Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan
NEH fellowships support advanced social science research on Japan for scholars with Japanese language skills, promoting US-Japan exchange.
Funder: National Endowment for the Humanities
Due Dates: April 23, 2025 (Application) | May 21, 2025 (Letters of reference)
Funding Amounts: Up to $60,000 for 6–12 months ($5,000/month); typically 3 awards; no cost sharing required.
Summary: Supports individual researchers with advanced Japanese language skills conducting social science research on modern Japanese society, political economy, and U.S.-Japan relations.
Key Information: Awards are paid directly to individuals (not institutions); projects must require direct use of Japanese sources.
Description
This fellowship 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. The program aims to promote Japan studies in the United States, encourage U.S.-Japanese scholarly exchange, and foster the next generation of Japan scholars. Awards fund research and writing on modern Japanese society, political economy, Japan’s international relations, and U.S.-Japan relations. Projects may be conducted in Japan, the U.S., or both, and may include comparative work in other countries.
Research must require advanced Japanese language skills and direct engagement with Japanese data, sources, documents, or interviews. The fellowship is open to a range of social science disciplines, including anthropology, economics, geography, history, international relations, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Projects must result in a scholarly product such as an article, book, digital resource, translation, or edition.
