Deadline: 31-Oct-2025
The Sumitomo Foundation has announced the Japan-Related Research Projects, offering opportunities for scholars to promote research that enhances mutual understanding between Asian countries and Japan.
The program aims at enhancing mutual understanding between Asian countries and Japan through promoting research projects in the field of the social sciences or humanities that are related to Japan. Eligible projects include any research project that is related to Japan, mainly in the field of social sciences or humanities, excluding profit-making or contracted research, already completed projects, or publication-only grants. Research can be individual or collaborative, and applicants must be of Asian (non-Japanese) nationality, living outside Japan during the grant period, and personally responsible for the proposed research. Applicable expenses are direct research costs, excluding honoraria for applicants or collaborators, institutional administrative expenses, equipment for general use, and food or beverage costs.
The total budget is JPY50 million, with a maximum of JPY2.0 million per project, covering about 70 projects, with a grant period of one year (April 2026 to March 2027), extendable up to two years. Duties of applicants include concluding a Memorandum of Understanding with The Sumitomo Foundation, securing necessary approvals for research, using funds only for applicable expenses, submitting reports and final accounts, acknowledging the grant in published results, and providing copies of publications. One year (April 2026 through March 2027) but can be extended to total two years maximum if required with specific reason after starting research subject to the approval of The Sumitomo Foundation.
This grant is not a scholarship, a fellowship or a grant for publication of research results alone. Individual or collaborative research. The applicant must: be a researcher of Asian (non-Japanese) nationality, live outside Japan during the grant period. (Please do not apply if you intend to stay in Japan for more than six months during the grant period as a student, visiting professor, etc.), take personal responsibilities for conducting the proposed research project. Direct expenses for the proposed research. Please note that the following expenses are not applicable: Honoraria for services rendered by the applicant and/or collaborator(s). Administrative expenses of universities, research institutes, or other organizations to which the applicant and/or collaborator(s) belong.
Applications for this grant will be evaluated for selection by the Selection Committee of the Sumitomo Foundation. The Board of Directors of the Sumitomo Foundation, scheduled to meet in March 2025, will give the final approval to the selection of the projects eligible for this grant. Results of the selection will be notified to the applicants by email.
The following application documents shall be submitted through the website. Application Form (download from the website). Letter of Recommendation, free-form, in Japanese or English from a person who knows well the applicant, with an academic background regarding the proposed research, the applicant. Letter of Recommendation shall be signed or sealed, using the letterhead of the recommender’s affiliated organization as a rule. Letter of Recommendation issued by the collaborator involved in this application shall not be acceptable. After receipt of the application documents, the registration number is informed to the applicant through email.
For more information, visit The Sumitomo Foundation.
