Yuichi Takahashi, Director General of the Japan Foundation, Jakarta speaks with Bridges about create opportunities to foster friendship, trust and mutual understanding between Indonesia and Japan.
Following the pandemic, cross border people-to-people exchanges have increased and we are now seeing more cultural exchanges taking place.
The Japan Foundation is organizing more events to allow Indonesians to come into contact with Japanese culture by resuming successful face-to-face events since 2023.
Last year marked the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and the 65th anniversary of Indonesia-Japan relations.
The Japan Foundation, Jakarta contributes to strengthening the ties across the ASEAN region by implementing various educational and cultural projects.
Partnership to Co-Create a Future with the Next Generation: WA Project 2.0
Last year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the launch of ‘Partnership to Co-Create a Future with the Next Generation: WA Project 2.0’
The character （和） is pronounced ‘wa and the overall concept is to imagine an atmosphere in which a group of people can comfortably and amiably coexist. The word also carries connotations of maintaining harmony and getting along with one another.
In 2024, through our mission of ‘cultivating friendship and ties between Japan and the world’, we will continue to establish worthwhile international interactions which create opportunities to foster friendship, trust, and mutual understanding between Indonesia and Japan.
Yuichi Takahashi, Director General of the Japan Foundation, Jakarta
The project is a comprehensive people-to-people exchange program which was implemented by the Japan Foundation, at the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
Through this initiative, the Japan Foundation aims to build a strong foundation for the future based on trust between ASEAN and Japan.
‘Heart to heart’ partnerships
By promoting two-way exchanges, strengthening multi-faceted human networks, addressing global challenges and nurturing the next generation to serve as a bridge between ASEAN and Japan, the project will contribute to the further development of our multicultural society.
With the two-pillar project, (two-way Intellectual and Cultural Exchange and NIHONGO Partners) we aim to invest in people in Japan and ASEAN to create ‘heart to heart’ partnerships. We will develop our human resources to co-create the future relationship shared between Japan and ASEAN.
The Japan Foundation, Jakarta – 50th anniversary (1974-2024)
Along with welcoming WA Project: 2.0, the Japan Foundation, Jakarta will also celebrate its 50th anniversary this year (1974-2024). For the past half century, we have been conducting various initiatives to nurture the relationship between both countries.
We intend to continue our commitment to Indonesia through our meticulous approach to our work and undertake a variety of public activities including: arts, culture, Japanese studies, language, Japanese Film Festivals, comprehensive training programs for Japanese language teachers, international symposiums, intellectual dialogue, and collaborative research. We believe our work will benefit the people of Indonesia and Japan in the future.
NIHONGO Partners
2024 is also a significant year for The Japan Foundation, Jakarta as we will mark the 10th anniversary of the NIHONGO Partners (NP) program started in 2014.
We support the process of teaching Japanese language and culture in Indonesia through this initiative. The program is also an opportunity for NPs to learn about Indonesia through exchanges with students, teachers and people in the community.
Following the pandemic, we have once again sent NPs out into society. Last year 39 NPs were dispatched to 73 schools for approximately 3 months to support Japanese language education across Indonesia.
Cultivating friendship and ties between Japan and the world
In 2024, through our mission of ‘cultivating friendship and ties between Japan and the world’, we will continue to establish worthwhile international interactions which create opportunities to foster friendship, trust, and mutual understanding between Indonesia and Japan.
