Established by Congress in 1975, the Commission plays a prominent role in supporting the robust partnership that has developed between Japan and the United States since 1945.

The  Commission was established as an independent federal government agency by the United States Congress in 1975 (P.L. 94-118) to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship through educational, cultural, and intellectual exchange. It administers a U.S. government trust fund that originated in connection with the return to the Japanese government of certain U.S. facilities in Okinawa and for postwar U.S. assistance to Japan.

The Commission is a grant making agency that supports research, education, public affairs and exchange with Japan. Its mission is to support reciprocal people-to-people understanding, and promote partnerships that advance common interests between Japan and the United States.

Grant applications are accepted in the following areas:

1) Exchanges and Scholarship
2) Global Challenges
3) Arts and Culture
4) Education and Public Affairs