For students dreaming of studying abroad but held back by financial barriers, the Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship Program is opening doors once again. Backed by a historic $10 million endowment from philanthropist Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe and administered by the U.S.–Japan Council (USJC), this scholarship is designed to make semester-long or year-long study abroad in Japan or the United States genuinely accessible.
If international education has felt out of reach, this program could be the turning point for your academic journey in the Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 cycle.
What This Scholarship Covers for Selected Students?
This scholarship is built to remove financial obstacles and ensure students can fully focus on their academic and cultural experience abroad.
- Need-based financial awards tailored to each recipient’s circumstances
- Support for semester-long or full academic year study abroad programs
- Eligibility for both undergraduate and graduate-level study
- Access to the TOMODACHI Generation Network, offering professional networking, alumni connections, and exclusive USJC events throughout the year.
Beyond funding, recipients become part of a growing global alumni community committed to U.S.–Japan relations and leadership development.
Who This Opportunity Is Designed For?
The Toshizo Watanabe Scholarship prioritizes students for whom study abroad would not be possible without financial assistance.
Eligibility for U.S. students studying in Japan includes:
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Currently in good academic standing at a U.S. high school, college, or university
- Graduate applicants not currently enrolled must provide proof of an undergraduate degree
- Must enroll in a credit-bearing undergraduate or graduate program or approved exchange program at a university or academic center in Japan
- Applicants already enrolled in or not yet confirmed at a Japanese institution are eligible
- Language schools are not eligible
- Must clearly demonstrate financial need for international study.
Additional (non-mandatory) preference is given to applicants who:
- Have never studied or traveled abroad
- Come from single-parent households or are orphans
- Are first-generation college students.
Apply: https://www.usjapancouncil.org/watanabe-scholarship/.
Important Dates You Should Mark Now!
The application window for the Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship for Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 opens on January 12, 2026, and closes on February 23, 2026, with all deadlines observed in U.S. Eastern Time. Initial screening results are expected between April and May 2026, followed by final selection announcements in May–June 2026. Selected students must confirm acceptance by June 2026, and scholarship disbursements will begin in July 2026.