JSPS London

29/09/2026

【🎉Introduction of JSPS Fellowship Awardees🎉】

Let us introduce a postdoctoral researcher from The University of Sheffield who has conducted research in Japan this summer under JSPS Summer Programme!

Dr. Rory Kirk is an awardee of JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Summer Programme. He has conducted research in Japan this summer with Dr. Shinya Fujii, an associate professor at Keio University: https://www.keio.ac.jp/en/faculty/k_100012635/).
He shares his thoughts about research and life in Japan as follows!
“My research investigates the use of music for sleep and relaxation. This summer I’ve been visiting the Neurosciences of Music Laboratory at Keio University to study Orin, the Japanese Buddhist meditation bowl that has been used for centuries in meditative practices. We have been measuring brain and body responses (EEG, heart rate, respiration) of people as they listen to Orin to understand how its long, slow oscillating sounds induce relaxational states.
There was so much I enjoyed about Japan. It is a vast, amazing country that has everything, from the nightlife in Tokyo and Osaka to the amazing nature in its forests, mountains and beaches. My advice to future JSPS fellows is to make the most of it - try everything, meet people, go out of your way and explore.”
We are pleased to hear that his time in Japan has offered valuable opportunities for his research while allowing him to enjoy life in Japan.

Please refer to the following website if you are interested in our Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Summer Programme or Keio University.
○Keio University Website: https://www.keio.ac.jp/en/
○JSPS Website (Summer Programme): https://www.jsps.org/upcoming/2026/09/jsps-london-call-for-the-2027-summer-program.html

🌊APPLICATION NOW OPEN for Summer Programme (FY2027) !
⏰Closing Date for Applications: Monday 19 October 2026 at 09:00 (am) UK time.
🎉 New for FY2027: The program is now open to UK permanent residents as well as British nationals!

22/09/2026

【📣第8回英国サバイバルセミナーを開催します！】

JSPSロンドン研究連絡センターでは、大学その他の公的研究機関で研究に従事されている在英日本人研究者へ情報交換の場を提供するため、在英日本人研究者の会を開催しています。
本年度は11月9日（月）に「第８回英国サバイバルセミナー」を開催します！🎉

本セミナーでは、英国の大学や研究所に在籍する日本人研究者としてどうあるべきか、研究生活や日英共同研究への取り組み等、英国でのサバイバルに関する知見を共有することを目的にしています。
本年は、基調講演にImperial College London教授・田中玲子先生をお招きし、女性のキャリアにもフォーカスしたご講演をいただきます。また、参加者の皆様より興味のある事項を予めお寄せいただき、これに基づき多様なパネリストがディスカッションを⾏います。

さらに、今年度は在英日本人研究者だけでなく、将来的に海外での研究活動や留学に関心のある学生・研究者等にも広くご参加いただけるよう、ハイブリット形式で拡大開催いたします。
セミナー終了後には、交流の場としてネットワークレセプションを設けております。

⽇時 ：2026年11⽉9⽇（月）GMT 14:30〜19:00　(14:00開場)
JST 23:30～26:40
会場 ：ハイブリッド開催　JSPSロンドン研究連絡センター現地及びオンライン（Zoom）
定員　：先着50名 (現地参加)　／　先着500名 (オンライン)
参加費　：無料
⾔語 ：⽇本語
参加登録方法 ：ご参加にあたり、10月19日(月)までに、２つのフォームへの回答をお願いしております。フォームへのリンクは以下ウェブサイトよりご確認ください。
JSPSロンドン研究連絡センターウェブサイト　：https://www.jsps.org/jbuk/network.html
問い合わせ先　：lon-info●overseas.jsps.go.jp（送信時は●を@と入れ替えてください。）

15/09/2026

【Fellowship Call】🌊JSPS Summer Program 2027 – Applications Now Open!

An unforgettable summer experience awaits you in Japan!

📒Program Outline:
The JSPS Summer Program Fellowship offers the opportunity for pre/postdoctoral researchers to receive an orientation on Japanese culture and Japanese language lessons and to pursue research under the guidance of host researchers at a Japanese university or research institute over a period of two months during the summer.
⏰Closing Date for Applications: Monday 19 October 2026 at 09:00 (am) UK time.
🎉 New for FY2027: The program is now open to UK permanent residents as well as British nationals!

Interested? Visit our website for full details and application guidance.
https://www.jsps.org/latest_calls/2026/09/jsps-london-call-for-the-2027-summer-program.html

You can also explore experiences shared by previous JSPS Summer Program fellows in our recent posts.

11/09/2026

【Upcoming Event📣】
We are delighted to co-host an academic symposium “UK-Japan Symposium on Smart Robotics in the AI Era” on 25 September 2026.

Organised by Dr Shuhei Miyash*ta at The University of Sheffield, who is a member of JBUK (Japanese Researchers Based in the UK network), the symposium brings together leading early-career researchers from Japan and the UK working on smart robotics in the AI era, particularly in the emerging field of physical AI enabled by edge AI technologies. The symposium will provide a platform for exchanging cutting-edge research on microrobotics, assistive robotics, and autonomous systems, and for exploring how these technologies can address societal challenges in healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing. Through academic presentations and networking, the event aims to establish and strengthen long-term UK-Japan collaboration between The University of Sheffield, Nagaoka University of Technology, and Osaka Metropolitan University, particularly in supporting researcher exchange and future joint research initiatives.
For more information including the programme, please refer to our website: https://www.jsps.org/events/2026/09/uk-japan-symposium-smart-robots-in-the-ai-era.html

This event is sponsored by JSPS London Symposium and Seminar Scheme, which supports events organised by members of the JSPS Alumni Association of the UK and RoI or Japanese Researchers based in the UK or RoI at institutional or departmental level. Japanese researchers including postdocs and PhD students based in the UK are welcome to join the JBUK network free of charge.

○Registration for JBUK
https://ssl.jsps.org/members/?page=regist
○JSPS London Symposium and Seminar Scheme
https://www.jsps.org/alumni_jbuk/2018/05/jsps-london-symposiumseminar-scheme.html

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is Japan's leading funding agency and is largely funded through annual subsidies from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

21/08/2026

【🎉Introduction of JSPS Fellowship Awardees🎉】

We have been introducing fellows from universities and research institutes in the UK who are researching in Japan. From now on, we also would like to introduce Japanese researchers conducting research in the UK under Overseas Research Fellowship programme, “海外特別研究員(Kaigai Tokubetsu Kenkyuin)” in Japanese. (https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-ab/index.html)

The following is a self-introduction and message for future Japanese research fellows from Dr. Ryo Tachibana, who completed his PhD at Kyoto University and has been conducting his research in the Department of Plant Sciences, Cambridge since April 2025.

(※日本語が英語の後に続きます。)
“I am a JSPS Overseas Research Fellow in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge. My research investigates how plants regulate chloroplast development and photosynthesis in response to light and hormonal signalling. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to developing crops with enhanced photosynthesis, higher yields, and improved nutritional value.
One thing that surprised me about research life in the UK is that our department has a tea room with two optional tea breaks every day, providing a valuable opportunity for informal discussion. I was also surprised by the remarkable number of pubs and how deeply they are embedded in British social life.
Working abroad brings challenges, but it also offers new perspectives, experiences, and connections. I would encourage researchers interested in working overseas to take the opportunity, even if they do not feel completely prepared. “
“私は現在、⽇本学術振興会海外特別研究員として、ケンブリッジ⼤学植物科学科で研究しています。植物が光や植物ホルモンシグナルに応答して葉緑体 の形成や光合成を制御する仕組みを研究しており、将来的には、光合成能⼒を⾼めることで、収量が多く栄養価にも優れた農作物の開発につなげたいと考えています。
英国で驚いたことは、学科に tea room があり 、毎⽇ 2 回、⾃由参加の tea time が 設けられていることです います。また、パブの数が⾮常に多く、英国の⽣活や交流に深く根付いていることにも驚きました。 気軽な会話や研究交流の貴重な機会になっています。
海外での研究には難しさもありますが、新しい視点や経験、⼈とのつながりを得られます。完全に準備が整っていなくても、海外研究に関⼼があれば挑戦してみることをお勧めします。”

We are grateful to Dr. Ryo Tachibana for sharing his research experience as a JSPS Overseas Research Fellow. We look forward to featuring more JSPS Overseas Research Fellows and sharing their experiences in the UK in future posts!

14/08/2026

【🎉Introduction of JSPS Fellowship Awardees🎉】

Let us introduce a PhD student from the University of Birmingham who is conducting research in Japan this summer!
Ms. Naya Desai is an awardee of JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Summer Programme. She is currently in Japan conducting research with Dr. Katsunori Furuya, a professor at Chiba University.

She shares her thoughts about research and life in Japan as follows!
“As global temperatures are rising, urban environments are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the harmful effects of extreme weather events, making it imperative to adapt. Urban vegetation is widely recognised Nature-based Solution (NbS) as it provides cooling, mitigates stormwater runoff, improves air quality, etc.; however, to continue providing these benefits, the vegetation itself must remain healthy and resilient under increasing climatic stress. Therefore, my research investigates how climate change affects urban vegetation, particularly its resilience and capacity to support climate adaptation. This work is underpinned by remote sensing, machine learning, and Earth system modelling. During my time here at Chiba University, I have been investigating how Japanese culture may influence vegetation management practices and, in turn, vegetation health through semi-structured interviews with park managers. Subsequently, I will contextualise these findings through remotely sensed vegetation dynamics.

Although this summer has provided me with an immense range of research opportunities, it has also broadened my perspective in many other ways. Japanese culture is so rich and deeply rooted that it can be felt even in small, everyday interactions, such as the casual bow exchanged when passing someone on the street. It has become clear to me that care and respect are highly valued within Japanese society which is something I'm grateful to have experienced. In less abstract terms, I have also personally enjoyed Japan’s firework festivals, getting to meet so many new people, exploring Japan's architecture and design, visiting shrines and temples, and, of course, walking through Tokyo's parks and gardens!

Overall, I would recommend this programme to anyone seeking to broaden their horizons in more than one way. This experience has been truly pivotal for me, both professionally and personally, and I cannot thank JSPS enough. My advice to future JSPS fellows would be to remember that, although there is so much to see, do, and experience while in Japan, it is equally important to pause and take it all in. It genuinely is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

We are delighted to know that her time in Japan has provided valuable opportunities for academic growth while also allowing her to enjoy life outside of work.

Please refer to the following websites if you are interested in our Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Summer Programme or Chiba University.
○Chiba University Website: https://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/e/
○JSPS Website (Summer Programme): https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/e-summer/index.html

07/08/2026

【🎉Introduction of JSPS Fellowship Awardees🎉】

Let us introduce a PhD student from the University of Sheffield who is conducting research in Japan this summer!
Ms. Emily Calcraft is an awardee of JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Summer Programme. She is currently in Japan conducting research with Dr. Makiko Takemoto, an associate professor at Hiroshima City University.
She shares her thoughts about research and life in Japan as follows!

“My research focuses on British peace activism in the twentieth century. I have been building a comparative study between Japan and Britain in the hope of expanding our understanding of peace education, both in contemporary and historic contexts. To do so I visited various peace museums and archives across Japan, including the Ritsumeikan museum, the Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum and Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum in Hiroshima, and the National Diet Library.
The thing that I enjoyed the most in Japan is the Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki. I was surprised by how easy the country was to navigate. The local train systems, street-cars, buses and the shinkansen all make for stress-free journeys.
My advice to future JSPS fellows would be to make sure to reach out to other fellows during your stay and form a network of friends and colleagues. “

We are pleased to learn that she has been enjoying a fulfilling and enriching experience in Japan, both professionally and personally.
Please refer to the following websites if you are interested in our Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Summer Programme or Hiroshima City University.
○Hiroshima City University Website: https://www.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp/en/
○JSPS Website (Summer Programme): https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/e-summer/index.html

*Fun Fact: There are two styles of okonomiyaki. Hiroshima-style is made by layering the ingredients and typically includes noodles, while Kansai-style is prepared by mixing the ingredients into the batter and usually does not contain noodles. There is a rivalry between the two regions, and people in both areas take great pride in their own version!

03/08/2026

On 29th July, we were invited to “UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026” as a guest speaker for a session where we introduced JSPS programmes, researchers’ careers and their various activities to high school students. In our session, Dr. Shin Nishio, also delivered a presentation on his research and life in the UK. He is conducting research on quantum computing in Professor Dan Browne’s group in UCL and is currently a recipient of JSPS Overseas Research Fellowship (https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-ab/index.html).
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Professor Shin-ichi Ohnuma, Deputy Director of International Relations at UCL and Chair of the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge Committee, for inviting us to the session, and to Dr. Shin Nishio for generously sharing his research and experiences with the students.

*“UCL-Japan Youth Challenge” is an annual summer school programme for pre-university students from UK sixth form colleges and Japanese high schools for cultural interaction through various educational activities and events held at UCL and the University of Cambridge. More information is available on the website below.
○UCL-Japan Youth Challenge Website: https://www.ucl-japan-youth-challenge.com/

31/07/2026

【🎉Introduction of JSPS Fellowship Awardees🎉】

Let us introduce a PhD student from the University of Wi******er who is conducting research in Japan this summer!

Ms. Susan Birch is an awardee of JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Summer Programme. She is currently in Japan conducting research with Professor Atsuko Hayakawa at Tsuda University.
Ms. Susan shares her thoughts about research and life in Japan as follows!
“My research focuses on Marie Stopes (a birth control activist and botanist) and her work in Japan. I am examining the transnational connections she made in Japan (she was one of the first women to travel to Japan for research). For my research I have been based at Tsuda University. I have also visited The University of Tokyo and the botanical gardens (where she was based) and the National Diet Library. I am planning to visit Nagoya and Osaka to use the library and speak to academics about Marie Stopes' work.
I have enjoyed everything about Japan- particularly the connections I have made at the university. Everyone has been so welcoming and interested in my research. I couldn't have asked for more support! On a personal note, I have loved the food and the culture and have been supported by my homestay family. What surprised me was the bus system which is different to England! I have quickly learnt this, however, and have felt really a part of Japanese culture and life.
My advice for future JSPS fellows is to take each opportunity you are given. It is very different but wonderfully so! I am thoroughly enjoying my time here. My other advice would be regular communication with your host which has really helped my development as a researcher. I am most appreciative of her support!”
We are delighted to know that she is having a wonderful time in Japan, both in her research and in her life outside of work!

Please refer to the following website if you are interested in our Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Summer Programme or Tsuda University.
○Tsuda University Website: https://www.tsuda.ac.jp/en/
○JSPS Website (Summer Programme): https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/e-summer/index.html

（The painting behind her is a famous portrait showing the founder of the Tsuda university.）