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How to Avail Yourself of a Japanese Scholarship

© Haydee De Guzman

When former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka of Japan visited Southeast Asia in 1973 he was disheartened by the student demonstrations that greeted him. Although 30 years has passed since the Japanese occupation, atrocities committed by the Japanese soldiers during the Pacific War were still very clear in the people's mind throughout the Asian region. There remained a fear of renewed Japanese Militarism.

The Prime Minister's resolve is to invite young people from the region to visit Japan and see Japan for what it really was. Hence, the following year, the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program was launched. The Program has been running for more than two decades now and every year young people from participating Southeast Asian countries and Japan have the chance to live together on board a ship, the Nippon Maru to visit participating countries and engage in goodwill exchanges with the local people.

I, myself, has benefited from a Japanese scholarship through the JICA-sponsored Friendship Program for the 21st Century. It is a month-long program in Japan with seminars and discussions with Japanese youths and stay with Japanese families.

These days there are numerous government- and private-sponsored scholarships for study in Japan. These are meant to promote and strengthen friendship and mutual understanding among the young people from other countries and Japan, as well as to broaden their international viewpoint and to cultivate the Spirit of international cooperation.

Inquire from the Japanese Embassy

Your first stop when making plans to study in Japan is to inquire first at the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate where you live. The Escape Artist has a comprehensive listing of Japanese embassies around the world.

Browse through the booklet ABC's of Study in Japan from the embassy's information center or library. It has all the basic information for those who wish to come to Japan to study.

If you live far away from any Japanese embassy, you can order the book from its publisher:

Bonjin Co., Ltd.
Kojimachi 6-chome Bldg.
Kojimachi 6-2, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 102

Write to Universities and Colleges in Japan

Another way to obtain information about studying in Japan is by writing directly the Japanese Universities, language centers and scholarships institutions. They can provide you with a more detailed information about the school calendar, courses, costs, accommodations, etc. To find a school or university by category go to NTT Japan Window's Education page.

Contact Useful Information Centers

For general inquiries or consultations, you can either write to The Association for International Education, Japan or The National Assembly for Youth Development, Japan.

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