Shigeto Sonoda
Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo

It's the time of year again when I write my post-selection comments. This year is the fifth time I have read application documents as the chair of the selection committee. With two new members joining the committee this year, I am now the most senior member of the committee, and the only one familiar with the program’s history. As a result, the range of perspectives expressed during the selection process was broader than ever.

This year, as in previous years, proposals were solicited under the following five themes:

(1) Creation of an environment where foreign talent can maximize their capabilities
(2) Correction of disparities in access to information for foreign talent
(3) Review of existing resources and personnel responsible for the care and support system for foreign residents
(4) Promotion of the inflow of highly skilled human resources
(5) Lessons learned from the knowledge and experience of Japanese companies' overseas business activities

Applications were accepted from Monday, September 1 to Saturday, November 15, 2025. During this period, two online information sessions were held (September 17 and 26), and at the same time, preliminary individual consultations were offered until Wednesday, October 29 to address questions from prospective applicants.

These efforts appear to have paid off: the final number of applications was 74, up from 59 last year.

The median amount requested by the 74 applications was 9.73 million yen (range: 1 million to 10 million yen). There was a noticeable increase in the number of applications requesting smaller amounts. Applicants included 19 full‑time university researchers, 12 NPO/NGO staff members, and 12 employees of companies—the number of applications from the private sector rose. In recent years, many proposals from university researchers focused on theme (4), but this trend seems to have eased.

As I pointed out last year, the scope of the applications continues to broaden, and it is increasingly difficult to determine at first glance which of the five categories an application fits into. Also, several applications this year incorporated AI‑based approaches, which is a reflection of the growing presence of AI in society.

Program officers (POs) first screened the application documents to remove incomplete or unsuitable submissions. The three committee members reviewed all the applications. For shortlisted applications, the committee interviewed project representatives and carefully considered their responses during its deliberations.

The selection meeting was held on February 10, 2026. Ultimately, seven projects were selected.

Below is a brief overview of the selected projects and comments from the committee.

D25‑MG‑0016 Kondo Atsushi, Professor, Faculty of Law at Meijo University
Diversity Charter and Social Integration Course for Creating an Environment that Maximizes the Skills and Potential of Foreign Talent

This proposal, related to (1), aims to develop a Diversity Charter to promote a fair social environment in which foreign talent can thrive, along with a Social Integration Training Plan to be presented to legislative and administrative bodies. The selection committee found the proposal timely but pointed out the need to carefully consider issues such as the process for developing the training plan and how it will connect to residence status.

D25‑MG‑0032 Fujii Sayaka, Professor, Institute of Systems and Information Engineering
Building Inclusive Cities with Foreign Residents: Urban Planning Approaches to Foster Spatial and Behavioral Coexistence

This proposal, related to (1), seeks to integrate the coexistence of foreign residents and local communities into Japan’s urban planning system, drawing on international examples. Working with officials in Itabashi Ward (Tokyo), Toyota City (Aichi) and other places, the project plans to develop concrete urban design proposals through resident surveys and workshops implemented together with administrative officials. The selection committee praised the innovative concept while offering suggestions regarding the more efficient use of funds.

D25‑MG‑0038 Seki Sosuke, Deputy Representative, Legal Consultation for Foreign Nationals
Transforming Friction into Community Connection: Developing a Training Program to Address the Roots of Rumors and Building a Nationwide Network

This proposal, related to (1), aims to share experience in the implementation of “anti‑rumor strategies” through training programs within Japan, based on insights from overseas. The project’s track record of implementation in 10 prefectures over the past five years contributed to its strong evaluation as a modest but timely proposal. It was also highly regarded for the diversity of its participants, which include experts in law, education, and local government administration.

D25‑MG‑0058 Shin Myoungjik, Professor, Kumamoto Gakuen University, Faculty of Foreign Studies
Project to Foster Foreign Talent in Rural Areas Through the Building of a Sustainable Multicultural Coexistence Sphere

This proposal, related to (1), seeks to cultivate foreign human resources in rural areas by creating a multicultural coexistence platform through a collaboration involving farmers and university faculty and establishing a fair‑trade certification system and a farmer training program. This project is based in Kumamoto, and some committee members initially questioned the project’s potential for broader dissemination beyond Kumamoto, but the applicant’s explanations clarified the concrete actions involved, leading to its selection.

D25‑MG‑0060 Suzuki Maho, Representative Director, Certified Nonprofit Organization ICAN
Expanding Career Pathways for Second-Generation Immigrants and Community Development through Outsourcing Digital Tasks in Local Industries ̶ An Implementation Model Centered on Micro-outsourcing

This proposal, related to (1), aims to create a system that enables second‑generation immigrants to apply their digital skills in local industries, addressing the issue of their concentration in non‑regular employment. Targeting Minokamo City and Kani City in Gifu Prefecture, the initiative was praised as a “two‑birds‑with‑one‑stone” initiative that also revitalizes local industries with the support of role models. At the same time, the committee also encouraged efforts to expand these initiatives to other regions.

D25‑MG‑0066 Yumino Aya, General Practitioner/Project Assistant Professor, Yokohama City Kotobuki-cho Health and Welfare Exchange Center Clinic/Department of International Cooperation for Medical Education, International Research Center for Medical Education, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Healthcare Access Reform for People with International Backgrounds through Online Consultations and Multidisciplinary Networks

This proposal, related to (1), aims to expand online medical consultations for foreigners by integrating multilingual consultations, medical interpretation, examinations, and referral letter preparation into systems. The selection committee highly praised the innovative approach to easing the burdens borne by Japanese medical institutions regarding foreign patients. However, they also urged continued efforts to broaden access, as the initial phase will be limited to foreigners able to pay in advance.

D25‑MG‑0068 Takeda Yuko, Professor, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine
Developing Video-Based Learning Tools and Communication Training Programs to Foster Collaborative Relationships between Japanese and Foreign Care Workers

Falling under themes (1) and (3), this proposal seeks to create a system that supports foreign caregivers by developing video‑based training materials for smooth in‑home care, which has been permitted since 2025, and a communication training program using plain Japanese. The applicant previously received a grant in 2019 for a related project that preceded this application, and the positive outcomes of that earlier work contributed to this application’s selection this year.

While proposals related to themes (4) and (5) were selected in previous years, this year’s selections were concentrated in theme (1). However, the diversity of their content suggests that theme (1) may simply be broader and more encompassing than the others.

As I pointed out in last year’s review, the key points for selection are not only the importance of the proposed project but also whether it demonstrates both originality and potential to be a scalable model, rather than remaining confined to a specific region or target group. Even a valuable project will not be highly rated if it is limited to a specific region or target group and lacks any consideration of institutional development. Crafting a proposal that is both concrete and forward‑looking is not easy. I encourage future applicants to review the projects selected in previous years and reflect on what made them compelling.