A total of 19 Japanese language teachers from Japan are set to embark on a cultural exchange mission across nine regions in the Philippines, thanks to the Nihongo Partners Program, it was learned.
On Friday (August 8, 2025), Ambassador Kazuya Endo warmly welcomed the 12th batch of Nihongo Partners during a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Japan. The teachers, accompanied by Japan Foundation Manila (JFM) Director Ben Suzuki, are part of an ongoing initiative to promote Japanese culture and language in the country.
Ambassador Endo expressed his hope that the 12th batch’s contributions would not only enhance the teaching of the Japanese language but also foster a deeper mutual understanding of Filipino culture.
The Nihongo Partners Program, organized by the Japan Foundation, dispatches Japanese nationals to assist local teachers of Japanese language in secondary education institutions across Asia. These teachers act as language assistants and cultural ambassadors, while also learning about their host countries’ languages and customs. The program is designed to be a mutually enriching experience, with teachers spending between six months to a year in their host locations, gaining new insights and expanding their global perspectives.
The 12th batch of Nihongo Partners will be deployed across various municipalities and cities, including Benguet, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Cebu, Bohol, and Davao. Their mission is to introduce not just the Japanese language but also elements of Japanese culture, contributing to a broader cultural dialogue.
For more information on the Nihongo Partners Program, visit the Japan Foundation’s official pages in both Japanese and English.
