Information Resource Center
Grant-Making Foundations
Funding Sources for Japanese and U.S. Activities in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Studies
There are a number of public and private foundations and other organizations which support exchanges and other activities in Japan and the United States in arts and humanities-related fields. This is a list of some of these organizations. The list is a sample of some possible sources of funding and should not be taken as a recommendation by the United States Government.
Affinis Arts Foundation (Affinis Bunka Zaidan)
Established by Japan Tobacco Inc. to contribute to the cultural enrichment of Japanese society by promoting activities in the arts and culture with special emphasis on music and by supporting artist training programs.| Address: | Toranomon Yatsuka Building, 6th Floor, 1-1-11 Atago, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0002 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3431-4211 | Fax: | 03-3431-4214 |
| Subject: | Music | Recipients: | Japanese |
| Conditions: | Grants not made abroad; primarily given to designated groups & organizations. | ||
- Performance of Classical Music (Orchestra)
- Study Grants for Musicians in Classical Music
- Research/Survey of Artistic & Cultural Activities
- Other Activities (Orch. Training, Audio-Visual)
Address:3-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8959
Tel:03-5253-4111
Subject:ArtsRecipient:Foreign artists
Conditions:
Grant Programs:
1. Fellowship to foreign young artistsAgency
for Cultural Affairs (Bunkacho)
The Agency is charged with the promotion of culture and the preservation
and utilization of cultural properties. A program called "Japanese Government
Fellowship Program for Artists from Abroad" begun in 1990 to invite about
22 foreign artists a year in the areas of visual arts, music, dance, theatre
and film to stay at a Japanese institution for a period between 3 to 10
months. The Agency will cover expenses such as international airfare and per
diem.
Asahi
Beer Arts Foundation (Asahi Biiru Geijutsu Bunka Zaidan)
Established by Asahi Breweries, Ltd. to help promote artistic and cultural
activities primarily in the areas of fine arts and music.
| Address: | 1-23-1 Azumabashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-8602 | ||
| Tel: | 03-5608-5202 | Fax: | 03-5608-5201 |
| Subject: | Music/Visual Arts | Recipients: | Foreign Students in Japan/Japanese Students abroad |
| Conditions: | Must be foreign students studying in Japan or Japanese students studying abroad. | ||
- Scholarships for foreign student studying art at Japanese post graduate schools
- Sponsorship for exhibitions of art works and concerts of musical performances of foreign students studying at Japanese postgraduate schools, universities, colleges and junior colleges
- Scholarships for Japanese Students abroad (area limited) and sponsorship for exhibitions and concerts upon their return to Japan
- Grants-in-aid for art exhibitions and musical performances in Japan
The Asia Foundation
Established in 1954 to promote U.S.-Asian understanding and cooperation and to encourage Asian-Pacific efforts to strengthen representative government, build effective legal systems, foster market economies, increase accountability in the public and private sectors, develop independent and responsible media, and encourage broad participation in public life.| Headquarters Address: | 465 California Street, 14th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 | ||
| Tel: | 415-982-4640 | Fax: | 415-392-8863 |
| Tokyo Address: | Kowa #32 Bldg., 2nd Floor, 5-2-32 Minami Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3441-8291 | Fax: | 03-3442-3320 |
| Subject: | US-J regional and global interests | Recipients: | Government Agencies and NGOs |
| Conditions: | Not to groups or individuals in the US | ||
- Strengthening links between U.S. and Japanese NGOs.
- Providing leadership training.
- Organizing exchanges to facilitate contacts between U.S. and Japanese specialists
- Distributing translated Japanese articles to inform U.S. readers of a wide range of Japanese opinion on issues affecting the U.S.-Japanese relationship.
The Asian Cultural Council (ACC)
Established in 1980 to supersede the Asian Cultural Council program of the JDR 3rd Fund created by John D. Rockefeller 3rd in 1963. The ACC supports cultural exchange between Asia and the United States in the performing and visual arts, primarily by providing individual fellowship grants to Asian artists and specialists for study, research, travel, and creative activity in the United States and vice versa.| Headquarters Address: | 437 Madison Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10022-7001 | ||
| Tel: | 212-812-4300 | Fax: | 212-812-4299 |
| Tokyo Address: | 1-16-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3535-0287 | Fax: | 03-3535-5565 |
| Subject: | Performing and Visual Arts | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | n/a | ||
- The Japan-United States Arts Program (JUSAP)
- ACC Residency Program in Asia for Americans
Hoso Bunka Foundation, Inc. (Hoso Bunka Kikin)
Established by NHK to provide financial assistance to research/projects/events considered useful in promoting social and cultural aspects of broadcasting and toward the advancement of new technologies through direct grants or subsidization of commissioned studies or projects.| Address: | Kyodo Bldg., 5th Floor, 41-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3464-3131 | Fax: | 03-3770-7239 |
| Subject: | Broadcasting | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Must relate to Japan and/or international cooperation in broadcasting | ||
- Assistance to Development in Broadcast Technology
- Assistance to Socio-Cultural Studies Re: Broadcasting
- Assistance to Projects and Events in Connection with Broadcasting
International Communications Foundation (Kokusai Komyunikeeshon Kikin)
Established by KDD to contribute to the wholesome and balanced development of the world by promoting international telecommunications and increased international communication.| Address: | Shinjuku Monolith Bldg., 7th Floor, 2-3-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0907 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3347-7094 | Fax: | 03-3347-6439 |
| Subject: | Broadcasting/Miscellaneous | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Various restrictions according to grant type. | ||
- Assistance for Convening International conferences
- Assistance for Participating in International Conferences
- Assistance for Cultural Activities
- Assistance for Foreign Researchers & Grad Students
- Research & Survey Grants
The International House of Japan (Kokusai Bunka Kaikan)
Established with financial support from domestic and foreign private sources as well as a special grant from the Rockefeller Foundation of the U.S. to promote cultural interchange and intellectual cooperation between the peoples of Japan and the peoples of the United States and other countries, thereby contributing to the cultivation of international friendship and understanding.| Address: | 5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3470-4611 | Fax: | 03-3479-1738 |
| Subject: | Exchange | Recipients: | Japanese |
| Conditions: | Age and degree restrictions | ||
- Nitobe Fellowships for Japanese Social Scientists (awarded to young social scientists for research and advanced study abroad)
The Japan Foundation (Kokusai Koryu Kikin)
Established in 1972 as a special legal entity under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote mutual understanding and friendship on the international scene. It carries out a broad variety of cultural exchange programs with personnel exchange as their basic premise ranging from such academic pursuits as Japanese studies and Japanese language education to the arts, publication, audio-visual media, sports and general life and culture.| Address: | Ark Mori Bldg., 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6021 | ||
| Tel: | 03-5562-3511 | Fax: | 03-5562-3494 |
| Subject: | Exchange/Arts and Performing Arts/Media/Misc. | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Limited to Social Science & Humanities | ||
- Overseas Dispatch/Invitations to Japan
- Japanese Studies
- Arts/Performing Arts Exchange
- Publication/Film Exchange
- Programs of the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership
- Programs of the Japan Foundation Asia Center
- Others
Japan-United States Friendship Commission (Nichibei Yuko Kikin)
Established by US Congress in 1975 to administer a U.S. Government Trust Fund for the promotion of scholarly, cultural and public affairs activities between Japan and the United States.| Headquarters Address: | 1110 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D. C. 20005 | ||||
| Tel: | 202-418-9800 | Fax: | 202-418-9802 | ||
| Tokyo Liaison Office: | c/o International House of Japan, 5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 | ||||
| Tel: | 03-3470-4611 | Fax: | 03-3479-1738 | ||
| Subject: | Social Sciences (Education)/Humanities(Arts, Literature)/Media and Communications/Business, Economics, Industry, Trade & Finance/International Relations | ||||
| Recipients: | non-profit institutions (as a general rule) | ||||
| Conditions: | Provides grants to support the activities of institutions to promote reciprocal understanding between the United States and Japan. | ||||
Grants to organizations under five program areas:
- Japanese Studies in America
- American Studies in Japan
- Policy-oriented research
- Public affairs/education
- The Arts
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
The Kao Foundation for Arts and Sciences (Kao Geijutsu Kagaku Zaidan)
Established by Kao Corporation to contribute to the development of Japan's culture by fostering cultural activities, in particular, the arts and music, andsupporting international exchanges related to such activities.| Address: | Kao Bldg., 1-14-10 Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo103-8210 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3660-7055 | Fax: | 03-3660-7994 |
| Subject: | Music/Visual Arts | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Applications must be submitted in Japanese. | ||
- Grant Support of Fine Arts (Paintings/Prints/Sculpture)
- Grant Support for Classical Music (Concerts, etc.)
Northern Regions Center (Hoppouken Senta)
Established by the government of Hokkaido, and firms, organizations and individuals to support the efforts of those living in the Northern regions to create a rewarding regional environment through further mutual understanding promoted by financial support to various exchange activities regarding lifestyle, culture, research and other matters.| Address: | Hokkaido Government Annex Building, W. 7, N. 3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0003 | ||
| Tel: | 011-221-7840 | Fax: | 011-221-7845 |
| Subject: | Exchange | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Restricted by area (Hokkaido-related). | ||
- Research/Travel/Conference/Publication
Saison Foundation (Sezon Bunka Zaidan)
Established by Seiji Tsutsumi to contribute to Japan's cultural development by disseminating and enhancing arts and culture through awarding grants for artistic activities and through promoting international artistic and cultural exchange.| Address: | Toka Bldg., 8th Floor, 1-16-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3535-5566 | Fax: | 03-3535-5565 |
| Subject: | Performing/Visual Arts/Misc | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Japanese introduction required. | ||
- Research/Travel/Conference/Publication/Other Grant
Suntory Foundation (Suntory Bunka Zaidan)
Established by Suntory Ltd. to provide financial aid to pioneering research activities and fostering talented people, with the ultimate objective of promoting international and interdisciplinary research relating to society and culture, and contributing to the furtherance of academic studies and cultures throughout the world.| Address: | Suntory Annex, 9th Floor, 1-5 Dojima, 2-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8204 | ||
| Tel: | 06-6342-6221 | Fax: | 06-6342-6220 |
| Subject: | Social Studies/Science/Misc | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Application must be submitted in Japanese; not publicly solicited. | ||
- Research on Society and Culture
- Suntory Prize for Cultural Community Activities
- Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities
- Support for Overseas Publication
Toyota Foundation (Toyota Zaidan)
| Address: | Shinjuku Mitsui Building, 37th Floor, 2-1-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0437 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3344-1701 | Fax: | 03-3342-6911 |
| Subject: | Social Studies/Exchange/Misc | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Different restrictions according to Grant Type | ||
| Comments: | Awarded for research and projects re: human & natural environments/others. | ||
- Research (Identify/Solve Prob's. Contemporary Soc.
- Citizen Activities
- Citizen Research Contest on Theme
- Int'l. Research/Conf./Publications/Others Grants
- "Know Our Neighbors" Trans./Publication Program
- "Know Our Neighbors" Trans./Publication in S. Asia
- "Know Our Neighbors" Trans./Publication in S. Asia
- Foundation Initiative Grant (Research/Conf./Other)
- Communications-Supplement Grant Program
United States-Japan Foundation (Beinichi Zaidan)
Established with a grant from the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation
under the United States law in 1980 to improve understanding between the United
States and Japan.
| Headquarters Address: | Headquarters - 145 East 32nd Street, New York, New York 10016 | ||
| Tel: | 212-481-8753 | Fax: | 212-481-8762 |
| Tokyo Address: | Tokyo Office - Reinanzaka Bldg, lst Floor, 1-14-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 | ||
| Tel: | 03-3586-0541 | Fax: | 03-3586-1128 |
| Subject: | Social Studies/Misc | Recipients: | All |
| Conditions: | Application only from organizations not individuals | ||
- Precollege Education
- Joint Studies of Major Public Policy Issues of Concern to both the US and Japan