Hello friends, it’s G! Welcome to my first-ever GNotes, where I’ll be sharing a glimpse into my postdoc life in Japan.
I’m currently a postdoctoral research fellow under the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), nominated by the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) through the JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship program. My host institution is the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and my fellowship runs for up to two years. If you’re curious about JSPS postdoc opportunities, you can find more details [here]. For the residence status/visa, a fellow is typically granted 3 years of Professor visa (if the host institution is a university) or Researcher visa (if the host institution is a research institute).
One of the trickiest parts of applying for a JSPS fellowship is the intense competition. If you’re considering doing a postdoc in Japan, I highly recommend thorough preparation, not just in terms of research and applications but also in self-assessment. Ask yourself: Do you really want to pursue a postdoc, or would a position in academia or industry be a better fit for your goals?
For this GNote, I’ll be sharing how I got into the JSPS-UNU fellowship, what a typical day in my postdoc life looks like, and some practical tips for aspiring fellows who are thinking about pursuing this path.
How did I get here?
I first learned about the JSPS postdoctoral fellowship while I was still a PhD student at Waseda University. Since I had already set my sights on staying in Japan after my PhD, I started researching my options a year before graduating. By 2023, I was actively preparing my application, narrowing down my research focus, identifying potential host institutions, and reaching out to prospective mentors.
Choosing the UNU Path & My Host Institution
I decided to apply through the JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship because it offered a more straightforward process and aligned well with my research on education. UNU-IAS has four key research focuses, one of which is the Innovation and Education program, making it a natural fit for my work.
For practical reasons, I wanted to stay in Tokyo, so I explored several host institutions, keeping in mind that there were informal expectations to “de-monopolize” knowledge by choosing a university other than Waseda. With that in mind, I shortlisted Sophia University, Rikkyo University, and the University of Tokyo as potential hosts.
From there, I narrowed down my search by reaching out to professors whose research aligned with mine. They didn’t necessarily have to focus on Indigenous education specifically, but their expertise in inclusive education, comparative education, multiculturalism, and ethnic studies made them strong potential mentors.
The Application Process
I applied through UNU’s official application portal, which required:
- A detailed research plan
- Recommenders’ contact details
- CV and host researcher information
One crucial step was securing my host researcher’s approval before submitting my application. Like most JSPS fellowships, this one was also highly competitive. They received over 200 applications, and I was somewhere around the 135th applicant in the queue.
After passing the document screening, I was invited for an interview with a panel of UNU staff. A week later, I got the email that I passed the interview stage and was officially nominated by UNU for JSPS! Then, after two months of waiting, JSPS confirmed my acceptance, and I finally received my fellowship offer letter.
What Helped My Application Stand Out?
If I had to pinpoint what made my application strong, I’d say it was my academic track record, particularly my Scopus-indexed and UN-based publications, along with my teaching experience. These likely demonstrated my research credibility and potential contributions to the field.
Interestingly, I didn’t have a mentor guiding me through the process. I navigated everything on my own, relying on self-research, preparation, and confidence.
The Most Challenging Part? The Wait.
The hardest part of the process wasn’t the application itself; it was waiting for results while still juggling my PhD thesis defense. There was this nerve-wracking overlap where I was waiting to hear back from both my PhD evaluation and the JSPS selection committee at the same time. Thankfully, everything aligned in the end. I passed my PhD defense and secured the JSPS fellowship in one go!
An average day in the life of a postdoc fellow in Japan
Being a postdoc in Japan comes with a mix of academic independence, structured research, and occasional administrative hurdles, kind of like balancing a well-planned itinerary while still being open to unexpected turns of events. With dual affiliations at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) and UNU, my week is split between two different work environments, each with its own rhythm.
Mondays & Tuesdays at UTokyo: Research & Writing Days
On UTokyo days, I can choose between working at Komaba Campus or Hongo Campus, but I almost always end up at Hongo Campus—and for good reason. Working in Hongo’s main library feels like setting up camp in an architecturally stunning haven, complete with ECCS terminal monitors and diligent students around me that helped me get more focused on my work. It’s one of those rare places where the atmosphere itself makes you feel more productive.
A typical UTokyo day looks like this:
- Morning commute to Hongo Campus
- Lunch at Chuo Cafeteria
- Afternoon work session, typically focused on writing, reviewing, or refining my research
Wednesdays & Thursdays at UNU
UNU days are a completely different vibe: more structured, interactive, and team-oriented. UNU brings together researchers working on real-world policy applications, which makes my work here feel more hands-on and globally connected.
A regular Wednesday at UNU typically involves:
- Commuting to UNU in the morning
- Attending internal meetings, where we update each other on projects
- Working on concept notes for international conferences, policy sessions, and webinars
- Collaborating with research associates or assisting my supervisor on ongoing initiatives
- Co-organizing the Osaka Expo 2025 session, which will introduce high school students to Indigenous communities
- Commuting back home after wrapping up work for the day
The contrast between my UTokyo and UNU days keeps things interesting. UTokyo gives me space for deep work, while UNU connects me with a team working on projects with direct policy impact.
Work-Life Balance?
Despite wearing multiple hats, my work-life balance is actually pretty smooth. Both my host researcher at UTokyo and my supervisor at UNU are incredibly flexible and supportive, which makes a huge difference. Unlike some postdoc experiences where researchers are buried under heavy workloads, my mentors only assign tasks when necessary, allowing me the freedom to focus on my own research.
Because of this, I genuinely enjoy my postdoc life! Working with them feels easy, natural, and fun. It’s a rare kind of academic setting where you don’t feel like you’re constantly chasing deadlines but are instead given the time and space to think, explore, and grow.
Unexpected Perks & Challenges
Being a JSPS postdoc comes with some great perks, like:
- Access to KAKENHI research funding – Every JSPS fellow can apply for a grant-in-aid depending on their discipline. In social sciences, that means up to 1.6 million yen for two years, which can be a game-changer for research projects.
- Tax-exempt monthly stipend (362,000 yen per month) – Unlike typical salaries, the JSPS stipend is tax-free, which helps a lot when budgeting for life in Tokyo.
- Life insurance from the start to end of the fellowship period
- Roundtrip airfare (if you’re coming from overseas)
- Settlement allowance (200,000 yen)
However, challenges do exist, especially when it comes to institutional support. Not all universities in Japan are well-versed in handling JSPS fellowships, which means navigating administrative procedures can sometimes feel like working through a puzzle with missing pieces.
Luckily, UTokyo has hosted many JSPS fellows before, so the process is smoother compared to some other institutions. That said, international support could still use improvement—there are moments where figuring out research expenses and logistics can feel like learning an entirely new language. Thankfully, my host researcher has been incredibly kind and helpful in guiding me through the bureaucratic red tape.
Final Thoughts
Postdoc life in Japan, like most postdoc programs around the world, gives the early-career researcher a ‘gap’ to consider whether academia is for them. It’s kinda like a breather or floating job, for most of us. It’s a mix of structured research, institutional quirks, and a lot of independence; kind of like navigating a well-designed research playground where you have both freedom and occasional obstacles to overcome. So far, I’m enjoying the journey, and I look forward to seeing how my research evolves over the next two years.
Would you like to hear more about a specific aspect of postdoc life in Japan? Let me know in the comments! 😊