[National Endowment for the Humanities](https://www.neh.gov)

April 22, 2026: Full application deadline | June 4, 2026: Letters of reference deadline

$30,000–$60,000 for 6–12 months; up to $5,000/month; ~3 awards, $180,000 total program funding

Supports research and writing on modern Japanese society, political economy, international relations, and U.S.-Japan relations by individual scholars.

--- ## Description This program, jointly administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC), supports advanced social science research on Japan. Its primary objectives are to promote Japan studies in the United States, foster U.S.-Japanese scholarly exchange, and cultivate the next generation of Japan scholars. The fellowship funds research and writing projects focused on modern Japanese society and political economy, Japan's international relations, and U.S.-Japan relations. Projects may be undertaken in the U.S., Japan, or both, and can include comparative work involving other countries. Supported disciplines include anthropology, economics, geography, history, international relations, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Outputs may include articles, books, digital resources, editions, translations, or other scholarly products. --- ## Due Dates - **April 22, 2026:** Full application submission deadline (by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via Grants.gov) - **June 4, 2026:** Letters of reference submission deadline (must be submitted online by this date) --- ## Funding Amount - **Award range:** $30,000–$60,000, calculated at $5,000 per month for a full-time commitment over 6–12 months. - **Estimated total program funding:** $180,000 - **Expected number of awards:** Approximately 3 - **Cost sharing/match:** Not required - **Period of performance:** 6–12 months; project must start between April 1, 2027, and September 1, 2028. --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible applicants:** Individuals only (organizations are not eligible). - **Citizenship/residency:** - U.S. citizens (residing in the U.S. or abroad) - Foreign nationals who have lived in the U.S. or its jurisdictions for at least the three years prior to the application deadline - **Other rules:** - No institutional affiliation required. - Currently enrolled students are not eligible. - Applicants may not hold or accept another NEH individual award with overlapping periods of performance or within the same federal fiscal year. - Each applicant may submit only one application per NEH individual awards deadline. - Projects must focus on modern Japan (post-1868) and employ social science perspectives; projects primarily interpreting artistic or literary works, pre-modern Japan, curriculum development, or teaching methods are not eligible. --- ## Application Process 1. **Review program materials:** Read the [Program Announcement](https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/Japan%20Study%202026%20program%20announcement%20040126.pdf) and [Notice of Funding Opportunity](https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/Individual%20NOFO%20combined_040126.pdf). 2. **Register on Grants.gov:** Create an individual applicant account and complete the required profile. 3. **Prepare application components:** - Narrative (3 pages max) - Work plan (1 page) - Bibliography (1 page) - Résumé (2 pages) - Conditionally required: visual materials, data sample, data management plan, degree conferral letter, explanation of delinquent federal debt - All attachments must be PDFs and meet formatting requirements. 4. **Submit application:** Upload all materials via [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361390) by the stated deadline. 5. **Letters of reference:** Provide contact information for two referees; NEH will solicit letters after the application deadline. Letters must be submitted by June 4, 2026. 6. **Confirmation:** Applicants will receive confirmation emails from Grants.gov and can check the status of reference letters via NEH's secure portal. --- ## Additional Information - **Review criteria:** Intellectual significance, contribution to knowledge, project organization and clarity, applicant qualifications, feasibility, and dissemination plan. - **Restrictions:** Awards cannot support projects outside the social sciences, those focused on pre-modern Japan, or primarily interpretive of artistic/literary works. Curriculum development and teaching theory projects are ineligible. - **Outputs:** Supported outputs include scholarly articles, books, digital resources, translations, or other significant scholarly contributions. - **Reporting:** Final performance report required within 120 days of project completion; no final financial report required. - **Acknowledgment:** NEH and JUSFC support must be acknowledged in all products/publicity. --- ## External Links - [Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan program page](https://www.neh.gov/grants/research/fellowships-advanced-social-science-research-japan) - [Grants.gov listing and application portal](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361390) - [Program Announcement (PDF)](https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/Japan%20Study%202026%20program%20announcement%20040126.pdf) - [Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF)](https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/Individual%20NOFO%20combined_040126.pdf) - [Sample funded projects](https://www.neh.gov/our-work/listing?f[0]=content_type%3Aproject) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | Program questions | Division of Research
National Endowment for the Humanities
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
202-606-8200
[fellowships@neh.gov](mailto:fellowships@neh.gov) | | Administrative/allowable costs | Office of Grant Management
National Endowment for the Humanities
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
202-606-8494
[grantmanagement@neh.gov](mailto:grantmanagement@neh.gov) | | Accessibility (relay service) | Telecommunications relay: 7-1-1 |

Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan

Sign in to see full grant listing