Support Program for Translation and  Publication

Application Closes in December for FY 2027

This program is designed to provide partial financial support for overseas publishers intending to translate and publish works originally written in Japanese. The program aims to foster better understanding of Japanese culture by encouraging overseas publishers to translate and publish Japanese works. The grant covers part of the translation and publishing costs (e.g., costs for paper, typesetting, platemaking, printing, and binding).

Eligibility
Publishing companies outside of Japan. 

Eligible ProjectsTranslation and publication projects of works written in Japanese and already published in Japan (works of fiction and works of nonfiction in humanities and social sciences).
The projects must fulfill all of the following requirements:

(1) The translated work must be published between April 1, 2027, and February 29, 2028. However, applicants may apply for support for translation fee only, provided that they publish the translated edition within two years of completion of the translation. They may also apply for support for the publication costs of the same project in a different fiscal year (e.g., applying for translation support in the first year and for publication support in the following year).

(2) The original work written in Japanese must already be published at the time of application. 

(3) As a general rule, translations must be made directly from the original works. Regarding translation and publication in languages where the translator pool is limited, approval may be given for support for translation from a previously translated edition of the work.

(4) In principle, the contract for acquisition of translation rights of the original work must have been concluded. In case of indirect translation, permission must also be obtained from the copyright holder of the foreign language edition from which the applicant’s translator intends to translate. As for the translation fee, a written contract between the publisher and the translator must have been concluded at the time the application is submitted. Submission of a copy of each contract is required for the application.

(5) A part of the draft translation should accompany the application. The draft should be equivalent to approximately 30 pages of the original work. 

(6) The plan for the project should be appropriate to the realistic and practical completion of the translation.

(7) Projects must not be used for religious or political purposes.

＊Grant applications for e-book publication projects are accepted. 

＊The following categories of works are not eligible: 

・Works originally written in a language other than Japanese; 

・Reprints of previously published translations; 

・Periodicals (including special issues), proceedings, exhibition catalogues, travel brochures, language dictionaries, and Japanese-language teaching materials;

・Works not expected to secure wide distribution, including those only to be published for donation purposes; 

＊Applicants cannot reapply for projects that were rejected in the past without a new plan and/or revised translation. 

＊If payment to the translator is to be in the form of royalties (i.e., the translator is paid only based on the actual number of copies sold after the book is published), the applicant may not apply for support for translation (it is possible to apply for support for publication only). 

Grant Coverage
Part of the following costs paid between April 1, 2027, and February 29, 2028:

(1) Translation fee (paid to a translator by an applicant); 

(2) Publication costs such as costs for paper, typesetting/platemaking, printing, and binding; paid to printing companies. 

    ＊Copies of the contract between the translator(s) and applicant, as well as estimates for the costs that the applicant intends to cover by the grant, from the printing or other companies, will be required at the time of application. Receipts from the translator(s), printing company, and paper manufacturers, will be needed when the applicant claims the grant payment after publishing the book.

・Please note that only the expenses paid on and after April 1, 2027, are applicable. Any expenses paid before April 1, 2027, are not applicable. 

・The grant shall cover part of the translation cost and part of the publication costs mentioned above. 

・Costs for editing, acquisition of translation rights, copyright clearance, proofreading, and other in-house expenses are not applicable.

・Grant payments will be made after the completion of translation and/or publication. 

・The grant will not cover project expenses funded by other organizations.

 

Number and the average amount of assistance of Grants (Reference)
Number of assistance: 77 out of 125 applications for FY 2026
Average amount of assistance for FY 2026: Approximately JPY 618,000

Selection Policy

1 Screening will be conducted after consulting with experts in the field. 

2 Relatively higher evaluation will be given to the translation and/or publication of the following works: 

(1) The titles in Worth Sharing―A Selection of Japanese Books Recommended for Translation and Lifelong Favorites―Selections from the Bookshelves of Young Readers in Japan. The list of the titles is available on the Japan Foundation’s website: https://www.worthsharing.jpf.go.jp/en/ 

(2) Works that are considered to have a wide influence on society; not only limited to researchers but expected to get a wide range of readers in the applicant’s country; 

(3) Works by authors who have never been translated and published in the applicant's country before, or works directly translated from Japanese works in languages or areas where translations of Japanese works are rarely published. 

3 The grant amount will be determined by the Japan Foundation based on the project plan.
 

Application Deadline: 8:00PM (PST), November 30th, 2026
Notification of Results: Late April 2027

 

Notes for all Applicants
Please refer to the Japan Foundation website for information on application procedures and important notes common to all programs.
JF website: The Japan Foundation - General Instructions