The Japan Foundation Summer Institute in Japan 2016

The Japan Foundation carries out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs throughout the world in the three areas of Arts and Cultural Exchange, Japanese-Language Education Overseas, and Japanese Studies and Global Partnerships Programs. The Japanese Studies and Global Partnerships Programs Department aims to encourage a greater understanding of Japan through supporting and promoting Japanese Studies overseas. By creating opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue on critical global issues and shared concerns, the Japan Foundation aims to enhance Japan’s presence in the international scene and develop future leaders who will play important roles in international discussion and cultural exchange.

1. Purpose and Objectives of the Program

The Japan Foundation Summer Institute in Japan 2016 is designed to bring together researchers from institutions of higher education and research institutions in Japan, the USA, and Southeast Asia to provide an opportunity to create a network across national and regional boundaries. The four-day program will consist of lectures, discussions, and presentations on collaborative project ideas. There will be an opportunity for participants to present detailed project ideas at the end of the retreat.

2. General Information

The Summer Institute will be held as specified below. Further details of the schedule and optional tour will be provided to successful applicants upon selection.

  1. (1)Duration: July 28, 2016 (arrival) – August 1, 2016 (departure)
  2. (2)Location: Shonan Village Center (Hayama, Miura-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture)
  3. (3)Schedule: Please refer to the schedule below
  4. (4)Applicants: Approximately 25 researchers from Japan, the USA, and 10 countries in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Laos)
  5. (5)Optional tour: Those interested will be able to participate in an observation tour to Fukushima Prefecture.
    1. 1.Duration: August 1 (afternoon) to August 3 (departure from Japan)
    2. 2.Location: Disaster-affected areas of the Great East Japan earthquake in Fukushima Prefecture, including areas where reconstruction is in progress

3. Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. (1)Applicants must be a scholar who is capable of, and passionate about proposing and running an international collaborative project. Applicant must be affiliated with an institution of higher education or research institution in Japan, the USA, or one of the above-mentioned 10 countries in Southeast Asia; Post-docs are also eligible to apply.
  2. (2)Applicants must hold a PhD degree or have an equivalent research background, whose research is related to Japan (as a case study or whose field is in the Japanese Studies)
  3. (3)Applicants must be able to attend lectures and discussions in English; preferences are made to those who can also speak Japanese.
  4. (4)Applicants must be in good health
  5. (5)Applicants must have prior approval from their affiliated institution to attend the program
  6. (6)Applicants must be able to attend the entire program

4. Application Procedures

  1. (1)Instructions: Please download the application form from the Japan Foundation website and submit it with the additionally requested documents indicated below. To submit the application, please save all files in a single zip file that is password protected. Send the application by email to summer_institute@jpf.go.jp. Application documents can be completed in either Japanese or English.
    (When sending an e-mail, please enter a half-width character "@" instead of a full-width character "@.")
  2. (2)Required Documents:
    1. 1. Application Form【Word:75KB】
    2. 2. Professional Curriculum Vitae (3 pages maximum)
    3. 3. Statement of Purpose – Application Essay (2 pages maximum)
    4. 4. Proposal Essay of Collaborative Project Ideas: An essay presenting collaborative project ideas on Japan that are deliverable across various regions and professions (2 pages maximum)
      ※ Collaborative projects are to connect researchers across the USA, Southeast Asia, and Japan through seminars, workshops, symposiums, support for young researchers, collaborative research or publications, or other programs aside from those mentioned above. Please refer to the “U.S.-Southeast-Asia Collaboration and Exchange Institution” guidelines for further ideas.
  3. (3)Deadline: 12:00 p.m. (JST) on April 28, 2016
  4. (4)Note: Please limit email size to less than 30 MB. Application documents will not be returned to applicants.

5. Criteria for Selection

  1. (1)Clear objective and reason for application
  2. (2)Specific and effective proposal for a collaborative project
  3. (3)Expectation for a long-term commitment to research related to Japan at the country of the affiliated institution. Preference will be given to junior scholars.

6. Benefits

The Japan Foundation will cover the costs detailed below during the program. All other costs must be covered by the participants themselves.

  1. (1)Round-trip tickets for a fixed, direct international flight to Japan (economy class). Tickets will be purchased by the Japan Foundation.
  2. (2)Transportation, accommodation, and meals during the stay in Japan
  3. (3)International travel insurance
  4. (4)Visa application fee and other travel costs that the Japan Foundation acknowledges to be essential and daily allowance according to the number of days of travel (will be paid to the participant upon arrival to Japan)
  5. (5)Benefits (1) through (4) will be covered during the optional tour for participants attending the tour

7. Basic Terms and Conditions

  1. (1)Participants will share a room with another participant (maximum 2 people per room). Room assignments will be decided by the Japan Foundation
  2. (2)There will be no interpreter during the Summer Institute

8. Notification of Results

The selection results will be sent by email by the end of May, 2016.

9. Contact Information

The Japan Foundation
Planning and Coordination/Americas Section
Japanese Studies and Global Partnerships Programs Department
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6069
E-mail: summer_institute@jpf.go.jp
(When sending an e-mail, please enter a half-width character "@" instead of a full-width character "@.")

Schedule (Tentative)
  July 28 July 29 July 30 July 31 August 1
Morning Arrival in Japan
Accommodation at a hotel in Tokyo/ Yokohama.
Going to the Shonan Village Center by bus 7:30-8:30
Breakfast
7:30-8:30
Breakfast
7:30-8:30
Breakfast
10:00-11:30
Orientation/ Icebreaker
8:45-11:45
Lecture
Group Work Feedback Session
Noon 11:30-12:30
Lunch
11:30-12:30
Lunch
11:30-12:30
Lunch
11:30-12:30
Lunch
Afternoon 12:45-14:45
Introduction of participants/ research
12:45-13:45
Orientation on group work
Presentation Session Departure
or
Optional tour
15:30-18:30
Lecture
13:45-18:00
Group Work
18:30-19:30
Dinner
8:00-19:30
Dinner
18:00-19:30
Dinner
Free Time Free Time Free Time
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