Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART II Chapter 9 Section 3 4

The increasing importance of international exchange activities at the regional level is reflected in the growing need for efforts to foster and disseminate unique aspects of regional culture. The Agency for Cultural Affairs is helping to meet this need by promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding through its National Culture International Exchange Programs. Activities under these programs include the invitation of young people and amateur cultural groups from other countries to participate in the National Culture Festival and the National Culture Festival for Upper Secondary Schools and the dispatch of Japanese participants to other countries. In fiscal 1994 exchange activities with five Asian and two Western countries were implemented. In addition, the Agency has established the Program to Promote Overseas Performances by Regional Artistic Groups as part of its efforts to foster representative regional groups. The program provides opportunities for members of regionally based artistic and cultural groups to study overseas.