February 28, 2012
Student Support and Exchange Division,
Higher Education Bureau

1. Outline of the Program

　After the Great East Japan Earthquake, anxiety about study in Japan hasn't been dispelled yet.  
　MEXT will invite over 200 students of around 40 countries to Japan, in order to help them to correctly understand and perceive the current situation of Japan and universities in Japan through various activities in Tokyo metropolis and Tohoku region. Under the program, the participants will attend seminars held by national and local governments and universities, visit the disaster-stricken areas and talk with the local residents, and interact with Japanese students and international students studying in Japan.  They will also experience Japanese cultural activities such as seeing a Kabuki play and other activities.
　It is expected that the correct information on the current situation of Japan will be spread in the countries through the report sessions held by the participants in their home countries after the program （please see “3. To expand correct perception”）.  

［Main activities］ （from March 8 to March 18）

■ Tokyo Program （March 8－11 and 18）

• Courtesy visits to the ministries and agencies concerned  
• Seminars about the disaster and the reconstruction  
• Introduction of Japanese culture and technology （such as seeing Kabuki play in the National Theater, visiting JAXA, etc.）
• Interaction with Japanese students and international students studying in Japan

■ Tohoku Program （March 12－17）
［The participants will be divided into three groups: Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima.］

• Seminars by the local governments and universities about the disaster and/or the reconstruction
• Visits to disaster-stricken areas and interact with the local residents
• Experience of Japanese culture, interaction with various people such as students, members of professional sports teams etc, and/or homestay

2. The invitation of participants

　MEXT will invite students through universities, Japanese embassies abroad, Japan alumni associations etc from countries from which a lot of students come to Japan to study or which kindly have invited Japanese students after the earthquake.  

3. To expand correct perception

　The participants are going to write a report to MEXT and hold a report session after their return to home countries.  Also, MEXT will make a video record of the program for the report sessions held by the participants, and events and briefing sessions on study in Japan held by overseas offices of Japanese universities and Japanese governmental organizations.