Want to Join Kizuna Project?

The Kizuna Project, taken from the word kizuna meaning "bonds" aims to invite some 9,000 youth from the Asian/Oceanian regions to participate in specially-designed earthquake recovery and reconstruction programs. In the ASEAN Countries, about 2,550 youths are invited to Japan while 255 Japanese nationals are also set to visit 10 countries in Asia.


Guidelines for application, and application forms, may be downloaded from Embassy of Japan website www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/culture/index.htm, under the Kizuna Project of the Culture and Education Section. Deadline for application is on July 20.


More than 280 students from the Philippines will be chosen to join a special program allowing them to deepen their understanding of Japan’s reconstruction efforts.

Under the Kizuna Project, 285 Filipino students—including students 13 other Asian countries—will be able to understand and experience first-hand the ongoing reconstruction efforts and recovery initiatives at disaster sites.

This was revealed by Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba during the official visit of Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario to Japan from June 27 to 29, 2012.

The program includes interaction with youth in disaster-affected areas, participation in recovery support activities, and other projects.

The “Long-Term Invitation Program for University Students and Others from the ASEAN Countries and Four Other Countries” is part of the Japanese reconstruction plans and aims at promoting global understanding of Japan’s revival efforts in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011.

A total of 56 university or graduate school students will participate in the four (4) courses offered under this Kizuna Project.

From the Philippines, one (1) student will be chosen for each of the courses. Students from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, and East Timor, will also be invited to join the program.

Guidelines for application, as well as the applications forms, may be downloaded from the Embassy of Japan website, under the Kizuna Project of the Culture and Education section.

The youth exchange program, which will invite some 9,000 students from the Asian/Oceanian regions, was recently launched by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For the ASEAN 10 countries, 2,550 youths from ASEAN Member States (AMS) will be invited to Japan, and 255 Japanese youths will in turn visit Asean member-states.