and 3
more years for other fields of doctoral studies respectively. If Japanese language training
is required by university prior to entering master’s and doctoral programs, allowancecan be provided up to six months during the language training.
(3) Necessary expenses incurred beyond the period of allowance provision will be borneby the student himself/herself.
(4) Provision of allowance will be suspended from the second year onward if the student
is not enrolled in university as a full-time student, although non-regular student is entitledfor allowance for his/her first year.
(5) For those who start receiving allowance as a graduate student, provision of allowance
lasts for the minimum number of years required for obtaining respective degrees. (Forexample, 1 year provision for a second-year master student, and 3-year long provision
for a second-year medicine/odontology doctoral student.)(6) Extension of the provision of allowance will not be admitted for those who do not obtaina degree within the designated period of allowance provision.
9. Details of Allowance and Method of Provision(1) Travel Allowance: In-kind provision
For designated itinerary and routes, economy (the most economical) class airline
ticket will be provided for traveling between airport located in the capital city of student’s
home country or other international airport that JICA designates to an international
airport in Japan.
(2) Transportation Cost: Provision of actual expenses
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When the international student travels to and from Japan, transportation costs will be
provided based on JICA’s guidelines for traveling between the selected international
airport in Japan to the city in which the host university is located. Upon arrival,transportation cost will be paid to student’s bank account after arriving in Japan. For
departure, necessary transportation expense will be remitted to student’s bank accountprior to leaving from Japan. (For those students who become entitled for allowance whilein graduate school or living in Japan, transportation cost to travel to the venue of JICA’sorientation will be provided as needed.)(3) Living Allowance: 4,953 yen-5,052 yen (daily amount)
In accordance with JICA’s standard for technical training participants (long-term
trainees), the above-mentioned daily amount will be provided. However, when theinternational student takes leave or is absent from school for a long period of time, living
allowance will not be provided as a general rule. After student’s arrival in Japan, theallowance is to be remitted to his/her back account every two months. Please note thatthe daily allowance will be calculated based on JICA’s guidelines, taking into accountadditional stipend for designated areas. The allowance covers the date of arrival in
Japan and the date of departure from Japan, as well as hospitalization period. Living
allowance is intended to be used for other necessary expenses (such as purchasing
books, domestic travel costs for research in Japan) and commuting fare to school aswell.
(4) Outfit Allowance on arrival in Japan: 100,000 yen
This allowance will be provided upon arrival in Japan for purchasing necessities forliving in Japan. Please note that the allowance is not provided for those who alreadyhave a base of residence in Japan.
(5) Moving (Housing) Allowance: 164,000 yen-224,000 yen
This allowance will be provided to cover temporary spending for initial rental contract
and buying furniture that is essential for daily living. As a general rule, moving allowance
is provided only one time during the study period in Japan. Exact amount of theallowance will be determined in consideration of additional stipend for designatedregions according to JICA’s guidelines.
(6) Airport Facility Fee: Provision of actual expenses
This fee includes passenger facility charge and security service surcharge at
Japanese international airport upon returning to students’ home country. JICA will pay
the fee to travel agency in addition to airfare on the general condition that the student
return to home country on the date authorized by JICA.
(7) Tuition: Provision of actual expensesa) Enrolment Fee and Tuition, etc.
4Actual cost, stipulated by school regulations of university or Japanese language
institutions, will be provided for those who have arranged to enter school after receiving
the letter of admission to this program. As a general rule, JICA will pay directly touniversity or Japanese language institution. In cases where JICA cannot do so due tothe university’s policy (for instance, at some public universities, students have to pay incash at a designated branch of bank during a specified period,) JICA will pay to theschool via student or student will be asked to prepay the fee and JICA will reimburse
him/her for the cost. Please note that the provision of cost related to Japanese language
studies is limited to those who are required to demonstrate certain level of Japanese
proficiency prior to commencing master’s or doctoral courses at university as mentioned
in Section 8. (2) above.
b) Examination Fee
JICA will provide the examination fee only when student has applied to school after
receiving the letter of admission to this program. In case the students apply to several
universities at a time, JICA will pay only for the one that student decides to get enrolled.
[Notes]: Other expenses not mentioned above will be borne by student on his/her own
including the following items.
⚫

Enrolment fee for National Health Insurance⚫

Medical expenses⚫

Visa application fee for “Short Term” visa needed to visit Japan beforehand
for taking an entrance exam, and round-trip travel expense.

10. Recruitment, Selection and Notice of Admission(1) Residents of overseas (overseas applicants)① JICA overseas office is in charge of recruiting participants for this program incooperation with other Nikkei related agencies in the country concerned. Please referto the information of JICA overseas offices in your country for where to send application
documents.
② JICA overseas office will conduct document selection and interview the candidates incooperation with diplomatic missions as needed. The language used will be the sameas the mode of instruction to be used at graduate school. Please be sure todemonstrate your willingness to contribute to Nikkei communities and your future plansat the time of interview.
③ JICA overseas office will report to its headquarters about the interview results.
④ JICA headquarters will make final decision on the admission of applicants aftergathering reports from its overseas offices, etc.
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⑤ JICA headquarters will notify the candidate about the admission status through its
overseas office.
(2) Residents of Japan (applicants in Japan)① The Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad will accept applications. Please refer topage 10 for the address to send application documents.
② JICA Headquarters will screen the application documents and conduct an interview.
The language used in the interview will be the language used in the graduate schoolclasses. During the interview, please be sure to explain your “intention to contribute to
the Japanese American community” and “future plans”.
③ JICA Headquarters will conduct the final selection of applicants and decide whether
they are successful or not.
④ JICA Headquarters will notify applicants of acceptance or rejection.
11. Selection Schedule (tentative)
First round of
selection(Document
screening)

Notificationof first roundselection
results

Secondround
selection(Interviews)

Residents of* Depends on the schedule of each overseas

overseas

office.

Final selection

Late October Early November
Residents ofJapan

September
25 - October
8, 2024

October9,

Mid-October

2024

2024

NotificationofAcceptance/Rej
ectionMid-November
2024

2024

12. Application Documents
Applicants need to submit the following set of documents to JICA overseas office, etc in
the country concerned by mail. Please note that these documents will not be returned tothe applicant.
(1) Application Form: One original copy

(Form 1)

(2) Photo: One photo (to be attached to the application form)
Photo needs to be taken within the last six months. Length 4cm by width 3cm; from thewaist up; facing forward; without a hat. Please write your name and country on the backof the photo.
(3) Personal Information Form: One original copy
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(Form 2)

(4) Certificate of Health: One original copy (Form 3)(5) Pledges: One original copy (Form 4)(6) Essay on your future plans: One original copy

(Form 5)

(7) Letter of Recommendation (if you belong to Nikkei organizations): One original copy
*If you do not belong to such organizations, it is not necessary to submit a letter ofrecommendation. However, the applicant is advised to contact a nearby Nikkei
organization taking this opportunity.
(8) Official Transcript from University: One original copy or notarized copy(9) Certificate of Graduation, Diploma or Certificate of Expected Graduation: Either
one original or one notarized copy of one of the above documents(10) Certificate of Enrolment (if you already belong to a graduate school): One original
copy or notarized copy(11) Letter of Admission: One duplicate copy
For those admitted to study at graduate school full-time, or as research students/nondegree students(12) Informal written consent from professor in charge at graduate school, etc.: One
original copy or duplicate copy (If you have received informal consent on admission as afull-time student or non-regular student after passing the entrance exam as mentioned in
Section 7. (4) above.)(13) Certificate/Proof of Japanese Language Proficiency (if you have not taken an official
exam of Japanese language, it is not required to submit this document.): One duplicate
copy(14) ID card (identification card): One duplicate copy(15) Passport (if you have one): One duplicate copy * if you have a Japanese passport you
must submit the Japanese one.
(16) Valid Japanese entry visa, re-entry permit, or residence card (if you have one): One
duplicate copy
＊Personal information provided in the application form will be used only for the purposes of 1) determining admission, 2)
in the procedure relevant to graduate studies, and 3) statistical information compiling the implementation of this program.

13. Notes for Application Documents＊ For documents numbered (1), (3) and (5), please submit a filled-out form either
Japanese or English form.(The applicant may write in either Japanese or English.)
For the document numbered (6), essay should be written in the language of instruction
at graduate school(Japanese or English).
＊When filling out“ (1) Application Form” and“ (6) Essay on your future plans”in
English, please type it with a computer in principle. If you must write it by hand, please
fill it in a BLOCK LETTER so that it is easy to read.
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＊ Application cannot be accepted unless documents numbered (1) through (6) arecompleted accurately without missing information, and all other necessary
documents are submitted in time for the deadline.
(1) Application Form・If the applicant already resides in Japan, please write contact information (i.e. current
address, telephone/fax number) both in Japan and in his/her home country.
・If the applicant has prior studying experience in Japan, please write the informationin the section for “Visits to Japan.” If the applicant received any kind of scholarship in
the past, please write down the title of the scholarship program.
(4) Certificate of Health・Please use the specified form for a health checkup.
・Please be sure to have all the necessary information filled out in the form after
receiving medical examination on all the required check items, because application
cannot be processed without presenting all the required information(6) Essay on your future plans
Please write your essay on “How you plan to use the research and acquired
knowledge/skills to contribute to Nikkei societies and regional development of yourhome country?” Essay should be written in the language of instruction at graduate
school (Japanese or English).
14. Points of Attention(1)

Each applicant is responsible for making various arrangements including admission

procedures into a Japanese graduate school, travel arrangement such as obtaining visa
and other arrangement during their stay in Japan. Please be advised that JICA will not beable to assist in housing arrangement nor become a guarantor for renting a place to live.
(2) For those wishing to conduct short-term research/training, we recommend that one apply
to a program titled “Training Program for Nikkei Communities”.
(3) If a full-time graduate student stays in the country of origin or in a third country for the
purpose of conducting research, and the stay exceeds 30 days (counting from thefollowing date of entry, and the previous date of departure), allowance of the period (after
more than 31 days until the previous date of return to Japan) will not be provided.
(4) If the international student stays in the country of origin or in a third country for private
reasons, allowance will not be provided from the departing date from Japan and theprevious date of return to Japan.
(5) If the applicant needs to visit Japan to take examination at university beforehand, he/she
is responsible for applying to “Short-Term” visa and arranging round-trip travel, and such8

costs will be borne by the applicant himself/herself.
(6) When the international student falls under one of the following instances below, theprovision of allowance to the student will be suspended. Student will also be asked toreturn the allowance which was intended for use after the date of suspension. In addition,international student holding non-Japanese nationality must return to his/her country
immediately.
a) Having violated the Japanese law or are involved in activities that cause social unrestb) Having violated the rules and regulations of graduate school, etc.
c) Having violated the terms and accompanying conditions of the finalized provision of
JICA’s allowanced) Suspended studying abroad due to his/her own personal reasonse) Being unable to continue studies due to significantly difficult mental/physical conditions,
and/or injuries /illness, etc.
f ) Having provided false information in the application formg) Being unable to be admitted into a master’s/doctoral program after one year since thestart of the provision of allowanceh) Having not entered into university by the end of October of the academic year in which
the curriculum starts at the university concernedi) Having received scholarship from other than JICA or other similar financial support(excluding those that have specific objective for conducting research)j) Other circumstances which JICA deems it applicable(7) International student must report back to JICA quarterly using a designated form
regarding the progress of his/her research.
(8) When seminars inviting all the international students and other gatherings for overseas
Japanese descendants are held, each student is required to take part in both theseminars and such gatherings in coordination with the university concerned unless there
are unavoidable circumstances.
(9) Please contact JICA overseas office, etc. in the country concerned for any
inquires/clarifications that you may wish to have regarding the information written on thisdocument, or any other questions.
End of document

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[Reference Information]➢

Researchmap (search site for researchers)

https://researchmap.jp/researchers/?lang=en➢

JASSO (information about studying abroad in Japan)

https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/search/daigakukensaku.html[Contact and Address for Applications within Japan]
This program is implemented by the “Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad”
commissioned by JICA. Any questions should be forwarded to the person in charge at theassociation as follows:
Address:

The Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad
Attention: Mr. Hirai
JICA Yokohama Center
3-1, Shinko 2-chome, Naka-ku, Yokohama City,
Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0001, Japan

Tel: +81-(0)45-211-1784
Fax: +81(0)45-211-1781
E-mail:nikkei-leader@jadesas.or.jp10