With generous support from the Japan-United States Friendship Commission, the OAH and the Japanese Association for American Studies (JAAS) will send two Ameri­can scholars in the summer or fall of 2008 to Japanese universities for two-week residencies. There, in English, the American historians give lectures and seminars in their specialty and provide individual consultation to Japanese schol­ars, graduate students and sometimes undergraduates studying American history and culture. Visitors also participate in the collegial life of their host institutions and help expand personal scholarly networks between Japan and the U.S.  The aim of the program is to contribute to the expansion of personal scholarly networks between the two countries. We are pleased to announce (pending funding) the twelfth year of the competition.

Round-trip airfare to Japan, housing, and modest daily expenses are covered. Awardees are also encouraged to explore Japan before or after their two-week residency at their own expense. Ap­plicants must be members of the OAH, have a Ph.D., and be scholars of American history. Applicants from previous competitions are welcome to apply again. Winners of the competition are expected to attend the 2008 OAH annual meeting in New York City (March 28-31), so that they can meet with visiting Japanese scholars and graduate students as well as the OAH-JAAS Historians’ Collaborative Committee.

The two host institutions in Japan for 2008 are:

• University of the Ryukyus, which seeks a specialist in Japanese American History, Asian Studies, and Ethnic Studies.    
• Waseda University, which is seeks a specialist focusing on Asian American Literature or Comparative U.S.-Japanese History.

More information about the Japanese host institutions is available at <http://www.oah.org/activities/awards/japan/>.

Applications should include the following:

1. A two-page curriculum vitae emphasizing teaching experi­ence and publications. Also include the names and contact informa­tion of three references.
2. The institution(s) for which you would like to be considered.
3. A personal statement, no longer than two pages, describing your interest in this program and the issues that your own scholarship and teaching have addressed. Please devote one or two paragraphs to why you understand this residency to be central to your development as a scholar in the world community. You may include comments on previ­ous collaboration or work with non-U.S. academics or students. If you wish, you may comment on your particular interest in Japan.

Applications must be sent in Microsoft Word (or .RTF) format by October 15, 2007 to the chair of the selection committee: Professor G. Kurt Piehler at <gpiehler at utk dot edu>. Applicants must be current members of the OAH.

List of Past Residency Recipients