Agency for Cultural Affairs FY2026 "Global Expansion of Print Culture Promotion Project": Grant for Translation and Creation of Proposals and Sample Translations for Publishing and Distribution of Japanese Books Overseas
VIPO has been entrusted with the operation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs' "Global Expansion of Print Culture Promotion Project" for FY2026. The first call for applications for a grant program to subsidize the translation and creation of proposals and sample translations for the overseas licensing and negotiation of Japanese books will begin on May 1, 2026.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 23:00
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The Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO, Chairman: Takayuki Matsutani, Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) has been entrusted with the operation of the "Global Expansion of Print Culture Promotion Project" implemented by the Agency for Cultural Affairs for FY2026.
This project aims to promote and disseminate Japan's diverse and rich print culture overseas. It will discover and nurture translators who form the foundation for overseas dissemination, promote the overseas expansion of works by publishers, and conduct activities to deepen the understanding of Japanese print culture among literary and publishing professionals worldwide. As part of this, the first call for applications for a grant program to subsidize the costs related to the translation and creation of proposals and sample translations necessary for sales and negotiations when licensing Japanese books overseas will begin at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2026.
*Please note that this fiscal year, there will be two calls for applications, with the second call scheduled to begin around October 15, 2026 (Thursday).
Overview of the Grant (First Call for Applications)
[Purpose of the Grant]
To promote and disseminate Japan's diverse and rich print culture overseas, this grant aims to facilitate the overseas expansion of Japanese publishers by subsidizing the costs related to the translation and creation of proposals and sample translations necessary for sales and negotiations when licensing Japanese books overseas.
[Eligible Applicants]
Corporations established under Japanese law (limited to businesses engaged in publishing or agents engaged in mediating overseas translation rights directly commissioned by copyright holders).
[Scope of the Grant]
Grants will be provided for the following expenses necessary for sales and negotiations when licensing Japanese books overseas:
(1) Translation and creation of proposals (synopses)
(2) Costs related to English translation of samples
*A "proposal" in this grant refers to a synopsis used for translated publications.
[Grant Amount]
(1) Translation and creation of proposals (synopses): Up to 100,000 yen (excluding tax) per work
(2) Sample translation: Up to 500,000 yen (excluding tax) per work
[Maximum Number of Applications]
Up to 5 works per company
[Planned Number of Adoptions]
(1) Translation and creation of proposals (synopses): Approximately 110 works annually
(2) Sample translation: Approximately 65 works annually
*Decisions on adoption will be made by an expert review committee.
*Approximately 70% of the planned adoptions will be in the first call, and approximately 30% in the second call.
[First Call for Applications Schedule]
Period: 2:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2026, to 11:59 PM on Friday, May 29, 2026
・Notification of adoption decisions: Scheduled for late June 2026
・Translation completion date: After adoption, translations must be completed by the following deadlines:
(1) Translation and creation of proposals: September 30, 2026 (Wednesday)
(2) Sample translation: December 25, 2026 (Friday)
[About Application]
Please apply for the grant through the "Application Form" on the dedicated website.
Click here for the dedicated grant website
Agency for Cultural Affairs FY2026 "Global Expansion of Print Culture Promotion Project"
The Agency for Cultural Affairs is promoting and disseminating Japan's diverse and rich print culture overseas by discovering and nurturing translators who form the foundation for overseas dissemination, and by promoting the overseas expansion of works by publishers. It also conducts activities to deepen the understanding of Japanese print culture among literary and publishing professionals worldwide.
Project page: https://www.vipo.or.jp/project/jlpp/
[Inquiries regarding this matter]
Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO)
"Global Expansion of Print Culture Promotion Project" Secretariat
E-mail: jlpp_vipo@vipo.or.jp
*When making inquiries by email, please include "Inquiry: Print Culture Grant Project" in the subject line.
This project aims to promote and disseminate Japan's diverse and rich print culture overseas. It will discover and nurture translators who form the foundation for overseas dissemination, promote the overseas expansion of works by publishers, and conduct activities to deepen the understanding of Japanese print culture among literary and publishing professionals worldwide. As part of this, the first call for applications for a grant program to subsidize the costs related to the translation and creation of proposals and sample translations necessary for sales and negotiations when licensing Japanese books overseas will begin at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2026.
*Please note that this fiscal year, there will be two calls for applications, with the second call scheduled to begin around October 15, 2026 (Thursday).
Overview of the Grant (First Call for Applications)
[Purpose of the Grant]
To promote and disseminate Japan's diverse and rich print culture overseas, this grant aims to facilitate the overseas expansion of Japanese publishers by subsidizing the costs related to the translation and creation of proposals and sample translations necessary for sales and negotiations when licensing Japanese books overseas.
[Eligible Applicants]
Corporations established under Japanese law (limited to businesses engaged in publishing or agents engaged in mediating overseas translation rights directly commissioned by copyright holders).
[Scope of the Grant]
Grants will be provided for the following expenses necessary for sales and negotiations when licensing Japanese books overseas:
(1) Translation and creation of proposals (synopses)
(2) Costs related to English translation of samples
*A "proposal" in this grant refers to a synopsis used for translated publications.
[Grant Amount]
(1) Translation and creation of proposals (synopses): Up to 100,000 yen (excluding tax) per work
(2) Sample translation: Up to 500,000 yen (excluding tax) per work
[Maximum Number of Applications]
Up to 5 works per company
[Planned Number of Adoptions]
(1) Translation and creation of proposals (synopses): Approximately 110 works annually
(2) Sample translation: Approximately 65 works annually
*Decisions on adoption will be made by an expert review committee.
*Approximately 70% of the planned adoptions will be in the first call, and approximately 30% in the second call.
[First Call for Applications Schedule]
Period: 2:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2026, to 11:59 PM on Friday, May 29, 2026
・Notification of adoption decisions: Scheduled for late June 2026
・Translation completion date: After adoption, translations must be completed by the following deadlines:
(1) Translation and creation of proposals: September 30, 2026 (Wednesday)
(2) Sample translation: December 25, 2026 (Friday)
[About Application]
Please apply for the grant through the "Application Form" on the dedicated website.
Click here for the dedicated grant website
Agency for Cultural Affairs FY2026 "Global Expansion of Print Culture Promotion Project"
The Agency for Cultural Affairs is promoting and disseminating Japan's diverse and rich print culture overseas by discovering and nurturing translators who form the foundation for overseas dissemination, and by promoting the overseas expansion of works by publishers. It also conducts activities to deepen the understanding of Japanese print culture among literary and publishing professionals worldwide.
Project page: https://www.vipo.or.jp/project/jlpp/
[Inquiries regarding this matter]
Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO)
"Global Expansion of Print Culture Promotion Project" Secretariat
E-mail: jlpp_vipo@vipo.or.jp
*When making inquiries by email, please include "Inquiry: Print Culture Grant Project" in the subject line.