2000 JET Programme Alumni Association (JETAA) International Conference

November 4, 2000

1. The 2000 JETAA International Conference (organizer: JETAA Eastern Japan regional chapter), will be held in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo from 9 (Thu) to 12 (Sun) November. It will be attended by two delegates from each of the 43 local JETAA Chapters in 12 countries around the world plus 4 observers, totaling approximately 100 participants. The forthcoming conference will expand its attendance from a limited number of chapters mostly in the North American region to members of all the chapters around the world, making it a full-blown "International Conference" and a "Homecoming Conference" for JET alumni.

2. JETAA was created by former JET Programme participants themselves after they returned to their home countries, to promote bilateral exchanges at a grass-roots level by its members, both Japanologists and Japanophiles. The total number of its members is now over 10,000. At the forthcoming conference, the representatives of all the JETAA chapters will discuss the activities of each chapter, their future policies, and other issues. The group will have opportunities to renew their understanding of Japanese people, society, and culture, including visits to cultural facilities in Japan. (Note: JETAA website: http://www.jet.org/)

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been providing various kinds of support for introducing Japanese culture and spreading the Japanese language, as a basis for developing Japan's bilateral exchanges. As JETAA's activities that directly lead to promote human to human exchanges, as part of its support, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide the participants with necessary financial support on the occasion of the forthcoming international conference with its purpose of constructing JETAA's global network. The Ministry will also co-host an anniversary reception for the JETAA International Conference from 18:30 on 9 November (place: Iikura House), in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Related Information (JET Programme)