"Concerns Over Research Activities Due to U.S. Policy Shift"... Japan Seeks to Attract Overseas Researchers

Trump Administration Increases Pressure on Prestigious Universities Like Harvard
Japan: "Strengthening Recruitment of Outstanding Foreign Researchers, Including from the U.S."
Universities Such as Tohoku University Attract Talent with High Salaries

As the Donald Trump administration in the United States intensifies its pressure on prestigious universities, particularly Harvard University, the Japanese government has announced plans to actively recruit overseas researchers. The aim is to attract talented researchers who are seeking to avoid President Trump’s policies. According to Yonhap News on June 5, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated at the Comprehensive Science, Technology, and Innovation Conference on June 4, "Concerns are arising over research activities due to the shift in U.S. government policy," and requested, "Please strengthen efforts to invite outstanding foreign researchers, including those from the United States." The Asahi Shimbun analyzed this move, noting, "Japan has previously refrained from publicly expressing its intention to attract American researchers out of consideration for its ally, the United States, but has now changed its stance."

Students are cheering at the 374th Harvard Commencement held on the 29th of last month (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The Cabinet Office of Japan, together with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, is reviewing measures to secure overseas talent. There are also considerations to increase the relevant budget in the medium to long term to enhance research capabilities. Tohoku University, a national university, has announced plans to invest 30 billion yen (approximately 2.85 billion KRW) over the next five years to hire about 500 world-class researchers. On the same day, Tohoku University President Daisy Dominaga told the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), "We will prepare an annual salary of 30 million yen (about 28.5 million KRW) per professor," and added, "For exceptionally talented researchers, there will be no upper salary limit for recruitment."

Tohoku University, which was selected last year as an 'International Excellent Research University' for priority support by the Japanese government to strengthen research capabilities, is reported to be receiving 15.4 billion yen (about 144.7 billion KRW) in financial support this year. It is also known to have held five recruitment briefings in the United States, securing the hiring of 36 foreign researchers, including 16 Americans. In addition, by March next year, the university plans to invest another 2.2 billion yen (about 20.9 billion KRW) to recruit 100 more researchers. The university also plans to strengthen cooperation with American universities by establishing a quantum technology laboratory with the University of Chicago and a semiconductor research laboratory with the University of Washington, among other initiatives.

Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Other universities are also actively working to recruit overseas researchers. Hiroshima University has secured a total of 700 million yen (about 6.6 billion KRW) to hire dozens of researchers, while Ritsumeikan University has allocated 500 million yen (about 4.7 billion KRW) to recruit up to 16 overseas researchers. Osaka University’s medical school has announced plans to hire 100 doctoral-level researchers, and it is reported that the chairman of Tokyo University of Science personally visited the United States on June 8 to lead recruitment efforts.

On June 4, President Trump issued a proclamation banning the entry of all foreign students seeking to enroll at Harvard University for six months. He also instructed the Secretary of State to consider canceling existing F, M, and J visas for international students currently enrolled at Harvard. In response, on June 5, Judge Allison Burroughs of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts accepted Harvard’s emergency application and issued an order temporarily suspending the enforcement of President Trump’s executive order to halt foreign student visas, resulting in ongoing confusion.

Since U.S. universities accept a large number of international students, the impact of the Trump administration’s pressure is significant. According to an analysis by the Associated Press of data from the U.S. Department of Education, in 2023, international students accounted for about 6% of all college students in the United States, but the average for the eight Ivy League universities was 27%, more than four times higher.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.