News 1: Fostering human resources to sustain the safety of Japanese food products

The Graduate School of Agriculture, Kagawa University, held an entrance ceremony for first-term students of the Special Master Course for International Students in October. The course was established this year as part of the government’s Career Development Program for Foreign Students in Japan. Five students from Thailand and China say they aim to work in Japan’s food industry after graduation.

Graduate School of Agriculture, Kagawa University Career Development Program on "Safety for Frozen Foods" (In Japanese Only)

News 2: Japanese university applications to be accepted through the internet 

Major job and higher education information service provider Disco Inc. is set to offer applications to Japanese universities over the internet. The company will accept application forms and payment for enrollment certification through its English-language website. The services are scheduled to launch in December 2009 with Hokkaido University.

 

 

News 3: Overcoming despair and realizing dreams

Two Ugandan orphans with AIDS passed the entrance exam to the Kwansei Gakuin University School of International Studies in October with aid from ASHINAGA, a Japanese organization that provides scholarship support for the bereaved. The students have been admitted to the university and will start classes in April next year. ASHINAGA also assisted two tsunami orphans – from Sri Lanka and Indonesia – in entering Waseda University in September.

 

 

 

News 4: Adoption of a new residence management system

The revised Immigration Control Act introduced in the previous issue also contains the following amendments:

• The current alien registration system will be abolished, and a new “residence card” will be issued.
• Persons re-entering Japan within one year of departure, as a rule, will not be required to file an application for re-entry permission.

These amendments will come into force within three years of July 15, 2009.

The Immigration Bureau Office, the Ministry of Justice of Japan (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 5: 500 representatives from China visit Japan in a youth exchange program

The Japanese government welcomed some 500 representatives of a youth exchange program from China in October. The program was held as a part of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS). The group visited various parts of Japan and held exchanges with Japanese youths during a one-week stay.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Press Release (In Japanese Only)

 

 

 

News 6: Daniel sets stage record in Izumo Ekiden 

The Izumo Ekiden relay race was held October in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. Nihon University accomplished its second consecutive victory with anchor Gitau Daniel breaking a stage record. Taking over from Stage 5 in fifth place, 41 seconds behind the leading position, the international student from Kenya brought home the win with a magnificent run in Stage 6. Daniel is featured in Japan Alumni eNews No.11 and No.13.
The Izumo All Japan University Selective Ekiden Race (In Japanese Only)

 

 

 

 

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News 1: IDC ROBOCON in Tokyo
The IDC (International Design Contest) Robot Contest was held in August at Tokyo Denki University. In this, the 20th competition, 48 university students from seven countries around the world combined into cross-national teams to design and build robots and compete with their results.

IDC ROBOCON Official Website

 

News 2: Spreading the food culture of Japan’s rural areas to the world!
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Japan Tourism Agency, and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) have collaborated to create an English-language pamphlet called “JAPAN’S TASTY SECRETS” targeting foreign visitors as a part of the Visit Japan campaign (YOKOSO! JAPAN). The aim of the pamphlet is to increase foreign visitors to rural regions of Japan by spreading the word to foreign travelers coming to Japan of the sophisticated food culture to be found in Japan’s rural regions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (In Japanese Only)

The Rural Development Planning Commission

The Japan Tourism Agency (In Japanese Only)

 

News 3: Continuing trend of increased employment of international students at Japanese companies
According to the Ministry of Justice, in 2008, 11,040 foreigners with "College Student" or "Precollege Student" residence status were authorized to change their status to allow them to work for Japanese companies, an increase of 778 (7.6%) from the previous year. This trend of increase has continued since 2002, but it is feared that the global economic recession will cause it to slow down beginning next year.

The Ministry of Justice Press Release (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 4: Revision of the residence status system for international students
The revised Immigration Law officially announced in July 2009 will change the maximum term of residence for holders of “College Student” and other residence statuses from the current “three years” to “five years”. The revision is scheduled to come into force within three years. Further, when this revised law comes into effect, the term of residence for “College Student” will be newly set at “four years and three months” in accordance with the specific term of residence for each residence status as stipulated by the Ministry of Justice. In addition, the “College Student” and “Precollege Student” statuses will be consolidated in the single status of “College Student”. The revision is scheduled to come into force within one year.

The Immigration Bureau Office, the Ministry of Justice of Japan (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 5: JAXA accepting experiment contest theme proposals
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is accepting proposals for themes for the "Zero-gravity Flight Experiment Contest." If selected, students will build the experimental devices and conduct the experiments themselves. Themes other than science and engineering are being accepted as well, so international students studying in Japan are encouraged to apply!

JAXA Press Release (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 6: International students work as note-takers
Two international students from the United States have worked as "note-takers" at Kwansei Gakuin University. "Note-takers" serve as "written interpreters" for hearing-impaired students, describing in writing the content of lectures, as well as things happening around them, such as who is speaking, when the classroom chime has rung, etc. There are very few international students serving as note-takers in Japan, and these are the first at Kwansei Gakuin University.

Kwansei Gakuin University News Release (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 7: Traveling to Japan has gotten easier!
The Welcome Inn Reservation Center (WIRC) website, which introduces inexpensive lodging facilities to foreign travelers, is now available not only in English, but in Chinese and Korean as well.

WIRC website

 

 

 

 

 

 

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News 1: Gitau Daniel is the first runner to win four races in middle and long distance tournament

An international student from Kenya, Gitau Daniel (Nihon University), won a record-breaking four races at the 88th KANTO Intercollegiate Athletic Championships held in May at the National Stadium in Tokyo. He came in first place in the 800-, 1500-, 5000-, and 10000-meter middle and long distance competitions. Daniel is featured in the Japan Alumni eNews No.11.

The Inter-University Athletic Union of Kanto (In Japanese Only)

News 2: Japanese-language presentations of experiences in Japan

The 50th International Speech Contest in Japanese was held in May in Hakodate City (Hokkaido), co-organized by the Japan Foundation, the International Education Center, and Hakodate City. The contest is one of many international relations events planned in Hakodate, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of its port opening to foreign trade this year. NHK educational channel (“ETV Special”) will broadcast the contest on July 12, at 10:00 p.m..

 The 150th Anniversary of Hakodate Port (In Japanese Only)

 

 

 

News 3: Quint-lingual children's animation DVD

A DVD went on sale in June that features Connie-chan, a popular animated character in a TV program for children (“Be Ponkicki”). Connie-chan first appeared as an 8-year-old girl character who could speak Japanese and English. She has grown into an 18-year-old college student in the DVD. The new release highlights dialogues in Japanese, English, Chinese, French, and Italian between Connie-chan and her circle of friends who are international students.

Fuji TV Kids Club Website (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 4: Unveiling the fruits of daily practice

The 4th Foreigner’s Traditional Japanese Dance Exhibition was held in June at Waseda University in Tokyo. The event is held annually with the support of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and other organizations. Japanese and international students from various universities gathered to unveil the fruits of their daily practice.

Japan Association for Performance Art (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 5: Fostering environmental policy leaders of the Asia-Pacific region

Keio University established a Designing Low-carbon Society Course as a master's program of the Graduate School of Media and Governance in April. Even working professionals have the chance to obtain a master's degree for one year and a half by attending the course for one year and writing a master's thesis. The aim of the course is to foster human resources that can play an active role in creating low-carbon societies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Designing Low-Carbon Society Course Website

 

 

News 6: Building international relations with a sweat in the mudflats

The Kashima Gatalympic was held at Kashima City, Saga Prefecture, in June. The annual multi-sport event took place for the 25th time on the mudflats of the Ariake Sea, which is said to have the greatest tidal range in Japan. The sponsors made active efforts toward building international relations, such as arranging homestays for international students. Many took up on this opportunity, and enjoyed participating in the athletic competitions.

The Kashima Gatalympic (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 7: Former international student becomes ambassador to Japan

Dr. Abdulaziz Abdulsattar Turkistani arrived in May as the new Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Japan. He was one of the first Saudi students to graduate a Japanese university, having earned a master's degree at Waseda University and a Ph.D. at Seijo University. Anticipation rises toward even tighter Saudi-Japanese relations with an ambassador who is a Japan authority.

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Tokyo

 

 

 

 

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News 1: Establishment of Scholarship Program in Vietnam
Japanese convenience store chain Lawson Inc. has established a scholarship program for Vietnamese students who wish to study in Japan. The convenience store chain, which has deepened its relationship with Vietnam through procurement of materials for their products, has launched the program hoping for the development of Vietnam and friendly relations between Vietnam and Japan. Those students who won the scholarship in the first year of the program entered Japanese schools this April. It is planned the company is going to offer the scholarship to 25 students every year under the program. The convenience store giant hired 39 international students accounting for 30 percent of the new workers in total this spring.

  LAWSON News Release (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 2: Extension of the period of stay for international students searching for job
The Immigration Bureau Office, the Ministry of Justice of Japan, decided that, from April 1, 2009, the period of stay allowed for a international student graduated from school including college, university and so on can be extended to a maximum of one year after graduation in the case where the student continues his or her job-hunting. The measure was taken because certain results had been achieved by admitting the period of stay of 180 days after graduation before.

The Immigration Bureau Office, the Ministry of Justice of Japan (In Japanese Only)

 

 

News 3: Promotion of KAWAII, Japanese Pop Culture, in the world
In February, 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan appointed three young leaders among fashion-lovers in their 10’s and 20’s as KAWAII Ambassador, the official title of which is “Trend Communicator of Japanese Pop Culture.” To promote understanding of Japan’s pop culture in the world, the three KAWAII Ambassadors are expected to attend overseas fashion related events, other cultural projects and so forth.

Public Diplomacy / Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

 

 

News 4:The years (2009-2010) are the 400th Anniversary of Japan-Mexico Relations
As it is the 400th anniversary of Japan-Mexico relations this year, the Executive Committee of the 400th Anniversary of Japan-Mexico Relations was established in March. The relations between the two countries date back to 1609 when a high government official from Mexico met Ieyasu Tokugawa and Hidetada Tokugawa. The executive committee will collect and certify projects commemorating the anniversary and raise awareness among people in the country.

The 400th anniversary of Japan-Mexico relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

 

 

News 5 : Iranian woman wins a prestigious new author’s award of Japan
An Iranian woman, Shirin Nezammafi, has won a prestigious Japanese literary award for her work written in Japanese. Ms. Nezammafi came to Japan nine years ago, studied as a international student and found a job at a Japanese company. She has continued writing while working and has become the winner of the 108th Bungakukai Shinjinsho, which is given to a new author of a work of literature, awarded by the Bungei Shunju publishing company for her novella “Shiroi Kami (literal translation of the title is “White paper”).” She is the second person whose mother tongue is not Japanese to win the award. Ms. Yang Yi, the 2008 Akutagawa Award-winning novelist from China, was the first to collect the prize in 2007.

 

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News 1: A malaria research team, with an international student playing the leading role, is contributing to the development of a new malaria medicine 
The research team at Gifu University, Center for Advanced Drug Research headed by Professor Kitade Yukio and assisted by an Egyptian Government scholarship student, Mahmoud Kandeel succeeded in developing an enzyme that is effective only on "Falciparum malaria" parasites. The development was featured in and made the cover of "Parasitology", a British medical magazine on parasitology because of its potential as a new medicine against malaria.

Center for Advanced Drug Research (In Japanese Only)

Mahmoud Kandeel’s personal website

 

 

 

News 2: A joint Asian agricultural platform by universities of Germany, Thailand, and Japan
A mutual agreement signing ceremony was held by the representatives of six universities from the three countries. The universities are: Kasetsart University and Chiang Mai University in Thailand, University of Hohenheim in Germany, and Kyushu University, Kobe University, and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in Japan. The universities will cooperate to promote an agricultural education internationally. They plan to foster international-minded personnel through teachers’ mutual exchange programs, by distributing on-demand text books, and through field training together.

International Platform for Asian Agricultural Education

 

 

News 3: The International Students Assistance Program in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of founding
The company, with over 80 branch offices around the world, announced the "Social Contribution Programs to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of ITOCHU’s Foundation" at the end of 2008. As one phase of the Program, the “ITOCHU Scholarship Fund" will support international students in their 3rd and 4th year of university with a scholarship worth 1.5 million yen per person annually. The company plans to select about 20 to 30 students annually starting April 2009.
(*Concerning application, please contact the department in charge of international students of the designated universities.)

 

 

News 4: The "Digital Brochure " - an attractive net pamphlet for international students available in five languages
This Pamphlet issued by the Fukuoka International Student Support Center, introduces attractive locations of Fukuoka Prefecture and also presents useful tips on day-to-day living in Japan. It is written in Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese (simplified and traditional), and is available at overseas university liaison offices and at overseas Fukuoka City branch offices. It is also available on the web.

Fukuoka International Student Support Center

 

 

News 5: Launch of "Interaction Asia"
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government recently launched the web magazine "Interaction Asia" for administrative officers and international students in Asia . The Government has been training administrative officers from all over major Asian cities, and it hopes to use this media to maintain friendly relations with the trainees even after they return to their countries. It also hopes to introduce case samples of other Asian cities and also introduce jobs or provide information to assist international students residing in Japan.

Asian Human Network Databank

 

 

 

News 6:  An "Anime Textbook" is now available for animation cartoonists
An "Anime Textbook" (in Japanese) has been jointly published by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Anime Industry, and several Anime institutions. This textbook is aimed to educate animators and producers on the basics of anime creation and basic knowledge on Anime business, and is available at book stores nationwide. It is the first of such joint efforts by the government, industry and academia in Japan.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Press Release (In Japanese Only)

Tokyo Anime Center

 

 

 

News 7: Two Japanese Films Win the Academy Award
The Japanese films "Departures" and "La Maison en Petits Cubes (The house of small cubes), directed by Yojiro Takita and Kunio Kato, respectively, won the Oscar at the 81st Academy Award. The former won the award for the best foreign language film and the latter for the best animated short film.
"Departures"

"La maison en petits cubes"

 

 

 

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News 1: Mekong Japan Exchange Year 2009
Mekong-Japan Exchange Year has started in the hope of strengthening the relationship between Japan and the Mekong Region Countries, which include Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Besides exchanges through cultural events or sightseeing, a wide range of activities are going to be conducted such as seminars on investment promotion for Japanese business people and so on.

Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009

News 2: Emergency support for foreign students in response to financial crisis
Waseda University that has over 2,800 foreign students has decided to provide emergency support for foreign students in response to the global financial crisis this time. The figure, 2,800, is the biggest in Japan. The university has announced that it will confirm the financial condition of the foreign students studying at the university and allow them to postpone the payment of school expenses or allow them to pay their admission fees and school fees for the first semester in installments if necessary. Furthermore, there are other universities that are active in accepting foreign students, and they are taking such measures as special scholarship programs and so forth.

News 3: Support from Japan help the bereaved build a bridge to the future
Mr. Rahmat from Indonesia, who was orphaned by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, passed the entrance examination to Waseda University with ASHINAGA scholarship support. ASHINAGA is a Japanese not-for-profit organization that provides support to bereaved children. At a gathering of international orphans, he got acquainted with an AIDS orphan from Uganda studying in Japan and was encouraged by the Ugandan student, who had already received the scholarship, to apply for the scholarship to study in Japan. He will live in ASHINAGA’s student residence called ASHINAGA Kokoro Jyuku Rainbow house, and start his college life from April this year.

ASHINAGA

News 4: Autobiography of visually handicapped former foreign student
Mr. Kim Chihun from South Korea is totally blind and has published an autobiography titled “MOU-RYU-GAKU-SEI” whose literal translation is “a blind foreign student in Japan.” Mr. Kim lost his vision completely when he was four years old. He came to study in Japan because the percentage of those who were independent among the visually handicapped was high in Japan. He obtained the license to conduct acupuncture and moxibustion and became independent. Since then, he has provided support for visually handicapped people through such NPO activities to help them become independent as inviting them from Asian and African countries so that they can acquire the license of acupuncturists and moxibustionists.
International Cooperation Association for the Visually Impaired (ICA) (In Japanese Only)

News 5: Reunion of former students in Japan
For the program, “Reunion of Former Students in Japan,” sponsored by the Japanese government, 26 former foreign students from Southwest Asia, Middle East, Central Asia and Mongolia were invited to Japan, and the former students exchanged opinions and visited research and education institutions. Among the participants, there were some researchers who had been provided with the Follow-Up Services of JASSO, and many requests were made asking for further support after returning home.
(Reference page: In Japanese Only)

News 6: Autumn conferment of decorations on former foreign students
The Autumn Conferment of Decorations is announced annually on November 3, and the following three former foreign students were conferred along with 72 other foreign nationals this year: Mr. Mongkol Tanjapatkul, former chairman of the Old Japan Students Association of Thailand was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon; Mr. Rameshchandra Raghunath Divekar, former President of the AOTS Alumni Society of Central India, and Mr. Momtazuddin Bhuiyan, former President of Asia Bunka Kaikan Dosokai (ABKD), were awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays.

(Reference page: In Japanese Only)

 

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