High school students who visited Japan for two weeks as part of the JEYNESIS Programme in December, 2009
The JENESYS Programme 2010 has started and is now inviting young Australians to Japan with all expenses paid by the Japanese Government.
Launch parties have been held all over Australia, such as in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, and Melbourne had its own on Thursday, the 6th of May, at Central Pier, Docklands.
The Programme 2010 is to invite 228 students and 22 teachers from Australia to various areas in Japan for two weeks between the 3rd and the 16th of December.
This programme will be run simultaneously in such countries as New Zealand, Philippine, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.
Australia sends the largest number of people.
Participants from all participating countries will firstly gather together in Japan as one group to meet each other and from there will spread out around the country.
The JENESYS Programme started in 2007, and Japan has invited 720 students and 72 teachers from Australia. The Japanese Government has been responsible for almost all the expenses, covering about 8,000 dollars (650,000 yen) per person.
High school students who went to Japan last year excitedly talked about warm toilet seats and memorable hot springs in Japan.
It seemed greatly stimulating for them to have talked to young people of the same generation not only from Australia but also from South East Asia.
There is no doubt that grass-roots activities such as the JENESYS Programme and Japanese-language teachers have been promoting Australian people’s understanding of Japan.
Vice chairman of AFS Japan, Mr Takatsu, and some members of AFS Australia from Sydney participated in today’s launch party. Mr Tsuyoshi Isaka, the Director of the Japan Information & Cultural Centre (JICC) and Melissa from the Consulate General of Japan, Melbourne also attended.
Although it is only for two weeks, the experience of living in a foreign country away from their parents and friends will be a treasure to be embraced for life while providing the foundations to understanding Japan better.
There exist a number of Aussies who are good with Japanese language in Melbourne.
It may be no exaggeration to say that of all cities in the world, Melbourne has the greatest number of people with an understanding of Japan and love for Japanese culture.
It is precisely because there are people who strongly promote programs like this one.
Japanese educators were also invited to today’s launch party. Young teachers of Japanese
Yuji, Carol and Leo from the left. Leo on the right is a student at Melbourne University and visited Japan last year.
