International Exchange Advancement Project

A Global Connection - Towards the Creation of a Vibrant, Beautiful Fukushima

Fukushima Prefecture, whilst initiating a variety of exchanges with various regions of the world, also looks to create a network of information, goods and people with a rounded global understanding.
As we progress towards laying the foundations to a society dedicated to peaceful co-existence, respectful of individual cultures and values, we also aim to create a region that is suitable as a staging ground for global exchange.
These basic ideals are contained in the Internationalization Promotion Plan of Fukushima Prefecture,which aims to coordinate the efforts of the cities, towns and villages of Fukushima Prefecture, along with various related organizations, private enterprises and the citizens themselves.
We hope to unite the strands of these various policies and activities which are helping to advance the internationalization of Fukushima as we approach the 21st century.


An outline of the major international projects currently being undertaken:

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme.
The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations(CLAIR) administers the JET programme in cooperation with local government organisations;the Ministry of Public Management,Home Affairs,Posts and Telecommunications;the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;and the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology.
The programme invites participants from overseas to live and work in Japan, assisting with regional level exchange and English language instruction.

Current exchange agreements with regions and municipalities around the globe.
Province of British Columbia, Canada (Agreement ratified 27th October 1993)
Province of Hubei, P.R.China (Agreement ratified 31st May 1994)
New Zealand(October,1996)
In addition, 27 municipalities within the prefecture are linked with 34 regions overseas, and are currently enjoying sister-city or friendly cooperation exchanges.

Fukushiama summer(winter) school programme
The Association of Colleges of Education in New Zealand (ACENZ) and the Prefecture of Fukushima, Japan share a mutual interest in promoting educational initiatives between the two countries.

Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers support activities.
Assistance is given in the form of application explanation seminars, information bulletins and the implementation of the Global Understanding Roadshow, stimulating local interest in the programme.

Overseas Technical Trainee Programme.
Participants selected from Asia, Africa, South and Central America study in Fukushima for 10 months.

Foreign Student Programme.
Descendants from former Fukushima-born emigrants to Central and Southern America come to the prefecture for a year to study advanced techniques which can then be implemented in their home countries.

The Foundation of a Global Citizen Network.
The foreign participants of all the projects detailed above form part of what is known as the Global Citizen Network, facilitating exchange with local residents actively involved with internationalization.


Correspondence address:
International relations Group, Fukushima Prefectural Government,2-16 Sugitsumacho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan 960-8670
Tel: (Int.+81) 024-521-7182 Fax 024-521-7919 e-mail: kokusai@pref.fukushima.jp

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Copyright(C) 2005 International Relations Group. Fukushima Prefectural Government. Japan 福島県のＨＰ