JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan
Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard）
Application through Overseas Nominating Authorities
FY 2023 Application Guidelines

1. PURPOSETo provide opportunities for excellent postdoctoral researchers from other countries to conduct, under theguidance of their hosts, cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japaneseinstitutions. The program allows such researchers to advance their own research while contributing to theprogress of research in Japan and the counterpart countries.
2. FIELDS OF RESEARCH
All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included under this program.
3. DURATION OF FELLOWSHIPS
12 to 24 months
This fellowship is provided in full month units.
Note 1: The fellowship period covers the period from the day a fellow (invited overseas researcher) comingfrom abroad arrives at an airport in Japan, which is the day that the fellowship starts, to the day thatthe fellow departs from an airport in Japan, which is the day that the fellowship ends. (This does not
apply to fellows who reside in Japan before or after the fellowship period.)
Note 2: The duration of the fellowship may not be divided into multiple stays.
4. STARTING DATE
Fellows must start their Fellowship in Japan during 1April 2023 – 30 November 2023.
5. CANDIDATE (Invited Overseas Researcher) ELIGIBILITY
Persons are eligible to apply who satisfy the following two conditions.
(1) Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian
researchers in this manner.)(2) Have obtained their doctoral degree within six years of the date the fellowship goes into effect (on or after
2 April 2017).
Note 1: Those who have previously been awarded and started a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral
Fellowship for Research in Japan ([Standard (P)] and [Pathway to University positions in Japan(PU)]) are not eligible.
Note 2: Persons who are Japanese citizen and foreigners who have permanent residency in Japan are noteligible.
Note 3: Researchers who obtained their PhD within six years minus time taken for maternity and/or parental
leave. (Every four weeks of leave is counted as one month, with any remaining weeks also counted
as one month. These months are subtracted from the number of years elapsed since the researcher’s
PhD was received.) In this case, separate submission of documents are required. Please consult
with JSPS in advance via the nominating authority.
Note 4: If it becomes known even after being selected that a candidate does not possess application
eligibility, his/her selection is to be cancelled or eligibility terminated during the fellowship period.
In such cases, the candidate is required to reimburse JSPS his/her already-paid allowances.
6. HOST RESEARCHER ELIGIBILITY
Host researchers are required to satisfy the following two conditions at the time of application, at the time of
selection, and during the fellowship period.
(1) Be affiliated with a research institution specified in Article 2 of the Procedure for the Handling ofGrants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI), issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT) (*) and be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant–in-aid.
1(2) Be a full-time researcher. However, researchers who are not employed full time may be eligible if thehost institutions judge that they are able to execute their responsibilities for constantly carrying out the
program throughout the fellowship period including the provision of a suitable research environment (e.g.,laboratory, space, facilities and personnel), the same as the full time researchers are able to do.
(*)Eligible host institutions specified under the above MEXT Procedure are as follows:
1) Universities and inter-university research institutes2) MEXT-affiliated institutions engaged in research3) Colleges of technology
4) Institutions designated by the Minister of MEXT
A fellow’s host researcher may not be changed during the fellowship tenure. Therefore, if it is known at
the time of application that the host researcher will retire, due to reaching retirement age or other reason,
during a candidate’s fellowship tenure, s/he should not be a host researcher.
7. TERMS OF AWARD
The amounts of the Awards are as follows. They are subject to change for budgetary reasons.
(1) Airfare: A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS’s regulations)(2) Maintenance Allowance: ¥362,000 per month(3) Miscellaneous: A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000, overseas travel insurance.
Note 1: For the candidate who has been living in Japan (and has a mailing address) before the fellowshipstarting date, a “settling-in allowance” will not be paid, and only the airfare for the return flightwill be paid.
Note 2: A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows) is available tocover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for this grant is made by the hostresearcher through his/her institution. For details, please see the application guidelines for the
Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows.
8. APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR PROGRAM
Applications for this program must be submitted to JSPS through an overseas nominating authority. The
application process is as follows:(1) Contact is made between the candidates who wish to conduct cooperative research in Japan and theirprospective hosts.
(2) Candidates submit an application to a nominating authority.
(3) The nominating authority conducts a scientific evaluation to select candidates and nominates them to JSPS.
(4) Approximately three months after the nomination, JSPS sends out a notice of selection decision to boththe candidates and the nominating authorities.
Note 1: JSPS does not find or introduce host researchers or institutions.
Note 2: Application deadlines and selection procedures differ by each nominating authority.
Note 3: When setting the starting date of fellowships, adequate time should be allowed for application
processing: e.g., application screening by the nominating authority (time differing by authorities)
and selection decision-making by JSPS (about three months).
Note 4: In addition to receiving applications through overseas nominating authorities, JSPS also accepts
applications for candidates from their prospective host researchers in Japan (open recruitment).
Note 5: Multiple applications for the same program through overseas nominating authorities in the same
fiscal year are not allowed.
9. MATERIALS TO BE SUBMITTED(1) FY2023 Application Form for JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan, Postdoctoral
Fellowships for Research in Japan (Standard), for Application through Overseas Nominating Authorities.
The application form is to be completed by the candidate.
(2) Letter of acceptance/invitation from the candidate’s prospective host researcher in Japan, stating that s/he
accepts the candidate at his /her institution during the period of the fellowship tenure.
The letter should be signed by the host himself/herself. It is preferable that the letter be written on letterhead2

paper.
(3) Letter of recommendation signed by the candidate’s doctoral supervisor (etc.) (The writer of the letter
must be a person other than the candidate’s prospective host researcher in Japan). It is preferable that theletter be written on letterhead paper.
(4) A copy of the candidate’s PhD degree diploma or PhD degree certificate.
If the degree has not yet been awarded, a letter is required from the candidate’s institution stating the datethat s/he will officially be awarded the degree. In that case, the candidate should submit to JSPS a copy of
the PhD degree certificate or the PhD diploma promptly before starting his/her fellowship. The diploma or
certificate should be signed or stamped with an official seal.
Note1: All documents must be in either English or Japanese. When the original document is in
another language, please be sure to attach an English translation (which does not need to be an
official translation, and may be done by the host or candidate).
Note 2: Under the JSPS program, the date of degree award is the date that the issuing university awarded thedegree. It is not the date that Fellows orally defended their dissertation (viva voce) of completed adoctoral course.
10. NOTIFICATIONS OF SELECTION RESULTS BY JSPS HEAD OFFICE(1) An award letter from JSPS president and accompanying documents will be sent to the successful
candidates.
(2) JSPS cannot respond to individual requests regarding selection results.

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NOTICE※As the situation of the novel coronavirus changes, we may consider applying flexibility in our handling ofsome of the entry items in the Application Guidelines.
1. False information etc., in the application form
Should JSPS determine any information in an application to be falsified, plagiarized or otherwise flawed,
including a forged signature, the application will be rejected or, if already awarded, the fellowship will becancelled.
2. Response to acts of research misconduct and funding misuse
JSPS will take appropriate measures (e.g. terminate project, require reimbursement of part or all of
allocated funds) in cases of misuse of research funds, specific research misconduct (e.g. fabrication,
falsification, plagiarism), unjustifiable acts (e.g. discrimination, harassment), or violation of laws.
Please refer to the following website for “Rules for Responding to Misconduct and Misuse of Funds in
Research Activities”, with regard to measures taken against misuse of research funds.
Postdoctoral Fellowships： [URL] https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/guideline_03.html
3. System for implementing the “Guidelines for Responding to Research Misconduct”
When making proposals to JSPS and conducting research activities, research institutions are to follow the“Guidelines for Responding to Misconduct in Research” (adopted by MEXT on 26 August 2014).” If MEXT
judges via the results of an inspection that a research institution’s system is inadequate or defective, it or an
independent administrative institution under MEXT’s jurisdiction may cut or reduce the indirect budget
allocation of the institution’s competitive funding.
4. Research ethics education coursework
To promote the proper conduct of research activities and prevent misconduct in advance, it is first necessary
to raise the level of researcher ethics within research institutions. Host institutions (host researcher’s
institutions) are therefore to establish educational courses for fellows to take in research ethics.
(References) Learning materials on avoiding misconduct in research activities
1) For the Sound Development of Science—The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist—by Editing
Committee of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science；[URL] https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-kousei/ethics.html
2) e-Learning Course on Research Ethics [eL CoRE] ；[URL] https://elcore.jsps.go.jp/top.aspx
3) APRIN e-learning program (eAPRIN)
4) Research ethics courses conducted by Institutions based on the “Guidelines for Responding to
Misconduct in Research” (Adopted by the MEXT on 26 August 2014)
5. Issues relevant to human right protection and legal compliance
When the proposed research involves issues such as a requirement to obtain the research subject’s consent
or the cooperation of a third party, or consideration in the handling of personal information, or actions related
bioethics and/or biosafety (including guidelines and policies used by the counterpart country in conducting
international joint research and by the countries/regions in which the research will be implemented), describe
the measures and actions planned for handling such issues.
This applies to research activities that require approval by an internal or external information committee or
ethics jury, such as for research involving questionnaire surveys, interviews and/or behavior surveys(including personal histories and images), surveys of domestic or overseas cultural properties, research
involving personal information, the handling of donated specimens, invasive properties, human genome
analysis, recombinant DNA, and experimentation with animals. In such cases, describe concretely the statusof your processing and procedures.

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6. Handling of personal information, etc.
Personal information provided by applicants are strictly handled and managed in accordance with the “Actfor the Protection of Personal Information” and JSPS’s “Personal Information Protection Policy,” and isused solely for the purpose of implementing the program (including personal information provided by JSPS
to external companies commissioned to electronically process and manage data).
The names, positions and affiliations of the selected researchers and their counterpart researchers, and theirresearch titles, visit durations and reports may be disclosed on JSPS’s website and in its publications andcirculated to related organizations.
Applicants residing in the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU and UK must submit aseparate letter of consent for using their personal information in line with the provisions of General Data
Protection Regulation (GDPR). If application documents contain information on persons residing in the
EEA or UK, the said persons’ consent must be obtained to use that information. For details on the GDPR,
please visit the following website of the Personal Information Protection Commission, Government ofJapan.
［URL］https://www.ppc.go.jp/enforcement/infoprovision/laws/GDPR/

7. Research conducted for a military purposes
JSPS does not support any research related to military affairs.
8. Ensuring research integrity against new risks as a consequence of the globalization and openness of research
activities
In order to promote the augment of science, technology, and innovation in Japan, we must continue to enhanceoverseas joint research with various partners based on the principle of open science. Concurrently, the new risks
as a consequence of the globalization and openness of research activities have been possible to impair the basis ofresearch environment such as openness and transparency, and to unknowingly involve researchers to take risk of
a conflict of interest or a conflict of responsibilities. In such climate, it is vital for our country to build a globally
reliable research environment to protect the values that constitute the basis of research environment while
encouraging necessary global collaboration and international exchanges.
Therefore, universities and institutions are required to establish regulations/rules and control management related
to the conflict of interest and the conflict of responsibility based on “Policy on Measures to Ensure ResearchIntegrity Against New Risks as a Consequence of the Globalization and Openness of Research Activities (April
27, 2021, Decision of Council for Science, Technology and Innovation)." It is significantly essential for researchers
and universities/institutions to proactively ensure the research integrity in each research activity.
9. Security trade control (coping with technology leakage overseas)
Much research on cutting-edge technology is being conducted in Japan’s research institutions. Along withJapan’s advancing internationalization, there has been an increase in the number of foreign students andoverseas researchers residing in Japan. This has increased the risk of advanced technologies and researchmaterials and equipment leaking out and for them to be used in the development and production of weaponsof mass destruction (WMD). Research institutions are to take systematic measure to keep research results andproducts that can be diverted to military use out of the hands of WMD developers, terrorist groups, and otherpersons whose activities are suspect.
In Japan, export controls (*) are carried out under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (Act No. 228
of 1949) (hereinafter referred to as “Foreign Exchange Law”). Therefore, in principle, in order to export(provide) cargo and technology regulated by the Foreign Exchange Law, it is necessary to obtain permissionof the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Starting with the Foreign Exchange Law, candidates must follow all of Japan’s pertinent laws and ordinances,
guidelines, and directives. If research is conducted in violation of these laws and ordinances, measures andpenalties prescribed in them may be enforced along with the termination of the candidate’s research fundingor his/her scheduled allocation of research funding.
(*) Export controls
Japan's Security Export Control System established on the basis of international agreements mainly consistsof (1) “List rules” which require permission of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in principle whenexporting cargo or providing technology that carry specifications and/or functions higher than certain levels,
such as carbon fiber and numerically controlled machine tool etc., and (2) “Catch-all regulation” which5requires permission of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry when exporting cargo or providing
technology that are not subject to regulation under the List rules but do fall under certain regulatory
requirements (application requirements, consumer requirements and/or informed requirements).
Not only export of cargo but also provision of technology is subject to the regulation by the Foreign Exchange
Law. When providing a “List rules” technology to nonresidents or providing it in a foreign country, priorpermission for provision is required. ”Provision of technology” includes not only providing technicalinformation such as design drawings, specifications, manuals, samples, and prototypes via storage media suchas paper, mail, CD, USB memory, but also providing work knowledge and technical assistance at seminars
through technical instruction, skill training etc. Researchers should be aware that there may be case in which
technologies subject to regulation by the Foreign Exchange Law are involved when mentoring foreign
students and/or conducting joint research activities with overseas groups.
Please refer to the URL below for further details.
The Security Export Control in Japan[URL] https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/englishpage.html
10. Approximate number of fellowship awarded and amounts of award
The approximate number of fellowship awarded and amounts of the awards are subject to change forbudgetary reasons.
11. Obligations and procedures after being provisionally selected
Candidates, host researchers and host institutions should read the “Program Guidelines” enclosed with theaward letter for information on their obligations under the program, procedures to be carried out, and rules
to be followed (e.g. conditions for taking temporary leaves of absence). You may refer to the past Program
Guidelines posted below.
[URL] https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/guideline_03.html
12. FAQ
FAQ on this program are provided on the following websites. Please refer to them if there is something unclear
to you with regard to making an application or procedures to follow after you are selected.
Postdoctoral Fellowships: [URL] https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/faq.html

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OBLIGATION OF THE CANDIDATES, HOST RESEARCHERS AND HOST INSTITUTIONS（INCLUDING MEASURES AGAINST MISCONDUCT AND MISUSE OF FUNDS）
The host researchers, candidates and host institutions should bear the following eleven points in mind when
applying for the program, and should observe them if selected for a fellowship. After selection, they will be
expected to observe the regulations and procedures stipulated in the Program Guidelines for the JSPS
International Fellowships Program. If either the candidate or host researcher should fail to do so, thefellowship may be withdrawn, allowances (including airfares) stopped, and already-paid allowances(including research grants) reclaimed.
(1) So as to allow the smooth progress of the candidate’s research in Japan, before submitting an application,
the host researcher is to fully inform the candidate of conditions at the host laboratory, including his/her
status under the fellowship, and ascertain the candidate’s agreement to accept those conditions.
(2) The host researcher will, in cooperation with the administration office of the host institution, provide asuitable arrangement for the candidate to pursue his/her joint research and other research activities. The
host researcher will also assist the candidate, when needed, with immigration processing (including
applying for a “certificate of eligibility”), securing domicile and other matters related to his/her stay inJapan.
(3) During the fellowship tenure, the host researcher is advised not to commit such acts equivalent to humanrights violations (e.g. discrimination, gender discrimination, sexual harassment, academic harassment,
power harassment, abuse of authority or neglect) and should be particularly careful not to say or doanything that could be interpreted as committing such acts. If a researcher should commit such an
unethical act and be punished via measures imposed by the host institution, s/he will be restricted fromapplying for a JSPS International Fellowship for a period of five years starting from the day that thepunishment is administered.
(4) During fellowship tenures, candidates shall not, either in or outside the host institution, infringe in any
way on the human rights of others, including racial or gender discrimination or other forms of abuse.
(5) As a rule, candidates are to stay in Japan continuously during their fellowships and concentrate on theirresearch at the host institution. Candidates may not engage in other work, neither paid nor unpaid, during
their tenures. Candidates may, however, suspend their fellowships for the purpose of childbearing or
infant nursing. Candidates may not receive any remuneration for their research activities carried out under
the JSPS Fellowship Program for Research in Japan..
(6) The host researchers and candidates shall follow the rules established by the host institution and JSPS
prohibiting acts of research misconduct, (e.g., fabricating or falsifying research results) and the misuse of
research funds.
(7) The candidate and host researcher must submit a research report using separately prescribed format before
the deadline set by JSPS.
(8) When presenting or publishing the content or results of research conducted under the fellowship, the JSPS
fellowship should be acknowledged.
(9) The host institution shall inform both the host researcher and the candidate of the rules that it and JSPS
have established to prevent research misconduct (e.g., fabricating or falsifying research results) andmisuse of research funds (e.g., personal use of funds or use of funds for other purposes) and of thepenalties for violations. It shall take action to see that these rules are obeyed.
(10) Candidates must not carry out research with military objectives. Host researchers and host institutions
are ascertain the understanding and agreement of Fellows and Hosts that JSPS does not support researchwith military objective.
(11) The host institution is to take first responsibility for the candidate’s actions, so it must be proactive inpreventing any human rights violations, research misconduct or misuse of research funds on the part of7

the candidate during his/her tenure. If any such problems should occur, the host institution is to endeavor
to resolve them. If requested by JSPS, it is to report such problems.

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OTHER RELEVANT ISSUES(1) Cooperation in carrying out site surveys and questionnaires
Site surveys are carried out on host institutions for the purpose of verifying the program’s implementation
system and the management, execution and auditing of program funding. Host researchers and candidates
are asked to cooperate in these surveys. Also, questionnaires are carried out for the purpose of improving
JSPS programs. Host researchers, candidates and host institutions will be asked to fill out thesequestionnaires.
(2) Promotion of “Open Access” to the research papers supported by JSPS International Fellowships
for Research in Japan
JSPS endorses general policy of promotion of open access of publications of research results funded bypublic grants including KAKENHI (Grants-in-Aid). Note that open access is not mandatory if there are
justifiable reasons for deferral such as copyright-related issues, or insufficient repository infrastructure at the
research institution. The open access implementation policy of JSPS is described on the following webpage:[URL] https://www.jsps.go.jp/data/Open_access.pdf (Japanese only)(a) [Reference 1: What is “Open Access”]“Open Access” refers to the basic idea that research papers published in peer-reviewed journals, etc.
should be made freely accessible by anyone on line.
(b) [Reference 2: Different Routes to Open Access]There are three main ways of open access implementation i) to iii) below:i) A way in which articles published in the conventional subscription fee type academic journals after acertain period of time (Embargo)(*1) (for example 6 months later) by opening the final manuscript toan Institutional Repository (*2) established by the research institution to which the author belongs, orby opening the final manuscript to the website etc. established by the researchers (self-archiving)(*3).
ii) A way to make the article open access by posting the articles on the web established by the researchcommunity or public institution.
iii) A way to make the article open access immediately by paying the publication fee (APC: Article
Processing Charge) by the author of the article.
*1: “Embargo”
The predetermined period from the time an article is published in an academic journal to the time it isreleased so that it can be posted on an online-open access archiving system (repository).
*2: “Institutional Repository”
An online archiving system created by a university or research institution for storage and disseminationof intellectual products. Institutional repositories play important roles in the reform of academic
information distribution by enabling researchers to register their own articles. They also allow thetransmission of research and education achievements of research institutions, PR for both the research
institution and the researcher, guaranteeing the accountability of research and education activities toward
society, and long-term conservation of intellectual products.
*3: “Self-archiving”“Self-archiving” refers to online posting of articles published in academic journals, dissertations, or databy those other than the publisher, (the researcher or research institution) generally on their institutional
repositories.
(3) Registration of the Researcher Information in researchmap“researchmap” ([URL] http://researchmap.jp/) is, as a general guide to Japanese researchers, Japan’s largest
researcher information database. Registered information on research results can be openly disseminated overthe Internet using researchmap. As research map is linked to e-Rad and many university faculty databases, itallows registered information to be accessed by other systems. Furthermore, the Japanese Government plansto further utilize researchmap, so please register your researcher information on the researchmap site.
(4) Registration on JSPS-Net
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JSPS-Net is a social networking service that facilitates new collaborations within a worldwide researcher
community. It is mainly aimed at Japanese and overseas researchers residing in Japan or abroad, overseas
researchers scheduled to come to Japan, and the international programs staff of universities and otherinstitutions.
As JSPS-Net makes extensive use of social networking service (SNS) functions in supporting theestablishment of researcher communities, it is our hope that you will take good advantage of its support when
expanding your own circle of colleagues.

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