Celebrating the 2025–26 Nippon Foundation Fellows upon Completion of the IUC ProgramFostering the next generation of Japan experts

On May 25, 2026, The Nippon Foundation and the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC) held a reception in Yokohama to celebrate the 2025–26 Nippon Foundation Fellows upon completion of the IUC program. Representing The Nippon Foundation were President Jumpei Sasakawa, Executive Director Takashi Arikawa, Team Leader Kiyomi Takahashi, and Associate Program Officer Rihoko Kikuchi. From the IUC, Bruce Batten, Resident Director, and Soichi Aoki, Associate Director, joined Fellows from the 2025–26 cohort.

Since 2012, The Nippon Foundation Fellowship has supported students and researchers pursuing Japan-focused careers through the IUC’s intensive Japanese-language program. What began with seven Fellows in its first year has grown steadily, with more than 244 Fellows supported to date.

The Fellowship was established in response to a continuing need for Japan experts who can contribute to international understanding and positive relations between Japan and other countries. As interest in Japan, Japanese language, and Japanese culture remains strong around the world, opportunities to develop the advanced linguistic and cultural expertise needed for long-term engagement with Japan have become increasingly important.

Through the Fellowship, participants receive advanced language training while becoming part of an international community of scholars and professionals whose careers remain connected to Japan. The program aims to equip future Japan experts with the knowledge, language skills, and networks needed to become leaders in academia and other professions.

The 2025–26 Fellows were selected from leading institutions in North America and Europe, including Stanford University, Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Illinois.

Over the course of the 10-month program, Fellows developed advanced Japanese-language skills that enable them to engage with specialized materials, participate in academic discussions, and present their research in Japanese. At the culmination of the program, they shared presentations reflecting the diversity of their academic interests and professional aspirations.

Research topics spanned a wide range of disciplines, including performance studies, Japanese literature, translation, language and cultural exchange, linguistics, mathematics, and the social sciences. Presentations explored subjects such as Japanese performing arts, the history of intercultural communication, approaches to language analysis and translation, and social and cultural change in modern Japan.

The breadth of these topics reflects the increasingly diverse interests of students engaging with Japan today. While some Fellows plan to pursue doctoral research and academic careers, others aim to work in fields such as government, journalism, business, translation, law, and the arts. In each case, advanced Japanese-language proficiency serves as a foundation for meaningful engagement with Japan throughout their professional lives.

A distinctive feature of the Nippon Foundation Fellowship is its emphasis on intellectual exchange and long-term community building.

In addition to participating in the IUC’s regular program, Fellows take part in activities unique to the Fellowship, including study sessions, lectures, and workshops led by distinguished alumni and other individuals engaged in Japan-related fields. These activities create opportunities for intergenerational exchange and help Fellows build relationships that continue long after their time at the IUC.

Today, alumni of the program are active across academia, government, policy research, journalism, business, translation, law, and the arts. Many have become scholars and educators in Japanese Studies and East Asian Studies, while others contribute to greater understanding of Japan through their work in public, cultural, and professional spheres.

In March 2026, many alumni gathered at a reception co-hosted by The Nippon Foundation and the IUC during the Annual Conference of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) in Vancouver, Canada. The event highlighted the continued growth of a global network of scholars and professionals connected through the Fellowship and engaged with Japan.

The reception concluded with remarks from Bruce Batten, Resident Director of the IUC, following a toast by Mr. Sasakawa.

The Nippon Foundation Fellowship provides more than financial support for advanced Japanese-language study. It offers opportunities for professional development, intellectual exchange, and the formation of lasting connections among individuals committed to Japan-focused careers.

As the 2025–26 Fellows return to their universities, research institutions, and professional communities, they will carry forward the knowledge, skills, and networks developed through the program. Together with previous cohorts, they form part of a growing international community of Japan experts whose work contributes to greater understanding of Japan around the world.

Through its continued partnership with the IUC, The Nippon Foundation remains committed to supporting future leaders engaged with Japan and strengthening the international networks that foster knowledge, dialogue, and mutual understanding across borders.