NIHONGO Partners Programs

People of Diverse Ages and Backgrounds Communicate in Real Japanese and Learn from Each Other

NIHONGO Partners (NP) serve as partners for Japanese-language teachers and their students in Asia by acting as teaching assistants and introducing Japanese culture. In FY2023, we sent 381 people to middle and high schools and universities in eight ASEAN countries as well as China and Taiwan. Since the program’s inception in 2014, the total number of dispatched NPs has exceeded 3,000.
Even if they do not have expert knowledge, NP with a zeal for exchange with Asia can all display their respective strengths and experiences and share the living Japanese-language and real Japan that come from being native speakers.
They show respect to teachers, learners, and local community members, interact on an equal footing, and learn about the local language and culture at their destinations, deepening their bonds with the local people.

Photo of a woman talking to a female student at her desk in a classroom.
NIHONGO Partners supporting a Japanese-language class

Photo of a man explaining to two students with a textbook and some string origami papers on his desk.
NIHONGO Partners introducing Japanese culture

Voices of Participants

Thailand

Photo of ADACHI Tomoko

NP Thailand 11th Batch
Navamindarajudis Krungthepmahanakhon School
ADACHI Tomoko

Among many memories at my assigned country, the makizushi-making Japanese cultural experience stands out. I realized that adding hands-on Japanese cultural experiences that engage the five senses, in addition to book learning, could further spark students’ interest and connect it to Japanese-language learning. The NP experience has increased my interest in intercultural exchange and Japanese-language education even more.

Vietnam

Photo of Võ Thị Minh Ngọc

Teacher at NP Host School
Hai Ba Trung High School
Võ Thị Minh Ngọc

The NP program is a valuable opportunity not only for Japanese-language students and teachers like us but also for the entire school. It makes me very happy to see students who were initially shy now take the initiative to study Japanese and actively speak with the NP. In the future, I would like to try activities where students introduce Vietnamese culture to the NP in Japanese.

Malaysia

Photo of Noor Adnin Hanani binti Mohd Nasir Rudin

Student at NP Host School
Kota Tinggi Science Secondary School
Noor Adnin Hanani binti Mohd Nasir Rudin

Our NP was kind and full of fun ideas, planning various activities for us. Learning about and experiencing Japanese culture directly from the NP made me more motivated to study Japanese. My goal is to become confident in conversing with Japanese people and be able to express what I want to say.