JUSFC Summer Institute

JUSFC > JUSFC Summer Institute

JUSFC Summer Institute

The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) will announce its plans for recruiting a third cohort in Fall 2026. Interested students are encouraged to check this page periodically for any updates.

Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Summer Institute

The Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC)’s mission as a United States federal agency is to support reciprocal people-to-people understanding and promote partnerships that advance common interests between the United States and Japan. To advance U.S. interests and ensure accountability to the American people, JUSFC has organized its operations around three strategic pillars that serve as the agency’s roadmap. These pillars are grounded in JUSFC’s enduring mission to support research, education, public affairs, and exchange, and to promote scholarly, cultural, and artistic activities between Japan and the United States — sustaining reciprocal people-to-people understanding and stimulating partnerships that advance the common interests of both nations.

The JUSFC Summer Institute supports the first pillar, Advancing U.S. Competency on Japan that builds the critical knowledge infrastructure and Japanese language expertise necessary for U.S. competitiveness and security in the Indo-Pacific. The JUSFC Summer Institute is a pathway program, designed to support the pipeline of next generation leaders in U.S.-Japan relations. It invites undergraduate students to participate in an intensive academic and professional development summer experience in Japan, focused on leadership. This enrichment opportunity aims to deepen and sustain student interest in Japan by providing academic training and mentorship prospects aimed at exposing participants to myriad professions where their knowledge and expertise will be valued. It includes a two-week immersion program in Japan preceded by online training and workshops.

The U.S.-Japan partnership encompasses many fields. The JUSFC Summer Institute is open to students from the natural and social sciences, humanities, and arts, as well as those with professional interests in policymaking, diplomacy, business, education, the arts, and nonprofit sectors, among others. College students with a demonstrated interest in Japan are particularly encouraged to apply.

Program Eligibility

  1. Current undergraduate students in good academic standing.
  2. Students may be from any field of study and must have a demonstrated interest in Japan.
  3. Students should have completed their freshman year at an accredited college or university.
  4. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
  5. Japanese language study or Japanese language ability is helpful, but not required.

Program Components: This is an academically and professionally focused program. It includes,

  1. Four online enrichment sessions on Japan/U.S.-Japan relations
  2. Two online orientation meetings
  3. Travel to Washington DC (to be confirmed)
  4. Travel to Kyoto and Tokyo as a group for a two-week faculty and facilitator-led immersive program in Japan

Program Funding: The program covers costs including, passport application fees, roundtrip economy travel to Japan with an outbound stop in Washington, DC (to be confirmed), hotel accommodation in Washington DC (as needed) Japan, domestic and local travel within Japan while on the program, field trips and entry fees to museums. Additionally, JUSFC offers a stipend per student to cover meals and incidental expenses.

College Credit: Applicants should speak with their academic institutions regarding credit. All students who complete the JUSFC Summer Institute’s online and in-person portions will receive a certificate of completion.