Applications for scholars studying abroad in 2026-2027 are now open!

Bridging Scholar alum Sam Bett (University of Massachusetts–Amherst / Kwansei Gakuin, 2007–2008) has received a 2025 commendation from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs for his outstanding work in literary translation.

Bridging Scholar Isabella Boulware (AY 2025–2026) is featured in a recent article published in the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) quarterly journal.

Seventy-eight outstanding Bridging Scholars will study in Japan this academic year—59 this fall and 19 in the spring. Sixty-eight percent are Pell Grant recipients (students from low-income families).  We held orientation on August 12th and most of our Fall and Academic-year scholars are already in Japan. Good luck to all for successful and fruitful semester! 

In her final year of high school, Heather Kodhelaj’s philosophy teacher suggested that she go into the foreign service. “I didn’t see a clear path, but my mom encouraged me to start traveling.”

Though Kodhelaj was born and raised in the United States, her parents are Albanian and immigrated in 1998. On her mother’s advice, Kodhelaj went to Europe. When she returned to Philadelphia, she caught herself falling into a rut and headed to South Korea for more international experience.

On December 6, the US-Japan Bridging Foundation and Morgan Stanley joined forces to host a Career Development Panel for our Bridging Scholars. Tom Mason, Executive Director of the Bridging Foundation, set the stage with a warm welcome, and David Richards, Chief Administrative Officer at Morgan Stanley in Japan, provided a captivating introduction to the firm, sharing his career journey and various pathways to employment in Japan.

On November 29, the Bridging Foundation, together with Kansai Gaidai, hosted a special reception for our scholars to get to know one another and to share advice on embarking on a Japan-related career. Of the 15 current Bridging Scholars and one recent alumni who joined, five were from Kansai Gaidai with the others students from Doshisha University, Osaka University, Ritsumeikan University, and Okayama University.

The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation, in partnership with the American Association of Teachers of Japanese, is excited to open applications for scholarships to study in Japan beginning in Fall 2023.  The term of study can be the Fall 2023 semester, the 2023-24 academic year, or the Spring 2024 semester. Please note: There will be no later, separate application deadline for Spring 2024 scholarships.

The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation is thrilled to share that 17 undergraduates from colleges and universities across the United States have been named recipients of the Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan this spring. This group joins the 79 scholars awarded this Fall for a full class of 96 2022-23 Bridging Scholars!