Atsumi International Foundation Scholarship 2027 for PhD Candidates in Japan Open

A one-year scholarship can sound short—until you realize the Atsumi International Foundation is deliberately looking for doctoral candidates who are already close enough to the finish line to complete their PhD during that year.

For 2027, the Foundation is offering around 18 scholarships worth ¥250,000 per month to doctoral researchers based in Japan’s Kanto or Kinki regions. Applications run from September 1 to September 20, 2026, and the programme is open to international and Japanese doctoral students.

Applicant Answer Box

This Scholarship Is for PhD Candidates Near Completion

Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral programme and expected to obtain the doctorate during the scholarship period. Candidates who cannot realistically finish by March 2028, or by September 2028 for autumn-entry students, are advised to apply in a later cycle.

Your graduate school or research laboratory and your residence must both be in either Kanto or Kinki during the award period. Kanto includes Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma; Kinki includes Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, Nara, Wakayama and Mie.

Japanese Is Not Optional

This is not an English-application scholarship.

Applicants must be fluent in Japanese because all application documents and interviews are conducted only in Japanese. The 600-character research summary, four-page research plan, self-introduction statement and interviews all require practical Japanese ability.

How to Apply?

• Create a 2027 Atsumi Scholarship account from the Foundation website during the application period.
• Register your name, email address, supervisor’s name and supervisor’s email.
• Complete the online application and CV, including education, employment, languages, awards, scholarships, research grants and volunteer work.
• Upload a recent enrollment certificate.
• Upload a Japanese research summary of no more than 600 characters and one page.
• Upload a Japanese research plan of no more than four A4 pages, covering topic, background, methods, progress, completion schedule and future outlook.
• Enter publication and presentation records in the required categories.
• Ask your doctoral supervisor to complete the online evaluation form before the September 20 deadline.
• Submit only after the online system shows the file is complete.

Qualifications, awards, research funding and volunteer activity can earn positive consideration, so blank sections may cost applicants points.

Selection Has Three Stages

First screening: Applications close on September 20, 2026, with first-stage results available from October 16.

Second screening: About 40 candidates move forward. They must submit an additional Japanese self-introduction statement and supervisor recommendation between October 16 and October 27, followed by a roughly 30-minute preliminary interview in Japanese.

Final screening: Final interviews are scheduled for December 5, 2026, with results expected by December 18.

What the Foundation Is Actually Looking For

Academic strength alone is not enough. Atsumi says it prioritizes researchers interested in international exchange, social issues and research that may contribute to harmonious development among people, society and nature.

Scholars must also participate in monthly meetings, research presentations and Foundation exchange activities. Repeated non-participation can even lead to scholarship suspension.

The 2027 Atsumi Scholarship deadline is September 20, 2026. If you are unsure whether your PhD completion date, university location, Japanese ability or existing scholarship affects eligibility, leave your profile in the comments below.