The AAC is comprised of distinguished scholars from various cultural and educational institutions across the United States. Based on the recommendations of the AAC, the final selection of grantees is made by The Japan Foundation Tokyo. The AAC screens the following four programs: Research Fellowships, Short-Term Research Fellowships, Doctoral Fellowships, and the Institutional Project Support Program (IPS). Applicants are usually notified of the results in April.
as of September 2012
Awards are made on the basis of scholarly and professional quality, the project's contribution to a better understanding of Japanese culture, arts, language, and society, and the project's potential to stimulate cultural relations between Japan and the world.