Japanese-Language Education Overseas [Language]
To make the Japanese language easier to learn and teach, the Japan Foundation develops infrastructures and environments for Japanese-language education overseas. In addition, it promotes Japanese-language education according to the circumstances by country and region through various activities, such as dispatching Japanese-language specialists and conducting Japanese-language training.
Taking the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation (2023) as an opportunity, the Japan Foundation is implementing the “Partnership to Co-create a Future with the Next Generation: WA Project 2.0,” a comprehensive people-to-people exchange initiative that aims to promote exchange among those of the next generation and develop human resources in Japan and ASEAN. Special programs for exchange activities with ASEAN countries are available under this initiative.
1. Japanese-Language Education Assistant Program: J-LEAP
J-LEAP aims to strengthen and maintain the basic infrastructure of Japanese-language education and the understanding of Japan in the U.S. By dispatching Japanese Assistant Teachers (ATs), J-LEAP endeavors to serve the needs of U.S. K-12 educational institutions seeking to strengthen their Japanese-language programs. ATs will engage in Japanese classes with and under the instruction of their supervisors (Japanese-class teachers). ATs will help with creating materials and curriculums, preparing homework and tests, and will also assist or conduct other Japan-related activities at schools and in the community to contribute to a better understanding of Japanese culture and society.
Last updated September 2, 2025
| Program Outline | Program Outline will be available around fall 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Area | Japan / Overseas* |
| Applicant | Individual* *Japanese nationals whose native language is Japanese and who reside in Japan or overseas. |
|
| Application Deadline | January, 2025 | |
| Application Instructions / Application Form | Application Guideline and the Application Form will be available on the Japan Foundation's website around fall 2025 | |
| Reference | Program Overview | |
2 NIHONGO Partners Program [WA2.0]
This program dispatches NIHONGO Partners from a broad range of age groups to secondary educational institutions etc. in Asia mainly in ASEAN countries, in order to support the local Japanese-language teachers and students. The NIHONGO Partners will support not only the educational activities of the local Japanese-language teachers but also aim to spread the charms of the Japanese language and culture through their learning support and cultural activities inside and outside the classroom. Through local activities and people-to-people exchanges, NIHONGO Partners themselves are expected to deepen their understandings toward the language and cultures of the areas or countries where they stay and serve as liaisons within Asian countries.
Last updated September 2, 2025
| Program Outline | NIHONGO Partners Program (PDF:129KB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Area | Japan |
| Applicant | Individual | |
| Application Instructions / Application Form |
Once the details are available, the application instructions and application forms will be available on the Japan FoundationNIHONGO Partners Program’s website. |
|
3 NIHONGO Partners in Collaboration with Japanese Universities [WA2.0]
This program dispatches students majoring in Japanese-language education at universities in Japan as NIHONGO Partners in collaboration with Japanese universities to support local Japanese-language teachers and students at educational institutions in Asia.
They will not only support the educational activities of the local Japanese-language teachers and students, but also aim to deepen communications and understandings between locals and Japanese as well as to share their experiences in Japan.
Last updated September 2, 2025
| Program Outline | NIHONGO Partners in Collaboration with Japanese Universities (PDF:140KB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Area | Japan |
| Applicant | Organization | |
| Application Deadline | Submission by E-mail by 1 p.m., December 2, 2025, Japan Standard Time | |
| Application Form | NP-IP | |
| Applcation Instructions / Application Form | ||
4. Program for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields
With the aim of supporting specialists who require Japanese-language proficiency in order to smoothly perform their specialized work and research activities (such as researchers, graduate students, librarians, and museum and art museum curators), this program provides training to improve their Japanese- language ability by learning practical Japanese and actually using it in their research and specialized work-related activities, conducted at the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai.
* In FY2026, only a six-month course will be offered.
Last updated September 2, 2025
| Program Outline | Program for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields (PDF:80.6KB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Area | Overseas |
| Applicant | Individual | |
| Application Deadline | Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 2, 2025 (Japan Standard Time) | |
| Application Form | KC-G | |
| Application Instructions / Application Form | ||
5. Support Program for Organizations in Japanese-Language Education (Grants)
This program aims to support Japanese-language education activities by targeting Japanese-language teachers and students of overseas Japanese-language institutions and organizations.
Last updated September 2, 2025
| Program Outline | Support Program for Organizations in Japanese-Language Education (Grants)(PDF:141KB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Area | Overseas* *For countries that have the Japan Foundation's overseas offices (except for Russia, Cambodia and Laos), support is provided through that local office. Please contact the Foundation's local office for details. (JF overseas offices info) |
| Applicant | Organization | |
| Application Deadline | Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 2, 2025 (Japan Standard Time) | |
| Application Form | JN-FK | |
| Application Instructions / Application Form | ||
| Reference | ||
6. Support Program for Organizations Providing Japanese-Language Education for Living and Working (Grants)
This program aims to support the costs of projects by organizations/groups that provide Japanese-language education necessary for people living and working in Japan, including those who plan to come to Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence.
Last updated September 2, 2025
| Program Outline | Support Program for Organizations Providing Japanese-Language Education for Living and Working (Grants) (PDF:65.5KB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Area | Overseas（Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan） |
| Applicant | Organization | |
| Application Deadline | Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 2, 2025 (Japan Standard Time). | |
| Application Form | JN-NK | |
| Application Instructions / Application Form | ||
7. Training Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language
The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa (JFJLI, Urawa) provides training opportunities in Japan (Saitama Prefecture) for Japanese-language teachers teaching outside of Japan.
The eligibility, duration, and content differ in every program.
Last updated September 2, 2025
| Program Outline | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Area | Overseas |
| Applicant | Organization | |
| Application Deadline | Apply through Online Application Portal by 1 p.m., December 2, 2025 (Japan Standard Time) | |
| Application Instructions / Application Form | ||
7 (1) Basic Training Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language
(Application Form: NC-BT)
This program is a 6-month program designed for teachers who are early in their career with an opportunity to improve their Japanese-language skills, acquire the basic teaching methodology, and deepen their knowledge of Japan.
7 (2) Japanese Language Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language
(Application Form: NC-JT)
This program is a seven-week program designed to provide an opportunity to improve their Japanese-language skill which is necessary as teachers of Japanese language. There will be NO lessons of Japanese-language teaching methodology.
7 (3) (4) Japanese Teaching Methods Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language (Summer/ Winter) (Application Form: NC-MT-S/NC-MT-W)
Training Programs of six weeks duration, which are designed to improve the teaching methodology, will be conducted two times: in Summer, and Winter in FY 2026. There will be NO lessons for improving Japanese-language skill.
7 (5) Japanese-Language-Teacher Training Program to Accept Foreign Nationals (Teaching Method) (Application Form: NC-FN-M)
This program is a 5-week training program for teachers of the Japanese-Language at overseas organizations that provide Japanese-language educational programs for those who come to Japan on the working visa: Specified Skilled Worker, etc. The aim of the program is for the participants to improve their teaching skills and to deepen their knowledge on Japanese affairs, society, and culture.
7 (6) Japanese-Language-Teacher Training Program to Accept Foreign Nationals (Japanese Language) (Application Form: NC-FN-J)
This program is a five-week training program for teachers of the Japanese language at overseas organizations that provide Japanese-language educational programs for those who come to Japan on the working visa: Specified Skilled Worker, etc. The aim of the program is for the participants to improve their Japanese language.
7 (7) WA Project Special Training Program for Teachers of the Japanese Language [WA2.0] (Application Form: NC-WA)
This program is a 4 week program designed for teachers of the Japanese Language primarily at schools accepting NIHONGO Partners project in the target countries to improve their Japanese-language skills and deepen their knowledge of Japan.