Cultural exchange programme for Japanese language learners Apply
Applications are invited from Japanese language learners for a two week cultural exchange in Japan from 6th – 20th September, 2023 at the Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai.
Among the requirements, applicants must (be):
1. between the ages of 18 and 54 at the starting day of the program. If the nominee is under 20 years of age, the consent of a parent or guardian is required.
2. studying or have finished studying the Japanese-language at overseas educational organizations such as universities.
3. as a rule, have achieved superior marks in completion of the basic level (more than 300 class hours), have achieved more than 50 points in the First Phase Test, or have attained more than Level N4 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test or Level 3 of the old JLPT.
Completed applications must be sent to the Japan Embassy not later than Wednesday, 17th May 2023.
Please visit the link below for more information and to download application forms:
1. Purpose
This program is intended to offer outstanding students of the Japanese language at universities, colleges, and educational institutions abroad the opportunity to visit
Japan and to deepen their knowledge of the Japanese language, society, and culture for the purpose of further encouragement of their study.
2. Program Period (15 days) From Wednesday, September 6th, 2023, to Wednesday September 20th, 2023
Website:
https://www.jpf.go.jp/j/kansai/index.html
3. Location of the Training and Accommodation The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai 3-14 Rinku-port Kita, Tajiri-cho, Osaka
598-0093, Japan
Website: https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/kansai/index.html
4. Contents of the Program (tentative)
(1) Lectures on the Japanese language, and social and cultural aspects of Japan
(2) Experience of Japanese culture
(3) Visit to cultural facilities and historical sites, etc.
(4) Home visit
5. Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements: they
(1) are studying or have finished studying the Japanese- language at overseas educational organizations such as universities.
(2) as a rule, have achieved superior marks in completion of the basic level (more than 300 class hours), have achieved more than 50 points in the First Phase Test, or have attained more than Level N4 of the Japanese- Language Proficiency Test or Level 3 of the old JLPT.
(3) able to take part in the entire program.
(4) are currently not Japanese-language teachers.
(5) do not have a job offer to be employed as a Japanese- language teacher at the time of application.
(6) are not a staff member of the Japanese embassies or consulates.
(7) are between the ages of 18 and 54 at the starting day of the program. If the nominee is under 20 years of age, the consent of a parent or guardian is required.
(8) have not stayed in Japan for more than seven consecutive days in the last five years at the starting day of the program.
(9) are in good physical and mental health.
(10) have not received compulsory education in Japan more than three years.
(11) are not scheduled to come to Japan for study or training except under this program by the
end of March, 2024.
(12) have the nationality of a country which has diplomatic relations with Japan, and have the nationality or permanent residency of a country where the relevant Japan Foundation overseas office or Japanese embassy or consulate is located.
6.Expenses, Allowances and Facilities to be provided by the Institute The Institute will bear the expenses, or will provide the participants with allowances and facilities, as stipulated in
the following articles:
(1) Air Ticket
The Institute will provide them with round-trip airline tickets (discount economy class) between the airport nearest from their residence and the Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan) by the most reasonable or economical route.
The ticket will be sent to them by e-mail and the purchased tickets should not be abandoned. The Institute is not able to reimburse them for the cost of any ticket purchased by themselves. In principle, concerning the trips both to and from Japan, the route cannot be changed to suit personal requests.
The provided ticket cannot be refunded. If there will be any trouble and you cannot board on the flight provided by the Institute, please contact the airline counter, the Institute or the officer in charge in your country to ask for cancellation or change of the flight.
In case of No-Show, you need to pay the airfare for the Institute. You cannot visit other countries for any private purpose when you return to your own countries.
If the flight schedule arranged by the Institute makes it necessary for them to arrive in Japan earlier than the starting day of the official program period, or to leave Japan later than the last day of the period, the Institute will provide them with accommodations and meals in
accordance with the regulations of the Institute for these additional days in Japan.
(2) Airport Tax and Foreign Travel Tax
If the participants pay any airport tax or foreign travel tax on their trips to Japan, the Institute will pay them the cost of such taxes after their arrival at the Institute, in exchange of the receipts.
However, the Institute will not pay the cost of their passports and visa concerning the trips both to and from Japan, the route cannot be changed to suit personal requests.
The provided ticket cannot be refunded. If there will be any trouble and you cannot board on the flight provided by the Institute, please contact the airline counter, the Institute or the officer in charge in your country to ask for cancellation or change of the flight. In case of No-Show, you need to pay the airfare for the Institute.
You cannot visit other countries for any private purpose when you return to your own countries.
If the flight schedule arranged by the Institute makes it necessary for them to arrive in Japan earlier than the starting day of the official program period, or to leave Japan later than the last day of the period, the Institute will provide them with accommodations and meals in
accordance with the regulations of the Institute for these additional days in Japan.
(3) Accommodations
During the period of the program, a single room in the Institute will be provided for each participant for free of charge. While they are away from the Institute on trips arranged by the Institute, accommodations will be provided by the Institute. In the case of field trips, they
may be required to share a room. They are not allowed to stay out of the Institute on weekdays.
(4) Meals and Allowance
During the period of the program, meals and allowances for meals will be provided as follows. Participants can take breakfast, lunch and dinner at the cafeteria inside the Institute.
The Institute will provide participants with meal allowances of 2,700 yen for each day. 40% of the meal allowances will be given to them in cash money, while the remaining 60% will be given to them in the form of a prepaid card that can be used only in the cafeteria inside the Institute.
Note that the Institute will not reimburse them by cash for any unused points of the prepaid card. When meals are arranged by the Institute during site visits, trips, or parties, the meal allowances will not be given accordingly. The cash allowances will
be paid to them at the orientation of the program.
(5) A set amount of in-kind allowances necessary for the participation in the program such as public transportation tickets will be provided.
(6) Overseas Travel Accident Insurance
They will be insured with an overseas travel accident insurance policy during the period of the program. The detailed coverage conditions are defined in the contract between the insurance company and the Institute. Chronic or preexisting disease or injury, and dental care, pregnancy, childbirth, and diseases arising from premature birth or miscarriage are not included in the
coverage.
The Institute cannot bear any responsibility beyond the coverage of this insurance.
(7) Expenses Concerning the Curriculum There are no tuition or admission charges to be paid
by the participants. The Institute will provide the study materials used in the curriculum, and pay for the expenses for visits or trips in the programs.
7. Extension of Stay in Japan
In principle, the participants cannot be permitted on extension of stay with any reason before and after their official period of the program.
8. Obligations of the Participants
During the period of the program, the participants will be under the obligations stipulated in the following items. If there is a serious violation of any of these obligations on their side, their participation might be cancelled by the Institute.
(1) To obey the laws of Japan. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and smoking is forbidden in Japan for persons under the age of 20.
(2) To undertake the educational training according to the curriculum of the program with sufficient sincerity.
(3) Not to make use of their coming to Japan and stay in Japan on this program for any other purpose or activities.
(4) Not to take part in any activities that are not allowed under their visa statuses, not to engage in any job or work.
(5) Not to come to Japan earlier than the arrival date of the flight schedule arranged by the Institute.
(6) Not to visit other countries for any private purpose when they return to their own countries.
(7) Not to go abroad or return to their home countries during the program.
(8) To leave Japan on the flight arranged by the Institute as soon as their official periods of the program are over
(9) Not to be accompanied by their family members.
(10) To obey “Rules and Regulations for the Participants of the Japanese-Language Programs” of the Institute.
(11) To cooperate with the Institute and fill out the questionnaire when the Institute conducts a follow-up survey.
(12) To understand that the participants are invited as members of a group, and to attend every activity of the program, under the direction of the Institute.
(13) To report the Institute immediately when the participants are infected by infectious diseases
prescribed in the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Medical Care for Infectious Patients Act (Act No. 114 of 1998)
9.Rules Concerning the Cancellation of Participation The Institute may cancel their participation in the program and send them home during the course of the program, if the Director of the Institute judges that any one of the following situations occurred:
(1)Their physical or mental health that has made it impossible or unsuitable for them to continue
participation in the program any further.
(2)They have seriously violated the obligations stipulated in
Article 8 above.
(3)They do not devote themselves to the activities required in the curriculum that are designed to realize the aims of the program.
(4)There was a false description in their application forms or other documents.
(5)The Japan Foundation may cancel the invitation if the participant becomes disqualified, as of the starting day of the program
10. Disclosure of Information
(1) Details of the participant to the program, such as name, gender, nationality and affiliation will be made public in the detailed annual report, program report, program guideline, the Japan Foundation’s website and other publication materials.
(2)When a request for information based on the “Law Concerning the Disclosure of Information Held by Independent Administrative Institutions, etc.” (Law No. 140 of December 5, 2001), is received, materials such as submitted application forms will be disclosed, unless stipulated by law as not to be disclosed.
11. Others
Participants are required to submit a written report (in Japanese) on their impressions or thoughts of the program through the Japan Foundation overseas office or send it to the Institute within one month of returning home.
