What is the Kagoshima Otonari Kazuko Scholarship Fund?

It is a non-repayable grant-type scholarship for economically disadvantaged university students with ties to Kagoshima Prefecture.

What are the main eligibility requirements?

Applicants must be Japanese nationals entering their first year of university in April 2026, from single-parent households or similar economically difficult situations, and have a connection to Kagoshima Prefecture.

What is the scholarship amount and duration?

An annual grant of 1,000,000 JPY, totaling 4,000,000 JPY over four years, will be provided from April 2026 to March 2030.

Grant-Type Scholarship Application Opens: "Kagoshima Otonari Kazuko Scholarship Fund" for 2026 Academic Year Now Accepting Applications (Deadline May 17)

Published Apr 1, 2026 7:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 2, 2026 1:01 PM ・ 9 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

The Japan Philanthropic Association has opened applications for the 2026 "Kagoshima Otonari Kazuko Scholarship Fund," a non-repayable grant for university students.

On April 1, 2026, the Japan Philanthropic Association (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kazuhisa Kishimoto) announced the start of applications for the 2026 "Kagoshima Otonari Kazuko Scholarship Fund" (grant-type, no repayment required).

・ Purpose of the "Kagoshima Otonari Kazuko Scholarship Fund"

The "Kagoshima Otonari Kazuko Scholarship Fund" is a grant-type scholarship for university students established out of deep affection and a desire to give back to Kagoshima Prefecture, the hometown of the fund's donor. Its purpose is to provide an environment where students connected to Kagoshima can concentrate on their studies with peace of mind, without having to give up on higher education or continuing their studies due to economic reasons.

The fund was established with the hope that scholarship recipients will grow into individuals who take pride in their hometown and can contribute to society to make Japan a happier and better country.

Application Guidelines: https://np-foundation.or.jp/information/000362.html

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria: ◎ Students who will enroll in a Japanese university in April 2026 and are currently first-year university students at the time of application. ※ Limited to students in 4-year undergraduate programs. Excludes evening students, correspondence course students, and international students. ◎ Students from single-parent households or households without both parents, facing economic difficulties. ◎ Households with annual income falling within the following ranges (please refer to the application guidelines for details): ・2-person household or less: Household annual income (taxable income) less than 2,000,000 JPY ・3-person household: Household annual income (taxable income) less than 2,500,000 JPY ・4-person household: Household annual income (taxable income) less than 3,000,000 JPY ・5-person household: Household annual income (taxable income) less than 3,500,000 JPY ◎ Must meet at least one of the following conditions: ・The applicant or their parent resides in Kagoshima Prefecture at the time of application. ・Graduated from a high school in Kagoshima Prefecture. ・Attends a university in Kagoshima Prefecture. ◎ High school GPA of 3.5 or higher (for all subjects taken). ◎ Japanese nationality. ◎ Able to agree to the "Scholarship Recipient's Obligations and Precautions."

Scholarship Overview

Annual Grant Amount: 1,000,000 JPY (Total of 4,000,000 JPY over 4 years)

Grant Period: April 2026 - March 2030 (minimum period of study)

Scholarship Type: Grant-type scholarship (no repayment required)

Application Overview

Application Start: April 1, 2026 (Wednesday)

Application Deadline: May 17, 2026 (Sunday)

Number of Recipients: 2 (planned)

Application Schedule

Application Acceptance Start: April 1, 2025 (Wednesday)

Application Acceptance Deadline: May 17, 2025 (Sunday)

First Selection Result Notification: Mid-June 2026 (planned)

Second Selection (Interview): Early July 2026 (planned)

Final Result Notification: Late July 2026 (planned)

Award Ceremony: Mid-September 2026 (scheduled to be held in Kagoshima City)

Scholarship Grant Payment: Mid-September 2026 (planned)

How to Apply

Applications and other documents will be accepted via the electronic application system "Graain." Please create a new account on "Graain," enter the necessary information, and register your documents. Graain Registration Screen Graain New Account Creation Manual Graain Applicant Operation Manual

Inquiries

Please send inquiries to the foundation's main email address.

Email Address: info(at)np-foundation.or.jp

※ Please replace (at) with @.

Japan Philanthropic Association

The Japan Philanthropic Association, established in 2020, aims to provide funding for social contribution projects by soliciting donations, managing and operating them as funds, and conducting grant, scholarship, and commendation programs. It strives to nurture each donor's "aspirations" into "meaningful contributions" and aims to create a richer society as an investment in the future.

Website: https://np-foundation.or.jp/

FACT BOX

Source: PR TIMES
Category: News

Grant-Type Scholarship Application Opens: "Kagoshima Otonari Kazuko Scholarship Fund" for 2026 Academic Year Now Accepting Applications (Deadline May 17)

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