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The Activities of the Japan Foundation

Culture: Arts and Cultural Exchange
The China Center

The China Center works to enhance mutual understanding between Japan and China by deepening cultural exchange primarily between youths, who play a key role in the future of the two countries, and by providing them with opportunities to experience each other's cultures and lives in each other's countries. 心連心 ("Heart to Heart" in Chinese)—this is our slogan. The China Center marked its 10th anniversary in 2016, and going forward, it will continue to implement projects that emphasize interactivity and collaboration, and seek to build deeper, longer-term emotional ties.

Long-Term Exchange Program for Chinese High School Students

The China Center provides the opportunity for Chinese high school students to experience the lifestyles of typical Japanese high school students for an 11 month period. In FY2017, 31 students of the 11th session returned to China in July and 30 students of the 12th session arrived in Japan in September, bringing the total number of participants to 390. Of the 360 students who have participated in the program up to the 11th session, 120 have returned to Japan to study at Japanese universities or postgraduate schools, and 31 are now working for Japanese companies. The program is steadily fostering personnel capable of bringing Japan and China closer together.

Photo of the 30 students of the 12th session arrived in Japan

The 30 students of the 12th session arrived in Japan in September 2017 and are experiencing life as exchange students in high schools across the country.

Centers for "Face-to-Face Exchanges" in China

Centers for "Face-to-Face Exchanges" have been established in universities and other institutions in regional cities around China where opportunities to meet Japanese people and gain information about Japan are relatively limited. The centers provide venues where visitors can experience contemporary Japanese culture by browsing, viewing and listening to the latest magazines, books, visual materials and other contents from Japan. Furthermore, a wide variety of Japan-China exchange events are held through the cooperation of Japanese nationals and local Chinese citizens.

Photo of staff in charge of practical business at Centers for "Face-to-Face Exchanges."

Training was held in October 2017 in Xining for staff in charge of practical business at Centers for "Face-to-Face Exchanges."

Network Strengthening Programs

We implement a variety of programs emphasizing collaborative work with the aim of building networks among young people who will be the future bearers of Japan-China exchanges. In FY2017 as well, we supported the university student cultural exchange project in which Chinese and Japanese university students collaborate in planning, organizing and holding events that introduce Japanese culture, as well as "Read/Lead Asia," a training camp-style exchange program in which Japanese and Chinese university students visit companies and engage in discussions using business and job searches as a pathway. We also operate the bilingual Japanese-Chinese "Heart to Heart" website.

Photo of students from Kansai University and Yunnan Normal University

Students from Kansai University and Yunnan Normal University planned and operated "Journey Around Osaka" as an event that introduced Kansai culture at the Center for "Face-to-Face Exchange" in Kunming.