Akebono Scholarship 2026 – Central & East Europe Program – Fully Funded Study in Japan

The Akebono Scholarship is not a scholarship to come to Japan. It is a scholarship to solve a real problem in your home country – using Japan as the best place to learn how. This program is open to applicants from 14 Central and Eastern European countries who are committed to addressing a specific, concrete problem in their home region. Successful candidates receive a monthly stipend (up to 200,000 JPY for full scholarships, or 20,000 JPY for supported scholarships) for two years. The application deadline for the first round (document screening) is 30 June 2026. If you are looking for similar opportunities in Japan, explore fully funded scholarships in Japan for international students.

Scholarship Overview

• Scholarship Name: Akebono Scholarship – 16th Central and East Europe Program

• Host Country: Japan

• Eligible Countries: Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Croatia, Georgia, Armenia, and Ukraine

• Age Requirement: 15 to 30 years old as of 1 May 2026

• Language Requirement: Sufficient Japanese language ability to live comfortably in Japan (JLPT N1/N2 or recommendation from a Japanese individual may exempt from first screening)

• Stipend Period: 2 years

For students seeking other funded programs in East Asia, check latest scholarships in South Korea for all nationalities.

Types of Scholarship

Full Scholarship (maximum 2 recipients)

• Monthly stipend: up to 200,000 JPY

• Covers rent, living expenses, travel to Japan, and other necessary learning expenses

• Cannot be combined with other scholarships

• Career support provided

Supported Scholarship (maximum 10 recipients)

• Monthly stipend: 20,000 JPY

• Can be combined with other scholarships

• Career support provided

Important: What Will NOT Pass in Your Application

Applications that focus on the following will be rejected:

• “I want to learn Japanese” or “I want to spread Japanese language in my country”

• “I love Japan and Japanese culture”

• “Japan is a technologically advanced country”

• Applications that do not explain why Japan – and not another country – is necessary for your goals

What WILL Pass in Your Application

• You have identified a specific, concrete problem in your home country that you are committed to solving

• You can clearly explain why Japan is the best place in the world to study that specific subject

• You have a concrete vision for your career after returning home – even as a hypothesis

Eligibility Criteria for Akebono Scholarship

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Hold the nationality of one of the eligible countries and currently reside in that country (or abroad for study/other reasons)

• Have a strong desire to learn and commit to living and studying in Japan as scholarship recipients

• Have sufficient Japanese language ability to live comfortably in Japan before arriving

• Be 15 to 30 years old as of 1 May 2026

Application Process – Three Selections

First Selection – Document Screening

Deadline: 30 June 2026, 8:00 AM JST
Results announced: 14 July 2026, 6:00 PM JST

Submit your application in English via Google Form: https://forms.gle/TBEfHGDQkjWGMFEy9 (Google login required)

You must answer three themes:

Theme 1: What is the problem you are willing to dedicate your life to solving? (Your “True North”)

• Is this a real, specific problem – not a general or abstract one?

• Is this a problem that exists in your home country or region?

• Why are you – specifically – the right person to address it?

Theme 2: How do you envision working in the future to solve this problem?

• What specific job, role, or organization do you envision for yourself after returning home?

• Even as a hypothesis, is there a concrete picture of how you will apply what you learn?

• Is there a logical connection between your future career and the problem you identified?

Theme 3: Why and what do you plan to study in Japan to address this issue?

• Why is Japan – and not another country (e.g., Europe, the US, or elsewhere) – the right place to study this?

• What specific field, university, research lab, or professor do you plan to study with?

• How will what you learn in Japan help you solve the problem you described?

Note: Improving Japanese language proficiency is not a valid reason for this scholarship. This is a scholarship to conduct research and study in Japanese – not to learn Japanese.

Exemption from First Screening (may be granted with upload of supporting documents):

• Written recommendation from a Japanese individual regarding Japanese language proficiency

• JLPT N1 or N2 certification

• Acceptance of another competitive scholarship such as MEXT

Second Selection – Video Screening

Submission deadline: 6 August 2026, 8:00 AM JST
Results announced: 20 August 2026, 6:00 PM JST

Applicants who pass the first selection will be asked to submit a short video on: “What do you want to do with your life, and what would you like to study in Japan to achieve that?”

Include:

• Why you need to study that specific subject in Japan (not elsewhere)

• How you plan to use what you have learned after returning to your home country

Third Selection – Online Interview

Interviews conducted: September to October 2026
Results announced: 30 November 2026

Applicants who pass the second selection will be invited to an online interview.

For applicants interested in other research scholarships in Asia, see China's latest scholarships in 2026.

After the Selection Process

Applicants who pass all three selections and demonstrate Japanese language proficiency will meet directly with the foundation to discuss the study program and arrival schedule in Japan. Final scholarship amount and educational program will be determined.

Inquiries

Akebono Scholarship, Japan Office
1-8-2 Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0041, Japan
Email: info@akebono-foundation.org

For additional financial aid options across Asia, explore financial aids for students in Asia.

Final Thoughts

The Akebono Scholarship is for problem‑solvers, not for those who simply love Japan. If you have identified a concrete problem in your home country and can clearly explain why Japan is the best place to study how to solve it, this fully funded opportunity is for you. The first selection deadline is 30 June 2026. Apply through the Google Form.

For a complete list of open scholarships in Asia, visit list of all open scholarships in Asia.

Apply Now for Akebono Scholarship 2026