Japan is Australia’s second largest trading partner; our economies are deeply entwined.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation  (Friendship and Cooperation Treaty), 2026 is a milestone year to reflect on five decades of partnership, shared values, and enduring collaboration.

Australia and Japan are invested in both deep and broad conversations, including the G20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum. Significantly, Japan was one of four key nations to trial the New Colombo Plan Scholarship program with DFAT in 2014.

The Friendship and Cooperation Treaty was initiated under Prime Minister Whitlam and signed in Tokyo in 1976 by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and Prime Minister Miki Takeo. It recognises friendship, shared interests and interdependence as core principles, and established a framework for further cooperation. The treaty extended the most-favoured-nation treatment beyond trade in goods to include investment and migration and was a critical step in broadening economic ties and our shared interests in education.

Article III of the treaty states,

“1. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to facilitate, strengthen and diversify mutual understanding and co-operation ha such areas of mutual interest as the political, economic, labour relations, human rights, legal, scientific, technological, social, cultural, professional, sporting and environmental fields. To this end, the Contracting Parties shall encourage and promote in these fields, to the fullest extent practicable, appropriate study and research, exchange or information, knowledge and visits, and other suitable activities.”

With more recent frameworks including, the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue, the Quad, and Partners in the Blue Pacific we have multiple ongoing dialogues; our connectivity is also shaped by the Australia-Japan Foundation, Australia’s oldest cultural council established in 1976 to support our people to people-to-people links.

And nothing reflects people to people links… like educational exchange.

The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) scholarships enable international students, both undergraduate and postgraduate to study in Japan, with the program boasting an enviable global alumni community of more than 100,000 professionals.

The April 2026 release of the MEXT Scholarship application guidelines and forms for Embassy Recommended graduates is now an opportunity in this anniversary year to progress the work of Masters and PhD students between the two nations. Applications are now being accepted.

MEXT came into being in its current form in January 2001 by merger of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (Monbushō) and the Science and Technology Agency. Through various administrative iterations the Scholarships have been active since 1954, serving both nations prior to the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Back to the treaty… it supports the continued expansion of the Australia–Japan relationship, which today is underpinned by significant two-way trade, investment and strong people-to-people connections. Australia and Japan cooperate across a wide range of areas to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

In this anniversary year, initiatives and activities featuring the 50th anniversary logo will be highlighted. The anniversary also elevates the Australia-Japan Special Strategic Partnership, established in April 2015, redefining our cooperation for the next 50 years and engaging the next generation of leaders.

With those generation leaders in mind, MEXT defines research students as all graduate students, creating opportunities for:

Master’s Degree Student
Doctoral Degree Student
Graduate-level Professional Degree Student (e.g. MBA, JD)

Applications are accepted for programs in a field related to the applicants undergraduate major or that show a relationship between past studies and what will be studied in Japan. The generous Scholarships provide an exemption from tuition, entrance examination, and matriculation fees, a monthly stipend, and international airfare.

The maximum scholarship period is up to 24 months for Master’s Degree or Professional Degree Students, 36 months for Doctoral Degree or Doctoral-level Professional Degree Students and for doctoral students in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or pharmacy, the period is 48 months.

This year presents opportunities to elevate educational ties between Australia and Japan. Be it research partnerships that enable MEXT application or events that celebrate educational ties, 2026 represents a great wave of opportunity for education colleagues across both nations.

50th Anniversary next steps?

If you are organising an event, initiative or activity that will promote the 50th anniversary or Australia-Japan cooperation, you can apply to use the DFAT 50th anniversary logo, receive a branding package and opt to be listed on the Embassy of Japan in Australia’s events page.

Information about applying is here.
Check out anniversary events in Australia here.
Information about events in Japan are here.

MEXT Scholarship next steps?

MEXT recognise scholars as conduits between Japan and Australia via their research activities, elevating the contribution they make to the development of both nations. Applications are now being accepted.

Learn more about MEXT here.
Further information as an Australian applicant here.
Apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate, listed here.

Note: For interest, the DFAT 2006 publication “Friendship and co-operation: the 1976 Basic Treaty between Australia and Japan” authored by Moreen Dee, within the series Australia in the World – The Foreign Affairs and Trade file No.3 is an excellent read and available here.