Message from the President

Following the previous year, FY2021 was another year affected by the spread of Covid-19. In these circumstances, the Japan Foundation has continued its endeavor to promote its international cultural exchange programs while exploring various means such as the use of IT, to create opportunities to connect Japan and the world through “culture,” “language,” and “dialogue” and to nurture empathy and trust among people, so as to ensure that such opportunities never cease.

In the field of culture, we launched "STAGE BEYOND BORDERS—Selection of Japanese Performances—," the online distribution of 92 stage performances drawn from a variety of sources including outstanding Japanese contemporary theater, dance performances and traditional performing arts, with multilingual subtitles. As of the end of FY2021, it had been viewed over 9.5 million times by people in 111 countries and regions, including some who had not previously had the opportunity to appreciate theater. Furthermore, a total of 320,000 people watched the Japanese Film Festival Online 2022, which was held for two weeks in February 2022 in 25 countries and showed 20 films ranging from classics to the latest releases. We also held in-person activities after taking the appropriate measures to prevent infection. For example, we held Japanese art exhibitions in Germany and Poland, participated in La Biennale di Venezia, an architectural exhibition in Italy and organized Japan Foundation traveling exhibitions. Through these and other means, we provided opportunities for people around the world to interact with Japanese culture directly.

In the field of language, we provided various online courses through JF Japanese e-Learning Minato so that more people could learn Japanese easily and comfortably. By the end of FY2021, the number of registered users had risen to over 290,000 people from 199 countries and regions. We also administered the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) in Japan and nine other countries. The test measures the level of Japanese language proficiency needed by foreign nationals about to reside in Japan mainly for work, to communicate in everyday life situations. Additionally, we launched the Irodori Japanese Online Course, a self-study program that teaches foreign nationals living overseas who wish to live and work in Japan the Japanese language communication skills they will need for daily life.

We endeavor to understand the state of rising interest in Japanese around the world through the "Survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad" that we have conducted regularly since 1974. The results of the most recent survey, which was conducted in 2021, will be released in 2022. The survey analysis report based on the situation on the ground will be used for the planning of JF's future project proposals, and it is also expected to be useful to many others and lead to the birth of new collaborations.

When it came to dialogue, as a result of the coronavirus crisis, with a few exceptions, in FY2020 we were forced to cancel the support in the form of fellowships for researching in Japan that we had provided to Japanese Studies scholars and researchers around the world who contributed to a greater understanding of Japan. However in FY2021 we have begun to work on reactivating the movement of people between countries. For example, we assisted scholars and researchers as they took the necessary quarantine measures to enter Japan, and facilitated the visits of 150 scholars to the country.

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of JF since its establishment in 1972. While reflecting on our past journey in bringing Japan and the world closer together through culture amidst the changing international situation around Japan and ever-evolving technological innovation, we will strive our utmost to strengthen ties with people around the world, backed by trust in Japan and mutual friendship in current turbulent international circumstances.

We would appreciate your continued understanding and support.

September 2022
The Japan Foundation President
UMEMOTO Kazuyoshi