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The 22nd Grant for Research on Children's Education Practice

The Hakuhodo Foundation for Education has officially declared that the application period for the 22nd Grant for Research on Children's Education Practice will commence on July 1, 2026. This initiative aims to foster research focused on developing the “power of language” while enhancing the quality of education practices in children's education.

Purpose of the Grant

The primary goal of this grant is to support outstanding research associated with the nurturing of children’s educational practices within universities, research institutions, and education-related professionals. By investing in innovative research perspectives, the foundation hopes to enrich practical environments, thereby strengthening the foundation of children's education overall.

Research Focus Areas

The grants are targeted towards two specific categories of research:

1. Research to Foster “Power of Language”

• - Studies within the fields of national language and Japanese language education.
• - Investigations into language education across various learning environments.

2. Research to Enhance the Quality of Children's Educational Practices

• - Studies aimed at improving the quality of educational practices across diverse settings.

Note: The primary focus is on elementary and middle school levels, but if the impact on children's education is clear, research related to early childhood education and high school students may also be accepted.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the grant, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• - Individuals engaged in educational practices associated with Japanese schools or boards of education (including, but not limited to, teachers, instructional supervisors, counselors, and special support education aides).
• - Researchers affiliated with Japanese universities or public research institutions (such as associate professors, lecturers, teaching assistants, or doctoral students). Note that professors or equivalent positions are excluded to support younger scholars.

Conditions apply; the affiliated institution must be located within Japan, and only residents of Japan can apply. All age groups, nationalities, and degrees are eligible (students must hold at least a master’s degree). Both individual and group research projects are permissible, but in group projects, all members must meet the eligibility criteria at the time of application. A recommendation from a supervisor or academic advisor is also required.

Grant Amount

• - One-year grant: Up to ¥2 million per project.
• - Two-year grant: Up to ¥3 million per project.

Schedule

• - Application period: From July 1, 2026, to October 13, 2026. Applications must be made through the foundation's website.
• - Notification of results: Late February 2027.
• - Grant period: From April 1, 2027, for one or two years.

About the Hakuhodo Foundation for Education

Established in 1970, the Hakuhodo Foundation for Education aims to contribute to sound human development through financial support for national language education and education for visually and hearing-impaired individuals, along with related research activities. The foundation has a long-standing tradition of recognizing exceptional educational practices through its Hakuhodo Award and engaging in various activities focused on “children,” “language,” and “education,” including the “Research Grant for Children's Education Practice” and the “Teacher Training Scholarship.”

By continuing to support innovative educational research, the foundation is devoted to uplifting the quality of education for children across Japan.