Tokyo, Japan – In a significant policy pivot, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has instructed his cabinet to actively recruit top-tier researchers from overseas, particularly from the United States. This strategic move comes in response to growing concerns over budget cuts and policy changes under the Trump administration that are impacting research activities in the U.S. “We will enhance our efforts to attract excellent researchers from overseas, including the United States, amid the U.S. government’s policies that have raised concerns about research activities,” Ishiba declared on June 4th at the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, which he chairs.
This marks a departure from Ishiba’s previous stance of avoiding active recruitment from U.S. universities, a position held out of deference to the United States. The shift underscores Japan’s determination to bolster its own scientific and technological prowess. While the ambition is clear, practical steps remain. Securing adequate budgets is a key hurdle, as salaries for elite university professors in the U.S. often exceed ¥30 million ($210,000) annually, significantly higher than their Japanese counterparts.
To overcome these challenges, the Cabinet Office will collaborate closely with the education ministry and other relevant institutions to swiftly establish measures for attracting these sought-after researchers. Tohoku University is being considered as a primary host institution, benefiting from a substantial ¥15.4 billion government allocation this fiscal year for the “University for International Research Excellence” project. Other leading institutions, such as the University of Osaka, have already announced their own initiatives to welcome researchers from the U.S., signaling a nationwide commitment to this endeavor.
The Japanese government is also contemplating a long-term increase in research budgets to address its weakening research performance, anticipating that current U.S. policies will continue to drive researchers abroad. Furthermore, the education ministry has urged Japanese universities to accommodate international students affected by the Trump administration’s policies targeting U.S. academic institutions like Harvard University. This comprehensive approach highlights Japan’s vision to become a global hub for research and innovation, leveraging international shifts to cultivate a more dynamic and diverse academic landscape within its borders.