In 1996, the International House of Japan and the Japan Foundation jointly created the ALFP. The program provides selected leaders in the region with an opportunity to reside for two months at the International House of Japan in Tokyo, and engage in collaborative and individual research/exchange activities. Since the initiation of the program, the ALFP has annually invited six to seven fellows from nearly seventeen Asian countries and regions. There are now nearly 100 fellows who come from diverse professional backgrounds, including academia, journalism, publishing, law, education, the arts, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and non-profit activities.

During the fellowship, the fellows take part in activities, such as those as below, that are pre-set for but the program is flexible, leaving time and space for fellows to design additional activities. The formal activities as well as informal gatherings and staying together as a group for the period itself is the appeal and the foundation for the network of Asian intellectuals centered around the fellows.

We recommend applications especially from

• those who have built a career in a certain field and would like to go to the next stage by connecting with people from other fields and ideas.
• those who believe that society can change but are searching for the realistic means.
• those who are active in tackling social issues yet see limitations in seeking a solution in one’s own country and would like to learn from people with a different cultural background but a kindred spirit.