ASEAN-Japan Peace Ambassador Project (AJPAP) 2025
–A Japan-ASEAN youth exchange initiative to promote peace and dialogue–

Japan Visit Program

This project is a part of 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 the next generation and develop human resources in Japan and ASEAN. The purpose of the program is to enable high school students from Japan and ASEAN to envision “peace for the next generation” through empathy and dialogue. By participating in events such as lectures and workshops by experts, learning opportunities at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and a stay at Daisho-in Temple on Mt. Misen, Miyajima, participants will explore the meaning of peace from multiple perspectives while engaging in ongoing dialogue.

Participating students will also work on a collaborative art project using motifs such as the origami cranes sent to Hiroshima from around the world as symbols of peace. We hope that this program will lead to the formation of long-term personal networks between the youth of Japan and ASEAN and that each participant will spread the spirit of dialogue and collaboration in their respective regions as a “Peace Ambassador for the next generation.”

Program Overview

Project Title	ASEAN-Japan Peace Ambassador Project (AJPAP) 2025
Organizer	The Japan Foundation (JF)
Co-Organizer	NPO Peace Culture Village (PCV) (a recipient of The Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship in FY2022)
Cooperating Organization	ASEAN Secretariat
Dates	Friday, October 31 – Monday, November 3, 2025
Participants	12 high school students (3 each from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan) 3 accompanying teachers (1 each from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam) 1 observer from the ASEAN Secretariat, Education, Youth and Sports Division
Main Schedule	Friday, October 31 Venue: The Japan Foundation (JF) Headquarters Orientation for ASEAN participants Saturday, November 1 Venue: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Dialogue with an atomic bomb survivor (Lecturer: Ms. Tanaka Toshiko, cloisonné mural artist) PEACE DIALOGUE: a guided tour of the monuments in Peace Memorial Park while engaging in dialogue with young local guides ”Peace×◯◯”: a workshop connecting peacebuilding with participants’ personal interests (Facilitator: Mr. Sumioka Kenta, PCV) Sunday, November 2 Venue: Daisho-in Temple on Mt. Misen, Miyajima Program focusing on “inner peace” Meditation experience (Instructor: Ms. Momoe, Zen Eating) Zazen experience and overnight stay at the temple (Instructor: Mr. Yoshida Daiyu, Deputy Head Priest, Daisho-in Temple) Monday, November 3 Venue: Hiroshima City Bunka Koryu Kaikan Collaborative creation of an artwork using origami cranes which symbolize prayers for peace (Instructor: Mr. Arita Taiki, contemporary artist)

Outcomes Report and Artwork Presentation Ceremony

On Monday, January 12, 2026, a meeting will be held at the ASEAN Headquarters to report the outcomes of AJPAP 2025 and to present an artwork jointly created by the program participants. On the final day of the Japan visit program, the participating students shared and discussed their individual visions of peace to collectively create an artwork using the origami cranes sent to Hiroshima from around the world. The artwork will be presented to the ASEAN Secretariat at this event and subsequently displayed in the gallery of the ASEAN Headquarters.

The event will provide an opportunity to share with the ASEAN Secretariat what the high school participants learned through AJPAP 2025 and the insights gained through dialogue and collaboration with their peers. It aims to serve as a catalyst for new dialogue toward future peacebuilding and regional cooperation between Japan and ASEAN.

Event Overview

Event Title	ASEAN-Japan Peace Ambassador Project (AJPAP) 2025 Outcomes Report and Artwork Presentation Ceremony
Date	Monday, January 12, 2026
Venue	ASEAN Headquarters (Jakarta) ＋ online (hybrid format)
Organizer	The Japan Foundation (JF)
Co-organizer	ASEAN Secretariat
Cooperating Organization	NPO Peace Culture Village (PCV)
Participants	High school students and accompanying teachers from the 4 countries participating in AJPAP 2025 (Indonesia: on-site attendance / Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam: online attendance) Organizer: Executive of The Japan Foundation Headquarters, Director General of The Japan Foundation, Jakarta, and others Co-organizer: H.E. San Lwin, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat staff Cooperating Organization: Mr. Sumioka Kenta (Managing Director of PCV: online attendance)
Main contents	Collaborative Artwork Presentation Ceremony - Announcement of the title of the artwork and its concept - Presentation of the artwork to the ASEAN Secretariat Outcomes Report - Reports by participating students on their learning experiences and achievements from AJPAP 2025 - Screening of a documentary video summarizing the highlights of the Japan visit program

Detailed report of AJPAP 2025