The Japan Foundation (Kokusai Kōryu Kikin), established in 1972, is Japan’s principal agency for international cultural relations under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It became an Independent Administrative Institution in October 2003. The mission of the Japan Foundation is to promote international cultural and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries. Through its headquarters in Tokyo and 22 overseas offices in 21 countries, the Japan Foundation conducts a wide range of programs concerning arts and cultural exchange, Japanese‐language education, Japanese studies and intellectual exchange. The Foundation operates on the income from an endowment, annual subsidies from the Japanese government, and donations from the private sector.

The Performing Arts Japan (PAJ) program was started by the Japan Foundation in 1994 with the mission to establish a system for promoting Japanese performing arts in North America. The PAJ program supports the initiatives taken by nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada to provide geographically diverse audiences with greater exposure to Japanese performing arts. PAJ also encourages collaborations between Japanese and American/Canadian artists, which will further an appreciation of Japanese culture when presented to audiences in the United States and Canada.

To date, PAJ has funded 222 projects (including 107 touring, 105 collaborative, and 10 special projects) of Japanese performing arts in both traditional and contemporary art forms. In the fiscal 2011‐2012, 11 projects (3 touring and 8 collaborative) are to be funded under the program, for a total amount of US$267,299 (please see the List of Awardees). PAJ is advised by an annually appointed panel composed of approximately ten performing arts specialists from throughout North America.

The Japan Foundation is now accepting proposals for projects to receive PAJ touring and collaboration grants for the 2012‐2013 fiscal year. To apply for the program, please read the following guidelines carefully, complete the Application Form and submit it along with other necessary materials to the Japan Foundation, New York (for U.S. organizations) or the Japan Foundation, Toronto (for Canadian organizations) no later than November 1, 2011.

List of past recipients (PDF)
Guidelines (PDF)
Application Form (WD)