Student Programs

The Program on U.S.-Japan Relations offers a number of programs dedicated to Harvard undergraduate and graduate students, including grants, seminars and study groups, research pairs, and internships in Japan. In addition to programs described below, students are invited to connect with Harvard faculty and Program Associates in a number of occasions, including receptions, special events, and the Distinguished Visitor dinner. The Program has collaborated extensively with undergraduate student organizations, such as Harvard Undergraduate Japan Policy Network (HUJPN)Harvard College Japan Initiative (HCJI), Harvard Project for Asian International Relations (HPAIR) , and Harvard International Relations Council (IRC).

Akiyama Award

Since 1996, the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations has annually awarded a summer research grant to a Harvard doctoral student who conducts social science research on contemporary Japan. Made possible by a generous grant from Akiyama Aiseikan (a pharmaceutical firm based in Hokkaido) and the Akiyama Life Science Foundation, the Akiyama Award commemorates the life of Akiyama Aiseikan’s past president, Mrs. Akiyama Kiyo.

Research Pairs

Every academic year, graduate students and advanced undergraduates (especially those enrolled in senior honors thesis program) have the opportunity to work with the Program’s Associates who share similar research interests. Harvard students have gained valuable research contacts and ideas from Associates, and in some cases, the pairings have led to co-authored papers and joint research projects. In the fall semester, the Program sponsors a reception dedicated to the graduate students and advanced undergraduates, in order to connect them with Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows. For more information, please contact Shinju Fujihira, Executive Director.

Harvard College Japan Summer Internship Program

The Program on U.S.-Japan Relations has developed a number of new internship opportunities for the Harvard College Japan Summer Internship Program, in collaboration with the Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies. for Harvard College students. The new internship opportunities have included AD CapitalP&E DirectionsToray, Office of Representative Taro KonoOffice of Representative Akihisa Nagashima,Research Institute for Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI)Center for Documentation of Refugees and Migrants (CDR) at the University of Tokyo, and other organizations. For more information on the Harvard College Japan Internship Program, please visit the Reischauer Institute's Summer Internship Program page.