The application process is long and drawn out starting 9 months or so before you leave. Don't rely on the following check with your local Japanese embassy or consulate.

Generally applications have to be submitted by the beginning of December. You can now apply if you are living in Japan, you apply to your national embassy in Tokyo. Applications are reviewed over December and January, and interviews often held in February. Results are advised by around early April. You are given one of three results, accepted, rejected but on the alternate (wait) list, rejected not going. You will not know your destination at that stage, you are expected to accept not knowing where you are going, backing out after you have found out your location usually means you will not be considered again. For those who have been accepted placement details are advised when they are available often May and June, however there are often problems in Japan which delay placements being advised.

Some time before you leave, your institution and predecessor should contact you and give you some details about your new life. With email you should be able to harass your predecessor with any questions you have.

Departure is in two groups (A and B) depending on where you are coming from, in late July or early August. If you are an alternate the wait can be stressful as alternates are called to fill places which for various reasons have not been filled, the embassy staff are often still trying to fill positions right to the last minute. There is a final group (C), which leaves late August.

Summary

July to September	Register interest with consulate
September	Application forms available
December	Application deadline
January	Applications reviewed
February	Interviews
April	Initial acceptances
May onwards	Placement details
end July	Arrive Tokyo

Find your new home
If you know the address of your new home there will a seven digit postal code in the form xxx-xxxx with the postal symbol in front, a "T" with a line over it. Enter it in the form below. The results are in Japanese but worth looking at even if your computer can't handle Japanese.