(Fiscal Year 2010-2011)

Support Program for Translation and Publication on Japan 

To promote Japanese studies and a better understanding of Japan abroad, the Japan Foundation provides support to projects relating to translating and/or publishing Japanese works on Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts and publishing books introducing Japanese culture written in foreign languages. This program's objectives are to enable foreign publishers to publish Japan-related books with financial difficulty on a commercial basis, to lower the selling price, and thus to make the books accessible to wider readers.

Eligible Applicants

(1)  Applications can be accepted only from publishers (corporations) abroad. Individuals, such as an author or a translator, who wish their work to be considered are therefore requested to reach an agreement first with a suitable publisher, through whom the Japan Foundation’s support may be requested. Domestic publishers may also apply only if there is a written contract/agreement with foreign book distribution companies.

(2)  Applicants must fulfill the following requirements in order to be eligible:

a.  Applicants must have the capabilities necessary for implementing their planned projects.

b.  Receipt of grants or support from the Japan Foundation must not violate any laws, regulations and ordinances in the applicants country.

(3)  In principle, applicants should have bank accounts to which the grants by the Japan Foundation can be remitted, or to be able to open such accounts by the time the grants are sent.

(4)  For individuals or organizations that have continually received support from the same program for the past three fiscal years, unless the Japan Foundation believes there is a compelling reason for them to continue receiving such support, our policy is not to provide grants for the fourth fiscal year. This is a measure to avoid giving ongoing support to the same applicants, and to distribute grants to as many applicants as possible. It is possible to apply for the same program for a fourth consecutive fiscal year, but please be aware that in this case we will place a low priority on your application.

(5)  In principle, the Japan Foundation does not provide grants for:

a.  Foreign governments, including their administrative organs and their embassies and consulates general in Japan, but excluding academic, cultural or research institutes such as universities and museums; and

b.  International organizations to which the Japanese government makes a financial contribution. 

Coverage

(1) The Japan Foundation shall provide financial support for a portion of the production costs and translator’s fee with the limit of 2,000,000 yen for one book. However, if a single application is made either for Publication Support or for Translation Support, the maximum amount will be reduced to 1,000,000 yen.

a. Publication Support

A portion of the production costs (paper, plate-making, printing, binding, etc.) will be covered and its percentage will not exceed 50% of the costs the recipient has paid. 

b. Translation Support

A portion of the translator’s fee will be covered and its percentage will not exceed 60% of the costs the recipient has paid.

(2) The amount will be decided by the Japan Foundation, according to the genre of the book, the publishing situation in the applicant’s country, etc.

(3)  Note

a. Publishers shall be independently responsible for copyright arrangements, editing, design, printing, and all other necessary work.

b. Manuscript fees, copyright fees, proofreading fees are not applicable.

Support for Publication

Eligible Projects for Subsidies

Translation and/or publication of works and publication of newly written work. Projects for “translation only,” “publication only,” and “translation and publication” are acceptable.

(1)  Requirements

      Projects must meet the following requirements.

・  Plans and methods for implementing the projects must be appropriate and there must be sufficient expectation that the projects will yield positive results.

・  Projects must not be for religious or political purposes.

a.  Books

    Japan-related books in the fields of the humanities, the social sciences, and the arts, including both newly written works and translations, that will be completed between April 1, 2010 and February 25, 2011.

b.  Manuscripts

(a)  “Publication only” and “translation and publication”

      In principle, manuscripts must be already completed.  (Final manuscripts are desirable, but at least the first draft of the manuscript must be already completed).

(b)  “Translation only”

      Applications can be accepted if the translation is partly finished.  The completion of the translation and thus the payment of the translator's fee must be scheduled between April 1, 2010 and February 25, 2011.

c.  In the case of translated works

(a)  Translation must be made directly from the original work. Retranslation of works already translated into another language will only be considered for applications from the countries where the number of translators is limited.

(b)  The original work must already be published in the form of a book.

(c)  The copyright arrangements concerning original works must already be completed.

(d)  Applicants must publish, in principle, the translation within two years after its completion.

(2)  Projects Not Eligible for Subsidies

      In principle, the following projects will not be considered:

a.  projects that will be used for religious or political purposes;

b.  periodicals, special issues, proceedings;

c.  museum catalogues, guidebooks, pamphlets, etc.;

d.  works not expected to secure for wide-distribution, including those to be distributed for free;

e.  projects for which the translator’s fee is paid by royalty;

f.  language dictionaries and Japanese teaching materials;

g. reprints of works already published.

 APPLICATION MATERIALS 

• Application Instructions

• Application Form 

• Program Guidelines

Please make sure to inform the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles of your intention of applying for this program, before you download the application materials.

 [Contact]   Name:  Yoshihiro Nihei (Program Associate)
                 Email:  culture@jflalc.org
                 Tel:      1-213-621-2267 (Ext.#109)

Deadline: November 20, 2009 (Fri)   (receipt deadline)

Please send your application to the following address:

The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
Attn: Yoshihiro Nihei
333 South Grand Ave. Suite 2250
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Documents to be Submitted

Application forms must be accompanied by the following documents, which will become the property of the Japan Foundation and will not be returned. Incomplete applications may not be given due consideration. Applicants are requested to inform recommenders that the recommendations are provided to outside consultants in the screening process and evaluation procedures of projects.

a. Support for publication

(a)  In the case of newly written works:

i)    a sample of the manuscript, at least 30 pages, long enough to follow the context, and drawn from the most important part of the work;

ii)   syllabus;

iii)  the table of contents;

iv)  a formal estimate, presented by a printing company, with detailed statements of the costs of paper, plate-making, printing, binding, etc.;

v)   recommendations by two readers whose own specialties bear on the subject (one copy each, free format). Book reviews from newspapers or magazines are not accepted.

(b)  In the case of translations:

i)    a sample of the translation, about 30 pages long;

ii)   the corresponding sections of the original;

iii)  the table of contents of the original text, and also that of the translation, if some modifications to the original, such as abridgment or the addition of some other writing, have been made;

iv)  a formal estimate, presented by a printing company, with detailed statements of the costs of paper, plate-making, printing, binding, etc.;

v)   a copy of documents which prove that the applicant has cleared the copyright concerning the original;

vi)  recommendations of the merit of translating the work by two readers whose own specialties bear on the subject (one copy each, free format). Book reviews from newspapers or magazines are not accepted.

b. Support for translation

i)    a sample of the translation, about 30 pages long;

ii)   the corresponding sections of the original;

iii)  the table of contents of the original text, and also that of the translation, if some modifications to the original, such as abridgment or the addition of some other writing, have been made;

iv)  a copy of the contract made with the translator's fee, the payment conditions, the working terms, etc.;

v)   a copy of documents which prove that the applicant has cleared the copyright concerning the original;

vi)  recommendations of the merit of translating the work by two readers whose own specialties bear on the subject (one copy each, free format).

c. For domestic publishers

a copy of the documents proving that the applicant has a contract with foreign book distributors, or has a large foreign market, etc.