It’s finally here! After thirteen years, JAXA announced the application for the upcoming astronaut selection process on their website.

Selection process will start:

First Phase: 12/20/21-3/4/22

Second Phase: May 2022

Third Phase: July 2022

Fourth Phase:  November 2022

Fifth Phase: January 2023

Final Phase: February 2023

JAXA is selecting new astronauts for Japan to be the next generation of explorers. The primary focus of this selection is for the Artemis Program and the Lunar Gateway Program under the partnership between JAXA and NASA. The Artemis Program is paving the next wave of human exploration. 


Compared to the last selection process, this selection process has widened some of the requirements to allow a variety of applicants to apply. According to The Mainichi, … “it is possible for people who have only graduated from high school to apply, but during the selection process, they will undergo an English exam and they will also be tested in science on a level on par with Japan’s national civil service general employment test. A new evaluation of whether the applicant can express their experiences and achievements to the public will also be added” (The Mainichi, 2021). For the requirements of the last selection process, check it out  here.

Image Courtesy of JAXA

The minimum qualification:

  • Have at least three years of working experience 
  • Be between 4 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 3 inches height 
  • No irregularity in corrected vision, hearing, or color vision

For this upcoming selection process, some soft qualities:

  • Leadership 
  • Teamwork
  • Diversity & Inclusion 
  • Resiliency 
  • Flexibility
  • Decision-making ability
  • Communication 
  • Sharing of Experiences

The JAXA application page has also has included very helpful resources to assist throughout the application process:

After months of dedication and growth, I am very excited for this new chapter to begin. Over the past year, I have trained for a pilot’s license, received a scuba license, been exposed to various survival trainings, studied Russian language, and taken courses for my MBA. All these experiences have shaped who I am. I am looking forward to seeing the next wave of explorers come out in this era of human space exploration.