Matsumae Foundation Fellowships For Short-Term Research Visits To Japan

Fellowships for non-Japanese researchers to spend up to six months in Japan to conduct a research project at a host institution.

The Matsumae International Foundation (MIF) is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1979 on the principle of ‘Towards A Greater Understanding of Japan and a Lasting World Peace’. Its purpose is to provide encouragement and support for outstanding young researchers from throughout the world to further their research in Japan, with the aim of fostering a greater understanding of Japan and establish links of trust and friendship.

Around 10 MIF Research Fellowships are available per year to enable non-Japanese researchers to spend between three and six months at a host institution in Japan to conduct a nominated research project.

Applicants must:

  • Be of non-Japanese nationality.
  • Hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications and have a firm position of employment in their home country to which they should return.
  • Be no older than 49 years of age.
  • Have sufficient conversational ability in English or Japanese.
  • Have no past or current experience of staying in Japan (other than short-term visits for conferences or sightseeing).

Applicants are free to select the host institution in Japan (ie university, national research institution or corresponding facility in the private sector) in which to carry out their research. Applicants will be responsible for securing an offer of invitation from the proposed host institution. Research projects in the fields of engineering, medicine and the natural sciences are given priority.

Successful applicants receive a monthly stipend of ¥220,000 for tuition payments, expenses, research materials and miscellaneous living costs; an economy class return ticket to/from Tokyo; and ¥120,000 start-up funding on arrival for initial costs.

There will be 10 fellowships awarded in 2023, to take place between April 2024 and March 2025.

Applications for the 2024/25 fellowships can be submitted until the deadline on 30 June 2023.