Message from President

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your warm support and understanding of the activities of the Japan Foundation.

As you may know, the recent surge in visitors to Japan has been nothing short of extraordinary. Boosted by the weak Japanese yen, the number of visitors is on track to exceed a record-breaking 36 million by the end of 2024. I find it particularly interesting that the enthusiasm of travelers to Japan goes beyond simple sightseeing to include a growing fascination with immersive cultural experiences. It brings me joy to see Japanese culture attracting more and more tourists from abroad, as people around the world not only embrace cultural diversity but also seek deeper, more personal connections with cultures that align with their own tastes and interests.

The long-awaited Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will soon take place, offering an excellent opportunity to promote international exchange as part of a vision for the future. It is a great honor that the Japan Foundation has had the privilege of playing a meaningful role in this journey, having shared Japanese culture with the world and nurtured bonds of friendship since our establishment fifty-three years ago.

Yet, the world’s political and social landscape is becoming more and more fragmented—with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and growing instability in other regions. These challenges cause us concern as nations appear to increasingly prioritize hard power within their national security frameworks. In such turbulent times, preventing conflicts and promoting peace are paramount, and the use of soft power—such as people-to-people networking and cultural exchanges—becomes essential to long-lasting peace as part of national security.

People-to-people networking and cultural exchanges are key to mutual understanding, the easing of tensions, and the creation of peaceful, stable international relationships. Through our activities which embrace diverse cultures and encourage empathy, the Japan Foundation aims to continuously ensure Japan’s place as a trusted and valued member of the global community. Based on this policy, we will contribute to multicultural cohesion by expanding Japanese-language education, deepen understanding of Japan’s culture, and spread awareness of it throughout the world, as we build networks with cultural figures and academic experts, foster youth exchange, and engage in multifaceted people-to-people networking activities.

We will achieve these goals especially through our initiative called “Partnership to Co-create a Future with the Next Generation: WA Project 2.0”, in which we collaborate closely with ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN community. Specifically, we will engage more intensively with local communities in ASEAN and other Asian countries by expanding our activities—for example, sending NIHONGO Partners to assist in language classes and to introduce Japanese culture abroad. We will also cultivate links between cultural professionals and young leaders from Japan and the ASEAN countries, promoting collaboration and dialogue in the arts and academia. Our goal is to create an environment where co-creation can thrive.

With the United States, we share a close, long-standing friendship, and we will further strengthen our countries’ grassroots network and ensure that our bond endures for future generations. With Africa, we will enhance the connection between the Japanese and African peoples through cultural exchange and Japanese-language initiatives around the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), to be held in Yokohama in August 2025. In addition, we will contribute to inter-cultural community building by taking measures, focused on upcoming “Training and Employment System for incoming workers”, within the Japanese-language study and examination system. Furthermore, we will address strengthening international bonds in line with pivotal diplomatic milestones, including the sixtieth anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and Republic of Korea.

2025 marks the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War II. With deep gratitude for the peace Japan has sustainably enjoyed within the global community, the Japan Foundation remains committed to working with organizations worldwide to build trust across cultures and form partnerships with those who share a forward-looking, hopeful vision of the future.

We kindly ask for your continued support and cooperation throughout 2025.

President of The Japan Foundation
KUROSAWA Shinya