10th Program

10th Central and East Europe Program

The Akebono Scholarship will hold an program for those who are motivated to study in Japan . In this program, we will conduct selection in English and determine the quasi-scholarship recipients. Those who are selected as quasi-scholarship recipients will be chosen as scholarship recipients after passing the designated Japanese language proficiency test within two year and conducting a final interview check.

Throughout the selection process, applicants will be asked to present their aspirations and specify what and where they wish to study in Japan.

We are willing to advise applicants after selections on choosing universities and discussing career plans.

Additionally, some applications may not necessarily require studying in Japan. For instance, cases where other countries may have stronger expertise in certain fields or where there is no need to come to Japan for the realization of career plans. Please consider whether it is truly necessary to study in Japan and investigate accordingly.

1. Scholarship Overview

A. Full scholarship

(1) Monthly stipend: Maximum 200,000 JPY/month
1. This stipend is including rent and living expenses, travel expenses required for coming to Japan, and expenses recognized as necessary for creating a conducive learning environment.
2. You must submit a detailed expense report to receive the mentioned amount.
3. This scholarship cannot be combined with other scholarships.
4. We offer career support both before and after your arrival in Japan.

(2) Stipend period: 2years. However, the period is subject to change depending on the program’s start and end dates.

(3) A maximum of 2 full scholarship recipients will be selected.

B. Supported scholarship

(1) Monthly stipend: 20,000 JPY/month
1. You must submit a detailed expense report to receive the mentioned amount.
2. This scholarship can be combined with other scholarships.
3. We offer career support both before and after your arrival in Japan.

(2) Stipend period: 2years.
The eligible period for this scholarship program is the 2 years during your stay in Japan after arriving.

(3) A maximum of 10 supported scholarship recipients will be selected.

2. Eligibility for Application

Applicants who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply:

• Individuals who can live and study in Japan as scholarship recipients and have a strong desire to learn.
• Individuals who have the ability to live comfortably in Japanese before coming to Japan.
• Individuals who hold the nationality of one of the following countries and are currently residing in that country for study or other reasons:
  Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Croatia, and Ukraine.
  (This includes those who hold the nationality of one of the above-mentioned countries but are currently residing in another country for reasons such as studying abroad.)
• Individuals who are 15 to 30 years old as of May 1, 2024.

3. Recruitment Overview

(1) Recruitment Schedule

First selection (documentary screening):
・Applications due by 8:00 AM (JST) on December 30, 2024 (Mon.)
・Announcement of the first selection results: 6:00 PM (JST) on January 14, 2025 (Tue.)

Second selection (video screening):
・Applications due by 8:00 AM (JST) on February 6, 2025 (Thu.)
・Announcement of the second selection results: 6:00 PM (JST) on February 21, 2025 (Fri.)

Third selection (online interview):
・ March to April 2025
・Announcement of the third selection results: May 30, 2025 (Fri.)

*All times are in Japan Standard Time.

4. Application Method

<Primary Screening>
(1) Applicants should register necessary information on the form provided on the foundation’s website and submit their application in English along with the theme mentioned below. Please note that the application should be submitted by the applicant themselves.
Application page: https://forms.gle/zcSigj2iYBZSGrv87
*Google login is required.

[Theme]

・What is the problem (your True North) that you are willing to dedicate your life to solving?

・How do you envision working in the future to solve this problem?

・Why and what do you plan to study in Japan to address this issue?

*Please include why you need to learn in Japan and how you plan to utilize what you have learned in your home country. Please provide as much detail as possible.
Furthermore, studying with the primary purpose of improving Japanese language skills is not eligible.

(2) About Exemption from the First Screening
Applicants with the following achievements or experiences will be exempt from the Primary screening:

・A recommendation from a Japanese individual regarding Japanese language proficiency.
・JLPT N1 or N2 certification.
・Successful acceptance of other scholarships such as MEXT scholarships, and similar achievements.

*We will require you a request a evidence or certification. Please upload those files.

<The second part of the selection process>
The successful candidates of the first screening will have to submit a video for the second part of the selection process.

The theme for the requested video is “What do you want to do with your life, and what you would like to study in Japan to achieve that?”

*Please do not forget to include why you need to learn that specific subject in Japan and how you plan to use what you have learned after returning to your home country. Please provide as much detail as possible.

*Other details such as the video duration and upload method will be transmitted only to those who passed the primary screening.

*Please note that studying in Japan with the primary purpose of improving your language skills is not considered an eligible reason for being awarded the Akebono Scholarship.

<The last part of the selection process>
The successful candidates of the first two selections will have a last interview with our staff. The interview will be conducted as a question-and-answer session. *The time and place of the interview will be determined upon a careful discussion with the candidates who passed the secondary screening.

5. After the Screening

Applicants who have demonstrated proficiency in Japanese and successfully passed all evaluations will have a direct meeting with our foundation to discuss the study program and the schedule for coming to Japan. After the meeting, taking into consideration the visit schedule, program adjustments, visa acquisition, and other factors, the final decision regarding the scholarship amount and educational program will be made.

6. Inquiries

Akebono Scholarship, Japan Office
1-8-2 Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0041, Japan (Within Tokiwa Research Institute)
info@akebono-foundation.org