Asia / Germany Japan Programme
The German-Asian Programme was founded in 1995 at the suggestion of the Federal Foreign Office on the occasion of the “Asia-Europe Summit” in Bangkok. For many years, journalists from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the countries of Southeast Asia were supported.
In 2024, IJP offered a fellowship exclusively for Japan for the second time, highlighting Japan’s strategic importance in the geopolitical shifts and as a host of the Expo 2025. The focus of this programme is on economics, geopolitics, environment /energy / climate politics and new technologies. Applicants are expected to have a strong expertise in at least one of these fields. Details on the continuation of the programme will follow.
Timeline
The programme begins in early June with an introductory event in Berlin. Afterwards, the Japanese fellows begin their placements at their host media in Germany. The German fellows will go to Japan for their two-month stay by mid-September.
Application
Applications are open to Japanese and German journalists aged between 28 and 45 who regularly work as freelancers, trainees or editors for German or Asian newspapers, radio or TV stations or online editorial offices. A very good knowledge of English is expected. Knowledge of the German language is not mandatory. For more details on the application procedure, please refer to the current call for applications (pdf).
Scholarship
Fellows of the programme receive a one-time payment of 4,000 euros. This amount is intended to cover travel expenses, food and accommodation as well as the cost of health insurance. Payment by the host media is not to be expected.
