The Mansfield Fellowship Program was established to build a corps of U.S. federal government employees with proficiency in the Japanese language and practical, firsthand knowledge about Japan and its government. Through their placements, fellows develop networks of contacts in Japan and an understanding of the political, economic, and strategic dimensions of the U.S.-Japan relationship. The fellowship is for 2 years, beginning with one year in the US of full-time or part-time Japanese study, depending on the Fellows’ starting language ability, alongside a monthly seminar series covering Japan-focused topics. The second year of the program begins with a 7-week course of intensive language study and is followed by 10 months of full-time work in Japanese government offices.