On the occasion of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation (2023), the Japan Foundation (JF) will implement intensively over the next 10 years 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.

This initiative represents the further development of the JF's cultural exchange program with Asia entitled, “WA Project - Toward Interactive Asia through Fusion and Harmony,” which was implemented between 2014 and 2023, and includes the continuation of the NIHONGO Partners Program, for which expectations among ASEAN countries was particularly high. This Partnership was announced by Prime Minister Kishida at the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation held on December 17.

This program will aim to achieve the following:

• Build a strong relationship of trust between Japan and ASEAN for the future
• Strengthen multi-faceted human networks
• Collaborate to address global issues
• Nurture the next generation to serve as bridges
• Contribute to the further development of a multicultural society

To achieve these goals, the JF will promote people-to-people exchanges across a wide array of areas, benefiting over 10 million people over the next 10 years, based on the following two pillars, and through collaborating/co-creating with local counterparts and various individuals and organizations in Japan. (Specific projects will be announced later when they are ready.)

1. Two-way Intellectual and Cultural Exchange Program

• Promotion of intellectual dialogue and support for collaborative research on a wide range of topics that affect multiple areas, such as climate change and disaster prevention.
• Human networking and collaborative projects in the fields of art, theater, music, audiovisual contents, and sports.
• Invitation and exchanges of primary and secondary school teachers.

2. NIHONGO Partners Program

• Dispatch of “NIHONGO Partners” to support Japanese language classes and introduce Japanese culture.
• Training in Japan for teachers and students from the NIHONGO Partners’ host schools.
• Support for the activities of NIHONGO Partners after their return to Japan which contribute to the realization of a multicultural society.