Qualifications Applicants must have completed all academic requirements except the dissertation when they begin the fellowship and are expected to have sufficient proficiency in the Japanese language to pursue their research in Japan. Higher priority will be given to applicants who expect to submit their dissertation shortly after the completion of their fellowship. Three letters of reference, an evaluation of Japanese-language ability, and academic transcripts must accompany all applications. Those pursuing academic degrees at the time of application will not be accepted unless their dissertation has been successfully defended prior to the time of application. Those proposals submitted for The Japan Foundation's support must be within the disciplines of humanities or the social sciences and must be related in substantial part to Japan.
Comparative research is acceptable.
Fellows are expected to devote their full time to the pursuit of the goals described in their application. The proceedure is different for those applicants residing in the United States who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents. Americans with permanent residency abroad should submit their applications through the Foundation's overseas offices or Japanese diplomatic mission in the country where they reside no later than December 1, 2000. These applications will be reviewed by The Japan Foundation Headquarters in Tokyo. Japanese nationals, except those who have permanent residency in the United States, are not eligible to apply.