U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation

The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1998 to broaden educational exchange and strengthen diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the U.S. and Japan. Our flagship program provides scholarships to undergraduates for academic study in Japan for a semester or academic year.

The Bridging Foundation's mission is to nurture U.S. undergraduates, particularly those who demonstrate academic merit and financial need, to broaden their worldview through long-term study abroad in Japan. Many of our graduates assume leadership roles supporting the U.S.-Japan relationship by becoming experts in arts, education, culture, business, diplomacy and security .

The Bridging Scholarship is a life-changing opportunity to study abroad in Japan in a credit-bearing semester or academic-year program. Each year, approximately 70-100 U.S. undergraduate students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need are selected as Bridging Scholars. In addition to receiving a cash stipend, Bridging Scholars participate in cohort programming designed to help students build a future as global citizens with a lifelong connection to Japan.

The Bridging Scholarship application is open annually with a deadline of March 15th.