Thoughts of a Fellow
Introduction
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan represents one of the primary mechanisms by which the Japanese government attracts international researchers to universities across Japan. As a British academic who has spent the past three years as a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow at a Japanese university, I have been incredibly fortunate to experience firsthand both the opportunities and limitations of such a programme.
The fellowship provides international researchers with financial support and research funding to undertake projects within Japanese institutions. On paper, this arrangement seems ideal: foreign researchers gain access to Japan's excellent research infrastructure and a vibrant academic environment, while Japanese academia benefits from diverse perspectives and expertise. Indeed, the core motivations of the programme are clear: the mutual benefit of the researchers, the host academics, and Japan itself. For a moderate cost to the government, the academic environment in Japan is diversified, the lives of the academics are enriched, and lifelong collaborations are formed from such investments which ultimately benefits the institutions as well.
However, at the heart of this programme lies a fundamental contradiction that undermines its long-term efficacy: by investing substantially in attracting international researchers while simultaneously preventing them from developing the professional credentials necessary for long-term employment through its prohibition on any additional work (paid or unpaid), JSPS effectively transforms what could be a pathway to meaningful integration into temporary academic tourism. This restriction, while almost certainly intended to ensure fellows focus exclusively on their research, creates significant barriers to those who might otherwise contribute to Japanese society and the economy long after their fellowships conclude.
In the following sections, I outline the key structural issues that not only disadvantage fellows but also prevent Japan from fully capitalising on its substantial investment. I wish only to contribute to a dialogue about how this valuable programme might better serve both its international participants and Japanese society.
The Financial Challenge: Stagnant Funding in an Inflationary World
While the JSPS fellowship stipend initially appeared generous, Japan's post-COVID inflation (combined with the sudden tax burden after the first financial year) has steadily eroded its value over my three-year tenure. With the stipend remaining unchanged throughout this period, fellows effectively experience an annual pay cut as everyday expenses continue to rise. Conference attendance further strains personal finances as the fellowship doesn't cover daily expenses during travel, leading to an increasing financial strain being placed on the fellow.
The growing disparity between JSPS compensation and international standards is stark and concerning. In 2025, starting postdoctoral researchers in the UK earn over £10,000 more than JSPS fellows per year (adjusting for taxable income). This substantial gap in earnings completely disincentivises early-career researchers to remain in Japan after the fellowship concludes, regardless of one's appreciation for the many benefits afforded to those lucky enough to live in Japan. For those considering long-term plans such as home ownership or starting a family, the financial mathematics simply don't add up, especially when savings in Japanese yen must eventually be converted to other currencies.
Maintaining connections with one's home country presents additional financial challenges within Japan's work culture. Most companies typically allocate annual leave to specific periods to supplement national holidays (e.g., Golden Week and New Year holidays) when the entire country travels home or abroad to visit their families. With these holiday periods rarely exceeding two weeks and airfares at premium rates, international travel becomes both logistically difficult and prohibitively expensive. This isolation from home further complicates the decision-making process for fellows considering whether a long-term future in Japan is financially viable.
The Integration Paradox: Invited but Excluded from the Workforce
The JSPS fellowship comes with a stringent restriction that fundamentally undermines its long-term efficacy: fellows are prohibited from engaging in any work, paid or unpaid, throughout their fellowship period. Until the recent policy adjustment in April 2025, fellows were even barred from receiving any form of remuneration whatsoever, including teaching or attending invited talks. Crucially, even part-time work in the form of internships, which is somewhat of a prerequisite for gaining full-time employment at many tech companies, was prohibited; effectively closing a vital pathway into Japan's robust technology sector.
This restriction creates a significant "experience gap" that proves particularly damaging for researchers considering a long-term career in Japan. While the fellowship encourages international talent to relocate to Japan and develop research connections, it simultaneously prevents these researchers from gaining the local work experience that Japanese employers consistently prioritise when hiring. Notably, this represents a puzzling inconsistency within JSPS's own programmes: JSPS-funded masters and doctoral students are permitted to undertake internships during their studies, recognising the importance of professional development alongside academic research. Yet postdoctoral fellows, who are at a critical career juncture, face complete prohibition from similar opportunities.
Japanese companies are notoriously risk-averse in their hiring practices, particularly regarding foreign employees. Without demonstrable experience working within Japanese professional environments, JSPS fellows represent an uncertain investment: will they adapt to Japanese workplace culture? Will they remain in Japan long-term? Without the opportunity to prove themselves through even part-time positions during their fellowship, fellows cannot mitigate these perceived risks.
The result is a stark contradiction at the heart of the programme: JSPS invests substantially in bringing international researchers to Japan and supporting their research for multiple years, yet systematically prevents them from developing the professional credentials that would enable them to continue contributing to Japanese society after their fellowship concludes. This paradox transforms what could be a pathway to long-term integration into a temporary academic tourism programme, ultimately limiting both the fellows' career prospects and Japan's return on its investment.
Conclusions: A Path Forward
The JSPS fellowship has been transformative for me personally: I've built a new life in Japan, formed meaningful relationships, and connected with generous Japanese researchers who have supported my professional journey. These positive experiences far outweigh the challenges I've described. However, to fulfil its potential as a gateway for international talent to contribute meaningfully to Japanese society long-term, JSPS should consider three key reforms:
- Allow limited professional development: Permit fellows to engage in part-time teaching, consulting or industry collaboration (up to 16 hours weekly) that builds relevant Japanese workplace experience while maintaining research focus.
- Implement inflation-indexed stipends: Ensure fellowship funding remains competitive with international standards and keeps pace with Japan's rising cost of living.
- Create transition pathways: Develop formal mechanisms to help fellows transition to permanent positions in Japanese academia or industry after their fellowships conclude (the university's career services are primarily targeted towards international students, not postdocs).
These changes would transform JSPS fellowships from temporary academic exchanges into genuine pathways for international integration, allowing Japan to fully capitalise on its substantial investment in global talent. The future success of the programme should be measured not just by research outputs during fellowships, but by how many fellows remain in Japan as long-term contributors to Japanese society and its economy.1
All photos featured in this post were taken on my first day in Tokyo (May, 2022).↩