Introduction

The Social Science Research Council, with support from the Japan Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Japan-United States Friendship Commission, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, offers support for research and advanced graduate training on Japan in the humanities and social sciences.

All Japan Studies Dissertation Workshop

Applications are invited from advanced graduate students working on a Japan-related topic in the social sciences and humanities to participate in the workshop to be held in January at the Asilomar Conference Center in Monterey, California. Ten to twelve students and senior faculty will work together intensively to enhance the quality of students' ongoing dissertation research through presentations, formal and informal discussions, and critiques in a multi-disciplinary, multi-topic setting. The application consists of a copy of the dissertation proposal (or an update of research if well advanced), a letter of reference and a brief application cover sheet. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a doctoral program in the US, and have an approved dissertation prospectus to be eligible. Applicants can be at any stage in the dissertation process except the final write-up stage. Application Deadline: during October.

Grants for Advanced Research

Grants are offered to support individual postdoctoral research related to Japan in the humanities and social sciences to be carried out in Japan, the United States and/or other countries. Humanistically-oriented research proposals are encouraged, as are innovative research proposals in the social sciences which are comparative and contemporary in nature and have long-term applied policy implications or which engage Japan in wider regional and global debates. Special attention will be given to Japan specialists who are interested in broadening their skills and expertise through additional training or comparative work in an additional geographic area. Support is available for periods of two to twelve months. Scholars who hold the Ph.D. or an equivalent degree and are US citizens or have been resident in the US for at least three consecutive years at the time of application are eligible to apply. Application Deadline: during November.

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Recent Ph.Ds

Fellowship support for 12 to 24 months in Japan for researchers in the social sciences and humanities. Although there are no topical boundaries, proposals that advance research in Science and Technology Studies, Economics, Business and Trade Studies, and Environmental Studies are particularly welcome. Projects need not be explicitly related to the study of Japan. Applicants must submit proof of an affiliation with an eligible host research institution in Japan as part of the application packet. Check with program sponsor for deadlines.

ABE Fellowship Program

Abe Fellowships are designed to support scholars or research professionals who are interested in conducting research in the social sciences or humanities relevant to any one or more of the three following themes: 1) global issues; 2) problems common to advanced industrial societies; and 3) issues that relate to improving US-Japan relations. Fellowships offer up to 12 months of full-time support. Fellows are expected to affiliate with an American or Japanese institution appropriate to their research aims, and to spend at least one-third of their fellowship tenure in the country of study and research. American and Japanese citizens, and other nationals who can demonstrate strong and serious long-term affiliations in the research communities of either of those two countries, with the Ph.D. or terminal degree in their field or equivalent level of professional training are eligible to apply. Application Deadline: during September.

For application materials, contact either Japan Program or the Abe Fellowship Program at:

Social Science Research Council
810 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Tel: (212) 377-2700
Fax: (212) 377-2727
Website: http://www.ssrc.org