Fiscal Year 2025 THE JAPAN FOUNDATIONPROGRAM GUIDELINES

Japanese-Language Education Overseas

Program for Specialists in Cultural andAcademic Fields
Application Form: KC-G
Section in Charge: Educational Training Section, the JapanFoundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai

With the aim of supporting specialists who require Japanese-language proficiency inorder to smoothly perform their specialized work and research activities (such asresearchers, graduate students, librarians, museum and art museum curators), thisprogram provides training to improve their Japanese- language ability by learning
practical Japanese and actually using it in their research and specialized work-related
activities, conducted at the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai.
* In FY2025, only a six-month course will be offered.

Description of the Course
During the training course, participants will independently conduct interviews with specialists in theirfield as well as plan their own trips to visit related facilities and, as they gather and understand researchmaterials, they will be able to acquire the skills needed to exchange, collect, and report information inJapanese. The participants will need to independently plan their activities with an explicit theme.
Participants are required to make a presentation about their research themes as their accomplishmentsof the course and specialized activities conducted during their stay in Japan at the end of the course.

Duration
From early-October 2025 to late-March 2026

Eligibility
Individuals must fulfill the following to apply:
1 Individuals who fulfill A or B and need Japanese-language proficiency to carry out their specialized
work and research activities.
A. Individuals who fulfill at least one of the following requirements and have an employment
relationship with the organization outside Japan they are currently affiliated with, at the timeof application and participation in the program. It is expected that participants will continue
working in the aforementioned affiliated organization after completing this program.
a. Individuals who carry out research activities as teachers (professors, instructors, teachingassistants, etc.), researchers, etc., at institutions of advanced education, such as universities,
research centers, or other research organizations.
b. Individuals who are engaged in a job of specialized research work in public sector
organizations, such as government agencies, think tanks, etc.
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Fiscal Year 2025 THE JAPAN FOUNDATIONPROGRAM GUIDELINES

Japanese-Language Education Overseasc. Individuals who are currently engaged in full-time librarian work at universities, colleges,
other institutions of advanced education, academic research institutions, cultural exchangeorganizations, or public libraries.
d. Individuals who are currently engaged in full-time curatorial work at museums or regularly
involved in organizing exhibitions, and who are working for international exchange programs
that concern Japan.
B. Individuals who are officially registered as full-time students in a Master's or Doctoral courseof a graduate school outside Japan at the time of application and participation in the program(excluding non-degree students) and who are planning to write their Master's or Doctoral
dissertation on a subject related to Japan.
Concerning undergraduate students of universities and colleges that issue a Master's degree
upon graduation, applicants will be considered to fulfill this requirement, if they are in the final
year and their age is 22 or older as of December 3, 2024.
2 Individuals applying for this program must obtain the permission of the representative of theiraffiliated organization mentioned above.
3 Individuals whose research area must be in the field of Japan-related social sciences or humanities.
Includes interdisciplinary fields with natural and applied sciences.
4 Individuals who have a specific and detailed theme related to Japan in their study or work, andplan to make a presentation on the achievements.
5 Individuals who are nationals of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan.
* Taiwanese are eligible to apply for this program.
6 Individuals who have NOT received compulsory education in Japan for more than three years.
7 Individuals in good physical and mental health.
8 Individuals who have Japanese-language proficiency that is equivalent to or higher than Level N4 in theJapanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), Level 3 of the old JLPT, or A2 level in the JF Standard forJapanese-Language Education at the time of application (please visit the official website of JLPT [https://www.jlpt.jp/e/about/levelsummary.html], or the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education website[https://www.jfstandard.jpf.go.jp] to find the summary of linguistic competence required for each level).
9 Individuals who are NOT scheduled to study abroad at a Japanese educational institution, participate
in other training in Japan, work in Japan, or engage in other activities during the program.

Venue
The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai (Tajiri-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka, Japan)

Benefits
1 Provided to all participants:
a. Accommodation in the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai;b. Activities for all participants (lectures, cultural experiences, visits to external organizations, etc.);c. Weekday meals (fixed amount of cafeteria points);
d. National Health Insurance and Overseas Travel Insurance (with an upper limit on coverage)e. Subsidy for independent research activities (e.g. accommodation and transport costs):— 28 —

Fiscal Year 2025 THE JAPAN FOUNDATIONPROGRAM GUIDELINES

Japanese-Language Education Overseas

2 Provided to participants who have the nationality of, and who reside at the time of application andprogram start in, the countries marked
in the table in the Appendix (p. 68~69):* In addition to a-e above, the following f-i are provided (However, residents in China who holda BNO or Hong Kong SAR passport, and Macau residents in China who hold a Macau SAR
passport must bear these expenses).
f. Round-trip air tickets (discount economy class) to and from the nearest international airport
from home residence;
g. Airport tax, foreign travel tax;h. Holiday meals (cafeteria points and cash);i. Subsidy in kind (prepaid IC card):

Number of Participants (Reference)
10 out of 61 applications for FY 2024 (six-month course)

Selection Policy
1 See p. 2 for the selection policy common to all programs:
2 The criteria peculiar to this program is as follows: applicants' needs for Japanese-language training
and the possibility of improvement in their language skills, achievements in their specialized fields,
expected achievements and ripple effects by participating in this program, possibility of success intheir specialized fields.
* Lower priority will be given to those who have participated in Japanese language training for duties
or research conducted by JF in the past (e.g., “Program for Specialist in Cultural and AcademicFields”, “Training Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language”, etc.).

Application Deadline
Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 3, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)

Notification of Results
Late April 2025

Remarks
1 This program is primarily a language course for participants requiring Japanese-language proficiency
for specialized work and research activities. Professional education in their specific areas ofexpertise is not included in the curriculum.
2 Participants must attend all classes and activities in the curriculum.
3 During the program, participants basically need to stay in the accommodation provided by JF.
4 Participants must obtain a specific visa from the nearest Embassy or Consulate General of Japan
designated by JF. In principle, the nearest diplomatic office to the address or place of residence
indicated on the application form will be designated, but those wishing to have their visas issued
at other diplomatic offices should consult JF in advance.

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