18-12 months before application
Find the research direction
Before choosing professors, narrow broad interests into 3-5 concrete research keywords. A clear direction makes every later step easier.
Traps
Why people get stuck here
These misconceptions aren't rare scenarios — most people hit at least one of them at this step. Knowing in advance doesn't mean you won't stumble, but it can save you a few weeks of detours.
Using only a broad field name such as AI or economics.
Treating personal interest as a researchable direction.
Skipping this step and choosing professors without criteria.
Breakdown
How to break this task down
Follow the checklist below and you won't miss anything important. You don't have to finish it all at once, but every item should be clearly answered within this stage.
- List recent topics or papers that genuinely interest you.
- Abstract them into 3-5 field keywords and possible research objects.
- Check whether those keywords lead to active researchers in Japan.
- Compare whether Japan is a meaningful setting for the topic.
Notes
Recommended reading
Concrete experience written down by those who came before — most useful read alongside the breakdown above.
Tool
Related tool
There's a ready-made tool for this step. You don't have to use it every time, but it's worth opening when you're stuck.
Research direction workbench
AvailableClick to open · use it right here in this step
Open tool