Aiming at Promotion
of
Mutual Understanding and Friendship through Exchange

The objectives of the international youth exchange programs conducted by the Cabinet Office are to promote mutual understanding and friendship between youths as well as to broaden the global view of the youths,to cultivate the spirit of international cooperation, and to foster the youths of the rising generation with international awareness through the exchange between Japanese and foreign youths by mission and invitation activities by airplane and multinational exchange activities on ships.

The Japanese youth who have participated in these programs carry out activities in communities and work places for promotion of international friendship, understanding and cooperation by organizing the International Youth Exchange Organization of Japan and making use of the valuable experience they obtained abroad.

• Consists of two programs for sending Japanese youths oversea and inviting foreign youths to Japan.
• Send a total of approx. 60 Japanese youths to one of the 5 designated countries for 23 days and inviteapprox. 100 foreign youths from different countries around the world for 21 days.
• To conduct high quality international exchange laying stress on shared experiences such as volunteer and welfare activities, experience of traditional cultures, etc. while staying in a certain place as a base of activities.

• Started in 1979 as a joint program of the two counties to commemorate the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People's Republic of China.
• Send 30 Japanese youths to China for 19 days and invite approx. 30 Chinese youths to Japan for 19 days.

• Started in 1987 as a joint program of the two countries based on a joint communique by Japan and Korea in 1984, and to commemorate the 20th year after the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea in 1985.
• Send approx. 30 Japanese youths to Korea for 15 days and invite approx. 30 Korean youths to Japan for 15 days.

• Started in 1988 by reorganizing the "Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise Program" which started in 1967 as one of the commemorative programs of the Centennial of the Meiji Restoration.
• Approx. 120 Japanese youths and approx. 140 foreign youths from 12 countries around the world, including the visiting countries, live together on board the ship for about 43 days to study and discuss common issues from the global perspective, and carry out exchange programs with the local youths at the ports of call.
• Visit Oceania, North, South and Central American regions or Southwest Asian, African, and Middle Eastern regions every other year.

• Started in 1974 based on a joint statement issued by ASEAN countries and Japan.
• Approx. 300 youths from ASEAN countries and approx. 40 Japanese youths live together on board the ship for about 43 days and visit some of the ASEAN countries and Japan.

• Stated in 2001 as a new exchange program to commemorate the start of the 21st century.
• Invite approx. 80 youth leaders from different countries around the world for 14 days to hold discussions and to participate in exchange programs with the Japanese youth leaders.

• Started in 2002 to foster young leaders who will be the center of civil society groups.
• Japanese and foreign youths who are taking part in the social activities hold discussions and participate in exchange programs.
• Send a total of approx. 15 Japanese youths to one of the 3 designated countries for 10 days and invite approx. 40 foreign youths from 3 countries for 14 days.

History of Programs

Program Report

International Youth Development Exchange 2003 2002 Japan-China Youth Friendship Exchange 2003 2002 Japan-Korea Youth Friendship Exchange 2003 2002 Ship for World Youth 2003 2002 Ship for Southeast Asian Youth 2003 2002

Post-Programu Activities