If you are currently studying in Japan β or planning to β here is a genuinely life-changing opportunity you need to know about. The Tobe Maki Foundation (ε ¬η貑ε£ζ³δΊΊ ζΈι¨ηη΄θ²‘ε£) is a prestigious Japanese public interest foundation that provides non-repayable scholarships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students studying at universities across Japan.
The foundation’s mission is beautifully simple: support students who carry the potential to shape the future of Japan and the world. Whether your passion lies in chemistry, food science, arts, sports science, or business management β this scholarship was created for ambitious, dedicated students like you.
Applications for the 2026 academic year are now open, with a deadline in May 2026. Read on to find out everything you need to know.
Looking for more Japan and Asia opportunities? Explore all scholarships at Gradualin Scholarships
π Scholarship Overview
The Tobe Maki Foundation is a certified public interest foundation headquartered in Osaka, Japan. It was established in memory of Tobe Maki and is managed under the leadership of Tobe Sadanobu. The foundation runs three main support programs: a student scholarship, a research grant, and an arts activity grant β all designed to nurture the next generation of leaders, researchers, and artists in Japan.
The scholarship program specifically supports students studying at Japanese universities who show strong academic performance, a genuine eagerness to learn, and financial need. Both Japanese students and privately-funded international students (foreign exchange students on self-funded status) are eligible to apply.
| Feature | Details |
| ποΈ Foundation | Tobe Maki Foundation (ε ¬η貑ε£ζ³δΊΊ ζΈι¨ηη΄θ²‘ε£) |
| π Location | Osaka, Japan |
| π Level | Undergraduate (3rd year+) & Graduate (Masters/PhD) |
| π° Monthly Amount | Β₯70,000 (Graduate) / Β₯60,000 (Undergraduate) |
| β³ Duration | 2 years (extendable up to 4β5 years) |
| π Open To | Japanese students + Self-funded international students |
| π Application Deadline | May 8β12, 2026 |
| π Official Site | tobe-maki.or.jp |
π Benefits & Funding
One of the most attractive features of this scholarship is that it comes with absolutely no repayment obligation. Here is what successful applicants receive:
- Graduate students: Β₯70,000 per month (approximately Β₯840,000 per year)
- Undergraduate students: Β₯60,000 per month (approximately Β₯720,000 per year)
- Duration: 2 years as a base, with possible extension up to 4 years β and in exceptional cases, all the way through doctoral completion (5+ years)
- Payment method: Funds transferred directly to the student’s personal bank account every two months
- No post-graduation obligations: After graduation, students are completely free in their career choices
β οΈ Note: If you already hold another large non-repayable scholarship from a private or municipal body (combined total exceeding approximately Β₯2,000,000 per year), the Tobe Maki amount may be reduced to half. Scholarships from JASSO and tuition exemptions are not counted toward this limit.
π Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Tobe Maki Foundation Scholarship, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Currently enrolled at a university or graduate school in Japan and must remain enrolled throughout the grant period (April 2026 β March 2028)
- Must be a 3rd year undergraduate student or above, or a Master’s or PhD student
- Must be 30 years of age or younger as of April 1, 2026 (exceptions may apply for those with childcare responsibilities, illness, or natural disaster impacts)
- Must be studying in one of the five eligible fields (see below)
- Must demonstrate academic excellence, strong motivation, and good conduct
- Must demonstrate financial need (considered during the selection process)
- International students must hold a “Student” (ηε¦) visa and be self-funded (privately funded) β government-sponsored exchange students are not eligible
English Proficiency: No specific IELTS/TOEFL requirement is stated, as the scholarship targets students already enrolled and studying within Japan. However, the application process and all correspondence are conducted entirely in Japanese, so strong Japanese language ability is essential.
π Who Should Apply
This scholarship is perfect for you if you:
- Are studying in Japan at the undergraduate (3rd year+) or graduate level
- Are researching or studying in chemistry, food science, arts/design, sports science, or business management
- Need financial support to continue and deepen your studies
- Are motivated, academically strong, and engaged in your field
- Are an international student with a self-funded student visa in Japan
Who Should NOT Apply:
- Students on government-sponsored scholarships (such as MEXT) with a “sponsored” status
- Students whose current institution or scholarship explicitly prohibits concurrent awards
- Students involved in religious or political activities as a primary purpose
π Available Fields / Eligible Programs
The Tobe Maki Foundation accepts applications from students working in these five areas:
- Chemistry β including organic, inorganic, physical and applied chemistry research
- Food Science β broadly covering all food-related research and nutrition studies
- Arts / Design β fine arts, graphic design, visual communication, media arts
- Physical Education / Sports Science β sports performance, exercise science, health promotion
- Business Administration β business management, public administration, marketing, and related fields
Importantly, the relevant field is not determined by the name of your department or faculty β it is based on what you are actually researching. So if your study topic overlaps with any of these five areas, you are encouraged to apply regardless of your department’s formal name.
π Required Documents
Applicants must submit documents both online (web upload) and by postal mail. The required documents are:
- Scholarship Application Form β foundation-designated format (available after online registration)
- Letter of Recommendation β foundation-designated format, signed and stamped by your university president or dean (department head), plus your academic supervisor
- Certificate of Enrollment β original copy, issued after April 1, 2026
- Academic Transcripts β official originals covering your full academic history (undergraduate + graduate). Graduate 1st year students do not need graduate-level transcripts
- GPA Documentation β transcripts must include cumulative GPA; if not, a supplementary GPA document must be provided using the foundation’s format
- Certificate of Residence (δ½ζ°η₯¨) β original copy, without My Number, sent by postal mail only
- Passport-sized Photo β recent upper-body, front-facing photo taken within 3 months of submission
All documents must follow the foundation’s strict formatting guidelines. Applications that do not comply with the sample formats provided will be disqualified.
π Application Process
The Tobe Maki Foundation uses a two-step submission system β both online and by post must be completed:
Step 1: Visit the official application portal and complete the online basic information registration to create your personal account (My Page)
Step 2: Download the required application forms from your My Page and complete them carefully, following the provided sample formats
Step 3: Collect all required documents, obtain necessary official stamps and signatures on the recommendation letter, and scan documents as PDF files
Step 4: Upload all documents (except the Certificate of Residence) through the online portal before the web submission deadline
Step 5: Send original documents by post (including the Certificate of Residence) to the foundation’s Osaka office
Step 6: Await results β selection results are announced in early July 2026 and communicated via email
β οΈ Important: Submit the web application before the postal submission. Documents arriving after the deadline will not be considered, regardless of the reason.
π Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| π’ 2026 Recruitment Open | Now open |
| π Web Submission Deadline | May 8, 2026 (Friday) |
| π¬ Postal Submission Deadline | May 12, 2026 (Tuesday) β must arrive by this date |
| π£ Results Announced | Early July 2026 (via email) |
| π° First Payment | July 2026 (covering AprilβJuly as first 4-month installment) |
| π€ Annual Exchange Event | August 23β25, 2026 |
π Why Apply β Why This Foundation Stands Out
The Tobe Maki Foundation is not just a scholarship β it is a community. Here is why this opportunity is worth pursuing:
- No repayment, ever β this is a pure grant, not a loan
- Long-term support β base duration of 2 years, extendable up to 4 or even 5+ years for exceptional doctoral researchers
- Annual exchange gatherings β scholars from all fields come together, building real professional and personal networks
- Arts activity grants also available β if you are a young artist in music or fine arts, the foundation separately supports artistic endeavors
- Research grants also offered β for researchers in the five eligible fields, separate competitive research grants are available
- Based in Osaka, one of Japan’s most vibrant and internationally connected cities
- Scholars have gone on to win international awards, present at global conferences, and build impactful careers
Explore more fully funded opportunities: Fully Funded PhD Scholarships UK 2026 | Fully Funded Scholarships USA 2026
π Official Source
For the most up-to-date and official information, visit the Tobe Maki Foundation directly:
- π Official Website: https://tobe-maki.or.jp
- π Scholarship Guidelines: https://tobe-maki.or.jp/scholarship/
- π₯οΈ Online Application Portal: https://tobe-maki.yoshida-p.net/
- π Address: 3-2-21 Otedori, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0021, Japan
Browse all scholarship opportunities on Gradualin: gradualin.com/category/scholarships/
π Scholarship Summary
| Detail | Information |
| ποΈ Organization | Tobe Maki Foundation, Osaka, Japan |
| π Level | Undergraduate (3rd year+), Master’s, PhD |
| π° Monthly Stipend | Β₯70,000 (Graduate) / Β₯60,000 (Undergraduate) |
| π Duration | 2 years base (up to 4β5 years) |
| π Eligible Applicants | Japanese + self-funded international students in Japan |
| π Fields | Chemistry, Food Science, Arts/Design, Sports Science, Business |
| π Repayment | None β fully non-repayable grant |
| π¬ Deadline | May 8 (web) / May 12 (postal) 2026 |
| π£ Results | Early July 2026 |
