The Activities of the Japan Foundation

Dialogue: Japanese Studies and Global Partnerships Programs
International Dialogue and Networking

The Japan Foundation is engaged in promoting dialogue on common global issues through international symposia, seminars and workshops, and in building human networks as well as pioneering dialogue aimed at creating and sharing new values. We also organize citizen and youth exchange programs, along with human resource development initiatives, designed to lay the groundwork for future interactions.

International Symposium on the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation

The Japan Foundation hosted an international symposium to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Thirteen distinguished experts from Southeast Asia and next-generation leaders visited Japan for this special occasion, including Dr. Marty Natalegawa, former Indonesian Foreign Minister, who delivered the keynote speech. They were joined by Japanese experts for three panel discussions on new ASEAN-Japan relations for the next half century: "Toward Global and Regional Peace and Stability (politics)," "Toward a Sustainable and Prosperous Society (economy/society)" and "Toward Mutual Understanding and Trust Building (culture)."

The U.S.-Japan Network for the Future Program

The Japan Foundation, in collaboration with the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, supports this program with an aim to foster a network of new generation scholars and professionals specializing in Japan and policy issues pertinent to the U.S.-Japan relationship. The program provides opportunities to further the participants' understanding of agendas in both countries and build upon their networks. In 2022, the 5th cohort of participants joined the study tours to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in May, and participated in concluding sessions in Washington, D.C. in August.

Study tour to Japan

Japan-U.S. Global Partnership Program

The Japan Foundation has conducted various projects in collaboration with counterparts from both Japan and the United States, with the goal of working together to address global challenges. These projects are centered around themes such as "Building a resilient society," "Developing an inclusive society" and "Creating a society enriched by science and technology." The aim is to facilitate cooperation and foster human resource development between the two nations.

JOI Program Alumni Networking Event

The JOI Program, which dispatches coordinators to introduce Japanese culture to the southern, midwestern and mountain regions of the United States, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022. In September 2022, we held an alumni networking event in Tokyo, bringing together coordinators who were dispatched in the past. The event served to strengthen connections among alumni and facilitated the exchange of ideas for new initiatives to further develop the JOI program.

The JOI alumni networking event

Japan-China 21st Century Friendship Program

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China relations, the Japan Foundation organized a Short-Short Story Contest aimed at deepening youth exchanges between the two countries. Japanese and Chinese students participated in creative writing, expressing their ideas freely. Also, in February 2023, we organized the "Japan-China 21st Century Friendship Program" participant gathering in Tokyo to facilitate networking among past participants. Over 100 attendees from programs such as the Long-Term Exchange Program for Chinese High School Students and Centers for "Face-to-Face Exchanges" in China came together to discuss how their experiences in Japan-China exchange programs are currently being applied and shared their stories.

"Japan-China 21st Century Friendship Program" participant gathering

International Dialogue Online

A discussion on the evolution of technology and society by historian Yuval Noah Harari and robotics engineer ISHIGURO Hiroshi (Professor at Osaka University) at a special joint session at Asahi World Forum 2022, and a symposium on food and agricultural sustainability ("The Future of 'Food' - Dialogue between Germany and Japan," a symposium co-organized with Japanese-German Center Berlin) were held online. Prominent experts from Japan and overseas engaged with each other to better understand and meet cultural and social needs resulting from advances in science and technology.