The Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship

November 19, 2025

The Watanabe Toshizo Endowed Scholarship application notice has arrived.

Information Session for U.S./Japanese Students

7pm (ET) on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 // 9am (JT) on Thursday, December 4, 2025
Please register here (registration required)

These sessions will provide information about eligibility, the application process, and ways your institution can support applicants.

Overview

The Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship provides financial assistance to Japanese and American undergraduate and graduate students for a semester or year-long study abroad in either the United States or Japan. A generous endowment gift of $10 million from Mr. Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe to the U.S.-Japan Council makes it possible to award scholarships to students for whom international study would not be possible without financial support.

Eligibility for Americans to study abroad in Japan

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Currently in good academic standing at a high school, an accredited college or university in the United States.
• Will be enrolled in an exchange program or credit-bearing course of study as an undergraduate student at university in Japan(Applicants who have not confirmed a school or are already enrolled in a Japanese school as a degree-seeking student are eligible. Cannot be used for language schools.)
• Demonstrates financial need for international study (i.e., would not be able to pursue international study without financial assistance or support)

Applications

The application for Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 is scheduled to be open on January 12, 2026 on this website through February 23, 2026 (all in the U.S. Eastern Time).

See more information here