Employment Opportunities in Japan

Call for Applications: Visiting Research Scholar

The International Research Center for Japanese Studies is one of the constituent institutions of the National Institutes for the Humanities, which was established as an Inter-University Research Institute Corporation under a law effective April 2004. Founded in May 1987 as an inter-university research institute of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, this Center seeks to promote comprehensive, international, and interdisciplinary research on Japanese culture, and to foster cooperation among researchers in Japanese studiesworldwide. In order to broaden and deepen research on Japanese culture and bring together researchers in a variety of specialized fields, the Center regularly appoints a number of scholars from around the world as Visiting Research Scholars.

The Center invites applications from scholars who wish to conduct research while in residence here. Visiting Research Scholars are expected to engage in collaborative activity with the Center's permanent faculty by, for example, participating in at least one of our team research projects ("kyôdô kenkyû")

1. Number of Openings:
Several positions.

2. Obligations:
The Visiting Research Scholar will be free to carry out his/her individual research, but must join in at least one team research project.The Visiting Research Scholar will contribute at least one article to either of the Center's two periodical publications, "Nihon Kenkyu" (in Japanese) or "Japan Review" (in European languages). Submission is expected during the visitor's stay at the Center or after his/her return to his/her home country.

3. Qualifications and Eligibility:
Researchers under 65 years old as the research period begins, who do not hold Japanesecitizenship, are eligible to apply. Others whom the Director-General of this Center deems to have equivalent qualifications as a researcher may apply, provided that they meet the age and citizenship criteria.
Applicants who meet the following criteria are preferred.
(1) Researchers employed by a university or other research institution.
(2) Researchers with a doctoral degree.
(3) Those whom the Director-General deems to have equivalent qualifications as above(1) and (2).

4. Research Period:
The Visiting Research Scholar is expected to stay for a period between three months and one year.

5. Salary and Conditions:
(1) The Visiting Research Scholar will receive a monthly salary on the legally appointed day each month, the amount of which is approximately the same as the salary of the regular full-time employee of the same age at the Center.
(2) Roundtrip travel expenses will be paid according to a rate stipulated in the regulations.
(3) A research allowance (including a domestic research travel expense allowance) will be disbursed to each Visiting Research Scholar, in the same way as for a regular full-ime employee of the Center.
(4) The Center's library, computers, and other facilities, including an individual research room, will be made available for the use of the Visiting Research Scholar, in the same way as for a regular full-time employee of the Center.
(5) Visiting Research Scholars have opportunities for presentation of research findings in seminars, public lectures, and the Nichibunken Forum held by the Center.
(6) Housing accommodations will be available on the site of the Center. (There arecharges for the use of these facilities.)

6. Application Procedure:
Applicants must submit the designated application form. You can also download the application form from here as a PDF file (24KB) Adobe Reader

7. Application Deadline: November 30, two years prior to the academic year for which the application is made. (The Japanese academic year is April through March.)

8. Address for the Application:

Application form only: shinseivrs@nichibun.ac.jp; For Inquiries Only: nkotoura@nichibun.ac.jp
Office of Research Exchange
International Research Center for Japanese Studies
3-2 Oeyama-cho, Goryo, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 610-1192, Phone: +81(0)75-335-2041 Fax: +81(0)75-335-2092

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs

Brief Description: Each year, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) offers thousands of college and university graduates the opportunity to live and work in Japan as language instructors and/or coordinators of international affairs. The JET Program is conducted through the cooperation of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, local government and education boards, and the Council of Local Authorities on International Relations. Please visit the JET Program's web site for more detailed information. (posted 04/01/01)