JCIE’s US-Japan Journalism Fellowship brings American journalists to Japan to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese policymaking and the dynamics of US-Japan relations. Participants take part in a structured weeklong program of meetings with policymakers, social leaders, and innovators, then stay in Japan for one to two more weeks of individualized meetings and site visits.
At a time when Asia seems destined to play an increasingly prominent role in global affairs, the US relationship with Japan is a key to American policy in the region. This program gives outstanding journalists whose reporting will benefit from a deeper understanding of Japanese politics, economics, society, and foreign policy a rare chance to discuss the pressing issues of the day with leaders from different sectors of Japanese society. By exposing participants to leaders and thinkers with a variety of viewpoints, the program aims to develop a cadre of journalists who have a sophisticated understanding of the complex dynamics that shape US-Japan relations and, more broadly, the US role in Asia. It also helps them develop their professional network with experts in the region.
![]() The 2015 cohort at Meiji Shrine after a briefing on the role of religion in modern Japanese society. |
![]() 2015 Fellow Sally Herships of MarketPlace interviews a community leader in Kamaishi, one of the hardest hit areas in the Tohoku disaster zone. |
Hear 2017 Fellows describe their experiences.
This program is possible thanks to the generous support of the United States–Japan Foundation, a private, independent American grantmaking foundation that promotes stronger ties between Americans and Japanese.