Komatsu Fellowship for Siberian Studies:

 Call for Applications (Fellowship Term 2027–2028)

 

The Center for Northeast Asian Studies (CNEAS) at Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan) is now accepting applications for a newly established long-term fellowship for early-career researchers focusing on Siberian Studies. Guided by a long-term vision, this fellowship aims to build a solid foundation for joint research between our institution and researchers abroad, ultimately driving the international development and further advancement of Siberian Studies.

This program is supported by the Tohoku University "Komatsu Siberian Academic Exchange Grant," commonly known as the Komatsu Fund. Established in 1992 through a generous donation from Ms. Kyoko Komatsu, the endowment is dedicated to "promoting Siberian academic research." To eternally honor the donor's profound generosity and as a testament to carrying forward her vision, recipients of this program are bestowed with the title of "Komatsu Fellow."

 

CNEAS provides Fellows with the following:

1. One round-trip economy-class ticket will be provided between the successful applicant’s place of work and Sendai. Please note that the Fellow is required to travel directly from their place of work to Sendai at the start of the fellowship, and return directly upon its completion. Stopovers or deviations from this route will not be covered by CNEAS. The Fellow is welcome to bring family members, but all related expenses must be borne by the Fellow. Shipping and customs clearance fees for personal luggage are also the responsibility of the Fellow.
2. The Fellow will be employed at Tohoku University. The salary is approximately 350,000-400,000 yen (before tax and withholding) per month, depending on the successful applicant’s present status.
3. The Fellow will receive a monthly research allowance of 50,000 yen. The use of these research funds will be in accordance with Tohoku University regulations.
4. The Fellow must join the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Mutual Aid Association, which contains health insurance and pension programs.
5. The Fellow will be provided with their own desk, bookshelf and internet connection. They may also use the university library and have full access to the university-subscribed electronic journals.
6. The Fellow may stay in university accommodation during the fellowship period, subject to availability. Please note that housing fees apply. If university housing is not available, the Fellow will need to arrange private accommodation—with search support from Tohoku University's International Support Center—at their own expense.

 

Fellowship Periods and Posts

• There is 1 post available for this fellowship.
• The fellowship term, in principle, starts from October 2027 and ends in September 2028. The duration of the fellowship is one year. However, if an applicant so wishes, they may specify a 12-month period within the timeframe from October 2027 to December 2028 when submitting their application.

*After the selection process, CNEAS reserves the right to decide the precise period of stay for the successful applicants at the Center. Successful applicants cannot extend the timing of the period of stay beyond Term 2027-2028.

 

Obligations

1. During their term of appointment, the Fellow must conduct research within Tohoku University based on the research plan they submitted.
2. The Fellow is required to give at least two lectures on their research topic during their stay at CNEAS, and is also required to write a short essay on their studies for our Center newsletter. The Fellow may be requested to present their talk in a seminar or symposium organized by CNEAS. The Fellow is also welcome to contribute to Northeast Asian Studies, an interdisciplinary journal of the Center.
3. The Fellow is required to choose and fulfill either outcome (A) or (B):

(A) The publication or a publication contract for an academic book (through a Euro-American or Japanese publisher) within two years after the end of the fellowship. The author's affiliation must be clearly specified as the Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku University.

 (B) The publication or acceptance of an article in a SCOPUS-indexed journal within a year after the end of the fellowship. The author's affiliation must be clearly specified as the Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku University.

1. Following the completion of the fellowship term, the Fellow will automatically become a Research Affiliate of CNEAS for a period of two years. During this time, the Fellow is obligated to explicitly state their CNEAS affiliation in all academic outputs, including journal articles, book chapters, and single-authored books. The Research Affiliate must submit a report of their academic achievements every year to the CNEAS International Relations Office.

 

Eligibility Applicants are required to satisfy the following conditions:

1. This program targets next-generation researchers. Eligible applicants include early-career Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students currently enrolled at overseas universities. ‘Early-career researchers’ are defined as those currently enrolled in a doctoral programme or who have obtained a doctoral degree within the last 10 years.
2. Researchers/PhD students affiliated with universities or academic institutions must obtain a written approval (free format) from the appropriate authority at their home organization before applying. PhD students must obtain a written approval from the dean or the responsible person of the affiliated university.
3. Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation by referees who are familiar with the applicant’s research and who work in similar disciplines/fields.
4. Applicants who have academic achievements in Siberian Studies, whether in the humanities, social sciences or natural sciences, are expected to participate in collaborative research organized by CNEAS, contribute to the Center’s digital archives, and present at lectures and symposia at the University.
5. Applicants must find a supervising academic within the Center for Northeast Asian Studies.
6. The successful applicants are not required to have Japanese language skills. However, they are encouraged to learn basic Japanese in order to live in Japan.
7. The successful applicant will be employed at Tohoku University as the Fellow during the designated period (October 2027 – September 2028), and is required to obtain an appropriate visa.

 

Application Procedures

• The call for applications will be open from October - December 2026. Applicants will be notified of the selection results in March 2027.

• Please download and fill out the Application Form. The completed Application Form should be submitted to internationalcneas@grp.tohoku.ac.jp with “Komatsu Fellowship” and applicant's name in the subject line. The applicant should request two (2) letters of recommendation be sent directly to internationalcneas@grp.tohoku.ac.jp with the applicant's name in the subject line.
• Please note that individual inquiries regarding the selection results, whether by email, fax, or telephone, will not be answered prior to the notification of selection results.

 

Important Notes

• Regarding academic degrees: Please ensure you also specify the field of study for your doctoral degree. (There are frequent instances where applicants simply enter ‘Ph.D.’ without specifying their field of study).
• Regarding your name: Please enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport. (As some applicants enter their family name and given name in the wrong order, please ensure you enter them in the correct order. If a middle name is listed on your passport, please include it on the Application Form as well.)
• Regarding Educational Background: (a) Some applicants omit the date of completion; please ensure you fill this in. (b) Some applicants omit the name of the university; please ensure you fill this in. (Some applicants write phrases such as ‘I obtained a Master’s degree in [year]’ and forget to include the name of the institution.) (c) Please also include the name of the postgraduate school and your field of study.