The Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies (RIJS) offers limited funding to Harvard doctoral students in any area of Japanese studies within the humanities or social sciences for dissertation field research. Priority is given to GSAS students in Japanese studies and to those doing their first year of field research in Japan. Applicants must be at the dissertation research phase of their degree and plan to use the funds for long-term research in Japan (either 6 months or one year), or to extend research for up to 6 months after a previous 1-year outside grant, although SDRG funding for such extended research is not guaranteed. SDRG funding is competitive, and the maximum grant amount is $30,000.
The SDRG is supplemental to other funding and does not replace it. Students must also apply for funding from other sources and are expected to prioritize outside funding offers. The SDRG can only be received once. In preparing an application, please note that research must be conducted in Japanese. Applicants should clearly describe their language skills in their application. For students who seek to extend their field research, please carefully follow the instructions detailed in Part 5 of the Application Instruction section.
Please Note: If awarded full year SDRG funding, the award will be disbursed in two installments, with the second installment upon receipt of a brief report on research progress.
Applying for SDRG funding and RIJS summer funding is strongly discouraged, and funding is not guaranteed. Students who receive a Supplementary Research Grant are not eligible to receive summer research support. Students cannot front-end a full year of research in Japan with a Summer Research Grant unless there is a considerable time gap (5-6 months) between the end date of the summer grant and start of the full-year grant. Applicants should consult with their advisors and select the most appropriate funding opportunity. Recommendation letters must align closely with student plans.
All support related to travel must comply with Harvard University guidelines and safety protocols. Please see the Harvard Global Support Services website for travel support.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 13, 2026 by 5:00pm ET on CARAT