JF Special Stories

Literature is a sophisticated form of creation using language. The process of translating, publishing, and disseminating literary works worldwide involves the dedication of and interactions among many different people. Through books, different cultures and values intersect. The Japan Foundation supports such opportunities.
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There is great significance in the process involved in curating an exhibition because this process also fosters a deeper understanding and trust between artists and curators. Let’s look back on contemporary art exhibitions organized by the Japan Foundation to understand what international collaboration in the art field entails.See more

The Japan Foundation has been involved in many overseas performances of Japanese performing arts, performances of overseas productions in Japan and the production of international creations. Common across all of these efforts is the promotion of cross-cultural understanding and the development of trust amongst performing arts professionals.See more

The Japan Foundation has been producing Japanese language learning video materials based on the principle of deepening mutual understanding through language communication. They are filled with important communication tips for Japanese people as well.
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The internationally acclaimed works of MURAKAMI Haruki have gone beyond the framework of a novel to become the subject of movies, plays, symposiums on literary studies, and musical performances, thereby creating various forms of international exchange.
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China. One of the important pillars that has supported the ties between the two countries over the past half century has been Japanese language education and the promotion of Japanese studies in China. We will trace the history of the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, which has produced a large number of Japan experts and has played a central role as an institution for Japanese studies in China.
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Japanese manga and animation are popular all over the world and are helping more and more people to connect with each other. The foundation for this exchange was laid out by TEZUKA Osamu. We trace Tezuka's belief that one day manga would become an “international language.”See more

Today, there are Japanese language learners all over the world. With changes taking place in society, their motivation for language learning is shifting and evolving. What are some of the reasons for people to learn Japanese?
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Japanese film festivals abroad and foreign film festivals in Japan both serve to generate a high degree of interest in Japan and strengthen bonds among film fans and filmmakers, while also enabling one to discover and understand how diverse cultures and values can be.

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People from Asia make up the majority of overseas learners of Japanese. Their motivations for learning also change depending on the various educational policies of each country and its relationship with Japan. The Japan Foundation is developing programs to meet the new era and changing society, as well as the diversifying demands for Japanese language study. See more