"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)
Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] Promotion of Japanese Language Education in India

[Place]
[Date] October 29, 2018
[Source] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
[Notes]
[Full text]

1. In view of the persistent demand for Japanese language knowing professionals since the past few years, Prime Ministers of India and Japan recognized the importance of expanding Japanese language education in India for achieving wider and closer cooperation in different domains.

2. Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of Japanese Language Education in India was signed during the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to India on 14 September 2017. This Memorandum of Cooperation provides for establishing a Japanese Language Teachers' Training Centre, training of 1000 Japanese language teachers and establishing of 100 new Japanese language courses, in the next 5 years.

3. The activity is jointly steered by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of Japan in India with the support of Japan Foundation, Ministry of Human Resource Development, UGC, JNU-HRDC, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and CSIR.

4. In pursuance of the aims of the Memorandum, the Japanese Language Teachers' Training Centre was established in New Delhi on July 23, 2018 at its temporary location in the Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The centre was inaugurated by Gen. (Dr.) V.K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Ambassador of Japan in India Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu. The ceremony was attended by JNU Vice Chancellor Professor. Jagadesh Kumar and other senior officials from the Indian side. From the Japanese side, Executive Vice President of Japan Foundation, Mr. Tomoyuki Sakurai and other senior officials attended the event.

5. The first training programme of 360 hours, that spread over a period of 3 months commenced on 23 July 2018 for the Japanese language knowing trainees having N3 level of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), completed successfully on 12 October 2018. This course covered beginners and intermediate-level Japanese learners, used different teaching methods and classroom teaching practices. A total of 25 trainees passed this course. Further, a 5-day training course and a 2-day training course were conducted at Shantiniketan from 12 – 16 September 2018 and at Bengaluru from 26-27 October 2018 respectively.