The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will sponsor a group of five Japanese American high-school students to visit Japan from June 30 to July 10, 2012 for an exchange program which provides them with an opportunity to learn about various aspects of Japan and to promote mutual understanding and exchanges between younger generations of Japanese and Japanese Americans. 

The program includes a visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and a Japanese high school, tours of Tokyo and the Kansai area, and a home stay experience with a Japanese family. 

Japanese American High school students with multiracial backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply.

• Program Description [pdf]
• Application Form

*This program will be official upon the passage of the budget for Japanese fiscal year 2012. 

Applicants living in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are asked to send a completed application by mail to the address below by April 24, 2012. 

Only 5 students are selected from all over the United States. Therefore, you are encouraged to make your application appealing by answering to the questions in section 2 of the application form as specifically as possible with concrete examples. Describe what kind of leadership you have taken at school or in your community, how this program will benefit your school life/future, and how you can contribute to promote the friendship between Japan and the U.S. by making use of the experience you will have in this program. 

Mr. Tomonori Minowa
The Consulate-General of Japan
737 N Michigan Ave #1100
Chicago, IL 60611