Wilson Center Competition for Japan Scholars 2023

Eligibility Criteria:

• This competition is open to citizens or legal permanent residents of Japan.
• Applications will be accepted from individuals in academia, business, journalism, government, law, and related professions.
• Candidates must be currently pursuing research on key public policy issues facing Japan, including U.S.-Japanese relations and East Asian political, security, and economic issues.
• Applicants must have a terminal degree in their field (for academics, this generally means a Ph.D., but for other professions, other appropriate qualifications will be considered), and at least eight years of professional and/or research experience.
• Scholars must have a valid passport and will need to qualify for a U.S. J-1 visa. Although the Wilson Center cannot administer healthcare coverage or provide housing for visiting scholars, it will provide suggestions and guidance in finding suitable housing as well as healthcare.
• Applicants must be professionally fluent in both written and spoken English.

Selection Criteria:

• Significance of the proposed research, including the importance and originality of the project.
• Quality of the proposal in definition, organization, clarity, and scope.
• Capabilities and achievements of the applicant and relevance of the project to contemporary policy issues about Japan.
• Willingness to participate in the broader Wilson Center community and contribute to intellectual exchange among scholars and resident experts.
• The ability to contribute to the exchange of ideas in Washington’s foreign policy community and beyond.
• The two letters of recommendation - the names of the referees should be submitted together with the application document package. There is no need to submit the recommendation letters themselves with the application documents.
• After the first round of selection, the selection committee will request candidates contact referees to send their letters directly to the committee before the online interview test.

Documents Required:

• Cover letter (Basic information including name, address, e-mail address, research theme, applying period of residence as Japan Scholar, name of referees, must be included.)
• C.V. or resume
• Research achievements
• Brief (3-5 single-spaced pages) description of their proposed research project, its scholarly contribution, and its policy relevance.

Value of the Scholarship:

• Reimbursement of round-trip economy class airfare for up to $5,000
• Monthly stipend including healthcare cost for up to $8,800 per month1