Message for International Education Week 2007
Director-General for International Affairs, Kiso Isao
Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, MEXT

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I herein would like to express to the U.S. Department of Education my most sincere wishes for the success of this year’s International Education Week.  I expect that through diverse undertakings during this special week children will have various precious experiences for increasing their international understanding.

It is crucial that people living in the 21st century develop the capacity and qualities needed to understand other cultures in a broad perspective and to coexist with people from different customs and cultural backgrounds, while deepening the comprehension of their own history, culture and traditions.

In Japan, too, we have been carrying out various undertakings to cultivate such a capacity for international understanding.

One of those is the JET Program—a project whereby we invite young foreigners to serve as language instructors to improve foreign language education in Japan, promote international exchange, and support our country’s internationalization.

This program, which began in 1987, is now in its 21st year. So far it has allowed 5,119 young foreigners to come to Japan. The United States accounts for a majority of them, with 2,808 participants. Beyond its contributions to Japan’s language education, this program has produced significant results as a window to learn about international society and as a bridge for bilateral exchanges with the United States.

Another such undertaking is the REX Program—a system that enables the dispatch of Japanese teachers as Japanese language instructors in schools overseas.  At present, 7 such teachers are working in schools in the United States. We look forward to further developing cooperation with the United States on this program.

Moreover, in 2005, MEXT formulated the Friendship Japan Plan—a plan to double the number of young people accepted from abroad—with the aim of promoting exchanges among young people at the elementary and secondary education levels. At present, about some 40,000 young foreigners - including approximately 7,500 Americans - visit schools in Japan every year, and carry out exchanges with Japanese youngsters and schoolchildren.  We aim to double the number of foreigners accepted under this plan by 2010.

Deepening international understanding and nurturing an international spirit through exchanges among young people of the same age group have great significance in terms of education. We hope that an increasing number of visitors will take advantage of different kinds of opportunities to visit Japan.

Please let me express once more my best wishes for the 2007 International Education Week. I sincerely hope that education for international understanding will allow people to understand and live in harmony with other cultures while loving their own country, thus deepening international friendship.