Japan Foundation 2027: grants for exhibitions, translation of Japanese books, Japanese studies and Japanese teaching
Verified by the editorial team 25 October 2026
Added to the catalogue Added to the catalogue from the 23 October GetGrant export, terms verified on the Japan Foundation programme pages and FY2027 programme outlines
Summary
The Japan Foundation accepts FY2027 applications from organisations in Ukraine under four programmes: exhibitions of Japanese art, translation and publication of Japanese books, Japanese studies projects and support for institutions teaching Japanese. The foundation covers part of the costs and sets the amount individually (the average translation grant in 2026 was about JPY 618,000). Deadline - 1 December 2026.
About the call
The Japan Foundation is Japan's only government institution dedicated to international cultural exchange. Each year it announces a package of grant programmes, and Ukraine is on the list of eligible countries. For FY2027 four strands are open to organisations outside Japan: the Exhibitions Abroad Support Program (for museums and art institutions), the Support Program for Translation and Publication (for publishers), the Grant Program for Japanese Studies Projects (for non-profit academic and research institutions) and the Support Program for Organizations in Japanese-Language Education, including teacher associations.
There are no fixed amounts: grants cover part of the costs and are set based on the project plan. Exhibitions can receive funds for packing and shipping of works, catalogues and travel of artists and curators; Japanese studies projects for travel, conferences, lecturer honorariums and books; language institutions for contests, teaching materials, teacher seminars and partial salary support. In FY2026 publishers received about JPY 618,000 on average per translated book. Supported projects run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, with results announced in April-May 2027.
For Ukraine the programmes suit cultural centres, museums, university Japanese studies centres and NGOs that build Ukrainian-Japanese ties or teach Japanese. There is no Japan Foundation office in Ukraine, so applications go directly through the online portal. Priority goes to projects not yet staged in the applicant's country and to authors never translated there before.
Who can apply
- Museums and art institutions outside Japan - Exhibitions Abroad Support Program
- Publishers outside Japan - Translation and Publication Support Program
- Non-profit academic and research institutions - Japanese Studies Projects
- Japanese-language institutions and organisations, including teacher associations - language education support
- Organisations from Ukraine: Ukraine is on the eligible countries list
Who cannot apply
- Foreign governments, embassies and consulates (except educational, research and cultural institutes)
- International organisations to which the Japanese government contributes
- Projects advancing specific political or religious views
What the funds are for
- Packing and shipping of works, catalogues and travel of artists and curators for exhibitions of Japanese art
- Part of translator fees and printing costs for translated Japanese books
- Research, conferences, lectures by invited scholars and Japanese studies books
- Language contests, teaching materials, teacher seminars, textbook publishing and partial salaries of Japanese teachers
What is not funded
- Production of art works, installation and artists' fees
- Editing, acquisition of translation rights and proofreading
- Natural sciences and commercial activities under the Japanese studies programme
- Expenses incurred before 1 April 2027
Documents required
Forms and templates are on the call page
How to apply
- 1Choose a programme in the Japan Foundation programme list and read its outline and instructions
- 2Download the English instructions and document kit from the programme page
- 3Create an account on www.apply.jpf.go.jp and upload the completed forms with attachments
- 4Submit by 1 December 2026, 13:00 Japan Standard Time (06:00 Kyiv time)
Timeline
Questions and answers
- Can Ukrainian organisations apply to the Japan Foundation?
- Yes. Ukraine is on the list of eligible countries. Organisations outside Japan can apply for exhibition support, translation and publication support, Japanese studies projects and support for Japanese-language institutions.
- How much does the Japan Foundation give?
- There are no fixed amounts: the foundation covers part of the costs and sets the grant based on the project plan. For example, the average translation grant per book in FY2026 was about JPY 618,000.
Change history
- Added: Added to the catalogue from the 23 October GetGrant export, terms verified on the Japan Foundation programme pages and FY2027 programme outlines
Donor contacts
Website: www.jpf.go.jp/e/program/
