What We Have Done

Looking Back on the Achievements of the Last Forty Years (Digest Version)

Since its establishment in 1972, the Japan Foundation has introduced leading and established art and culture of the times, continuously developed programs to enrich Japanese-language education all over the world, and created numerous opportunities to exchange wisdom between Japan and other countries.
Note: The years described below indicate Japanese fiscal years (April to March).

1.Overview of the Japan Foundation
2.What We Do to Engage with People Throughout the World
3. How We Support People in Cultural Exchange
4.The Japan Foundation's Overseas Offices
5.What We Have Done / Looking Back on the Achievements of the Last Forty Years
6.How We Keep Step with You

1970's
1980's
1990's
2000's

1970's

1973: Started Japan Foundation Fellowship Program
1973: Established the Japan Foundation Awards
1973: Commenced Training Program for Japanese Language Teachers Abroad
1974: Started quarterly publication of Kokusai Koryu (International Exchange)
1974: Published the first issue of An Introductory Bibliography for Japanese Studies
1975: Released the first report of Survey on Japanese-language Education Abroad and found approximately 78,000 Japanese-language learners overseas
1975: Held the first Noh theater performance in the Middle East
1977: Invited French cultural anthropologist and ethnologist Claude Lévi-Strauss
1978: Dispatched a sport team to six Asian countries for the first time, having gathered a total of 200,000
1979: Sent a Kabuki troupe to China – the first cultural exchange project under governmental auspices

Andre Malraux, former Minister of Culture in France invited under the Japan Foundation Fellowship Extraordinary program (1974)

The first Asian Traditional Performing Arts (ATPA) exchange program （1976）

1980's

1983: Started broadcasting of TV skits for Japanese-language learners Yan and the Japanese People overseas
1984: Held the first Japanese-Language Proficiency Test overseas. Taken by 4,473 in 19 cities in 14 countries
1986: Published English version of The Basic Japanese-English Dictionary, followed by multiple language versions
1986: Exhibited "Japon des Avant Gardes 1910-1970" in France. Visited by 150,000

Photo of "The Great Japan Exhibition: Art of the Edo Period" as the main event of "Japan in London" (1981)
"The Great Japan Exhibition: Art of the Edo Period" as the main event of "Japan in London" (1981)

Photo of Training Programs for overseas teachers of the Japanese Language (1981)
Training Programs for overseas teachers of the Japanese Language (1981)

1990's

1991: Started Abe Fellowship Program
1993: Published the first issue of Japanese Book News
1994: Held performances of a triple production of Noh, Bunraku, and Kabuki versions of “Shunkan” in Europe
1995: Exhibited "Asian Modernism: Diverse Development" in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand
1996: Organized Japan Pavilion at the 6th Venice Architecture Biennale, having won the International Prize Golden Lion for the best national participation
1996: Launched Asia Leadership Fellowship Program
1998: Published English translation of Shiba Ryotaro's The Last Shougun: The Lite of Tokugawa Yoshinobu

Photo of The Southeast Asia Festival '92 in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN (1992)
The Southeast Asia Festival '92 in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN (1992)

Photo of A theatrical production "Lear" with staff and cast from six Asian countries (1997)
A theatrical production "Lear" with staff and cast from six Asian countries (1997)

2000's

2001: Co-hosted the first Yokohama Triennale 2001
2002: Launched "Future Leaders Forum: Japan-China-Korea"
2005: Invited Afghanistan potters for peace-building through culture
2006: Held a symposium and workshops "A Wild Haruki Chase: How the World Is Reading and Translating Murakami"
2006: Launched Long-term Invitation Program for Chinese High School Students (Chinese text only)
2006: Initiated Japan-US Dialogue for Cooperation in Reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina
2006: Invited young designers from five countries in Asia and held a joint fashion show with Japanese students
2007: Organized performing arts workshops for children in Aceh , Indonesia for peace-building through culture
2009: Held the first-ever Bunraku performance in Russia
2009: Found 3.6 million Japanese-language learners overseas
2010: Released "JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education 2010"
2014: Started the Asia Center Programs

“Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese.”
"Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese.", first on TV in- and outside Japan (2006)