Japanese Studies

The Japanese Studies and International Dialogue programs and events offered through The Japan Foundation, Toronto exist to promote awareness and deepen understanding of Japan in Canada, and to support networks of scholars and public leaders working in the field of Japanese Studies to increase cross-cultural dialogue on critical global issues and shared concerns. Our activities include:

  • Funding programs open to scholars and researchers or academic and public institutions in the area of Japanese Studies and International Dialogue
  • Providing local grants for Canadian-based Japanese Studies related events and conferences
  • Presenting lectures and events featuring topics related to Japanese Studies

Funding Programs

The Japanese Studies and International Dialogue programs listed below are open to Canadians for application. The deadline for the 2022-2023 fiscal year has passed.

Please address inquiries to Cindy Briffa-Chen, Program Officer for Japanese Studies and International Dialogue: cindy_briffa-chen@jpf.go.jp


Local Grants

Local Grants are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal year. For more details on Japan Foundation, Toronto Local Grants, click here.


Special Funding Program for Junior Scholars

The Tanaka Fund was established in 1974 as the result of an exchange of gifts between the governments of Canada and Japan. Until 2016, support for Japanese language lectureship at Canadian Universities was funded. In 2018, the Tanaka Fund was restructured to focus support towards young emerging scholars in order to foster the next generation of Japanese Studies scholarship in Canada.

For more information, click here.

If you have any questions, please email Jeanne Gallagher, Manager, International Scholarships at tanaka@univcan.ca.


Lecture Events

The Japan Foundation, Toronto regularly organizes lectures and talks by noted experts in the field of Japanese Studies, providing insight into varied aspects of Japanese culture, such as the arts, politics and history. Lecture events are held in the Japan Foundation, Toronto event hall as well as other locations when collaborating with partner organizations.


Past Events

Please click here to see the archive of past Japanese Studies and International Dialogue events.