The Read Japan program donates books about contemporary Japan to libraries around the world. Libraries can apply to receive books from the “100 Books for Understanding Contemporary Japan” catalog below by submitting applications to The Nippon Foundation after reading the Application Guidelines below (B).

A. “100 Books for Understanding Contemporary Japan”

These 100 books, which were selected by a committee of Japanese and foreign scholars, journalists, etc., cover five categories: Politics & International relations, Economy & Business, Society & Culture, Literature & Arts, and History.

100 Books for Understanding Contemporary Japan (PDF)

B. Application Guidelines

a) Application Materials:

Please download the following application form (MS WORD) and book checklist (MS EXCEL), fill in the necessary information in English, and then submit them together with a cover letter by e-mail to bookproject@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp

Three Required Application Materials:

Important: We must receive ALL THREE of the application materials listed below to process your application. Partial submissions will not be accepted.

1. -Application form (Please note that file may open behind your browser window.)
   
2. -Book checklist
   
3. -Cover letter on letterhead
   Note: We also encourage you to send us photographs of your library, if possible

b) Application Deadline: July 31, 2010

Please send the required application materials by the above deadline. The application will be screened and libraries will be informed as to the success of their application by the end of September,2010. Within two weeks after receiving your application, we will send a message acknowledging receipt. In case you do not receive it, please do contact us as e-mail communication could be sometimes very unstable.

c) Eligibility: We invite applications from the following libraries

• -University libraries and public libraries used by scholars and students
  
• -Libraries serving a general public
  
• -Libraries attached to research organizations and think tanks
  Note: Priority will be given to institutions that have not previously received books through this program.

d) Costs ：The Foundation is responsible for shipping expenses. However, libraries are responsible for payment of customs fees, VAT and other related charges incurred in the destination country.

C. List of Recipient Libraries

Libraries that have received books to date are listed below by region.
Total of 351 libraries (Approx. 300 in FY 2009)

• -North America: 238
  
• -Europe: 90
  
• -Other Regions: 23