What's On

Are you interested in teaching Japanese in secondary schools in England? Would you like to get the teaching qualification to realise that ambition? If so, please don’t miss this great opportunity!

The National Modern Languages SCITT and the Japan Foundation, London will be holding an information event aimed at potential applicants for the National Modern Languages SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training). This is a national scheme approved by the government’s Department for Education. It is designed to train successful applicants to become Early Career Teachers by obtaining a QTS.

The National Modern Languages SCITT (The NML SCITT) is unique, being the only national single-subject provider to specialise solely in the teaching of modern languages. The NML SCITT programme is a great opportunity for those who are looking to gain QTS together with the recognised standard qualification of Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The PGCE programme is offered in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University, and comes with credits towards an eventual possible Masters-level qualification, should trainees take up the option to continue study in the future. Subject to financial, degree classification and residential qualification, participants accepted on the programme may receive a substantial bursary while training; this is currently £25,000, but please note that this is subject to annual change. The training year consists of an empowering combination of practical training in school placements, supported by University- and centre-based academic tuition.

The NML SCITT will introduce a new pathway for training Japanese language teachers as part of its programme; there will be an expectation in the first instance that Japanese will be offered alongside either French, German or Spanish in order to cater for schools’ existing curricular offers, and to ensure that there is a possibility of qualifying for the bursary. Whilst in the past the provider’s focus has mainly been on these nationally prevalent modern languages (French, German, and Spanish), Mandarin, Arabic, Russian and Italian have also featured in our trainees’ languages skill sets. The NML SCITT will be proud and pleased to add Japanese to the programme portfolio.

Please note that trainees are required to have French, German or Spanish as a primary foreign language they can potentially teach, with Japanese as an additional language. This means that trainees will be able to teach two languages.

On this information day, Mr Keith Faulkner from the National Modern Languages SCITT will give a speech about SCITT, and explain how to apply for the NML SCITT. There will be a Q&A session.

Date: 17:00-17:45 on Tuesday 30th April

To apply, please click here.

• Participation fee: Free (registration in advance is required.)
• Registration deadline: 26th April
• Languages used: English
• Online (ZOOM meeting)

The Mingei Undo was a revolutionary cultural movement in Japan which started in 1926. Grandfathered by YANAGI Soetsu, it intended to identify and treasure the beauty of the hand-made works produced by anonymous craftsmen, each one created amidst the climate of each local region and to its specific daily needs. It was born against the backdrop of an existing notion that only ornately-decorated ornamental pieces had value as works of art. The re-discovery of beauty in Mingei covers media from ceramics to textiles, with the works of HAMADA Shoji regarded as some of the most representative of the movement, including within the UK.

In celebration of the exhibition Art Without Heroes: Mingei at William Morris Gallery in London, the Japan Foundation and Dovecot Studios will host a talk by YOSHIZAWA Tomo, a key partner of the exhibition, that will examine the historical significance of Mingei along with its socio-economic impact. As a granddaughter of MUNEHIRO Rikizo, a Preserver of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Tomo will also delve into Mingei’s influence on contemporary makers and craftsmen, along with the relationship between maker and user, by focusing on MUNEHIRO’s textile works.

To book, please click here for our booking form.
Please note that the confirmation email system is not automated and is subject to office opening hours.

Spring 2024 Applications Now OPEN!

 Institutions can apply for up to £3000 for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education in the UK. Please see the attached documents at the bottom of this page for more detailed information.

We prioritise projects that fit into one of the four following categories:

• Category 1 - Newly Introducing Japanese into the curriculum

Up to £3,000 for projects that promote the introduction of Japanese into the curriculum (or onto the main school timetable) at primary and secondary schools. This grant covers staff costs and the cost of Japanese language books. Projects may take place online or offline.

• Category 2 - Supporting GCSE or A-level courses

Up to £3,000 for projects that support GCSE or A-level courses. Particularly, if schools/organisations require support to ensure a large number of candidates are able to take formal qualifications in Japanese, they will be able to maintain their project by re-applying the following year. This means organisations will be able to apply for up to a total of £6,000 over two years. (Please note that we do not supplement the salary of teacher(s) already hired by the applying organisation.) Covers staff costs and costs of Japanese language books. Projects may take place online or offline.

• Category 3 – New Japanese clubs

Up to £2,000 for organisations that newly introduce Japanese as an extracurricular activity or enrichment subject. In the case of schools, this is even if this is not within the school timetable. Covers staff cost, Japanese language book cost, some costs for items contributing to Japanese language learning, such as origami and calligraphy materials. Clubs may take place online or offline.

• Category 4 - Projects that enable links between primary/secondary institutions and institutions of higher education

Up to £3,000 for projects that strengthen connections between secondary institutions and institutions of higher education and create and/or strengthen networks among pupils, students, and teachers for the purpose of helping to promote Japanese language education in the UK. These projects can be aimed at both potential learners of Japanese and people who already are learning Japanese. This is a recently added category, so please contact us if you have any questions or would like to apply but are unsure as to whether your project is suitable. These projects may take place online or offline.

Application deadline: 23^rd May 2024, 23:59 (Thursday) 

General Information document

LPSP 2024-2025 Grant Flowchart

Grant Application Form (May 2024)

We would be grateful if you could read the General Information document and the Grant Flowchart document before submitting an application.

If you have any questions, please contact info.language@jpf.go.jp

Please also refer to the “General Information” document above for detailed answers to many frequently asked questions.

Related Event!

Click here to find out about our seminar for potential applications for the Local Project Support Programme!

Date:	23 April 2024 - 23 May 2024
Download LPSP General Information Spring 2024-2025
Download LPSP Flowchart Spring 2024-2025
Download LPSP Application Form Autumn 2024-2025

You can find information on the programme as well as links to download an application form by clicking here

Are you considering applying for funding but aren’t sure about how to go about it? Do you have a project in mind but aren’t sure if it’s eligible? We would strongly recommend that you sign up to take part in our Online Seminar and Q&A session.

During this half-hour session, a member of our staff will talk participants through the application process, and then open the floor to questions and answers. We want to make sure the application process is as easy-to-understand as possible.

This session will be held twice on 8^th May 2024 (Thursday)

1. First Session: 13:00 to 13:30

2. Second Session: 18:00 to 18:30

We will be using Zoom software. Once you have applied we will send you information on how to join the session.

Attendance is free but booking is essential. If you would like to take part, please sign up 7^th May 2024 (Tue).

This seminar will be held in English but the presenter is a bilingual Japanese-English speaker. Please use Japanese at in this application form and at the Q&A if you would prefer.

Fill out the application form here

Step into the world of Kabuki with six stunning kimonos worn by the legendary actor BANDO Tamasaburo V, known for his renowned onnagata roles (male actor who performs female roles). Experience the intricate artistry of these garments, highlighting a diverse range of complex textile techniques, encompassing weaving, dyeing, embroidery, and hand-painting. We are delighted to collaborate with the Ashmolean Museum.

Date: 21 November 2023 - 8 December 2024

Venue: The Ashmolean Museum

Click here for details

Applications are now open for JaLaChamp 2024!

Latest updates

• 07/12 - Speech Category deadline extended!
• 31/10 - Prospective applicants and their teachers/guardians can now check out our Frequently Asked Questions document.
• 26/10 - Check out our JaLaChamp 2024 outline video!
• 18/10 - You can now download Video Creation Hints!

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JaLaChamp, or Japanese Language Championship for Young Learners UK, is a contest for primary and secondary school students studying Japanese. There are two categories - the speech category, where students give a speech on a theme of their choice, and the video category where students are asked to create an original video either by individual or part of a group.

The world is changing very quickly. Technology is advancing, and nowadays if we have a computer or a smartphone we can send a message to anyone in the world. In a time like this, we should always consider the following questions: “What message do I want to convey and how?” Using the voice, the written word, visuals, design and more – there are many ways to express ourselves. It is important to be able to combine these different choices of expression to create a way of expressing ourselves that others can understand, empathise with or be persuaded by.

We want to encourage students to share with us their thoughts and viewpoints, as well as show us their creativity in full and have fun challenging themselves by entering this contest and using their Japanese!

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Application deadline for the Speech Category: 6^th December 2023 (Wednesday), 15:00

The Speech Category Deadline has been EXTENDED.

New Speech Category Deadline: 24th January 2024 (Wednesday), 15:00

(Please note that the application guidelines, application form, application poster etc display the previous deadline)

• Speech Category Application Form

Application deadline for the Video Category: 24^th January 2024 (Wednesday), 15:00

• Video Category Application Form

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1. Download Guidelines and Event Poster

• English Guidelines
• Japanese Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Download our JaLaChamp 2024 poster
• Watch our JaLaChamp 2024 Outline Video

2. Reference Materials for Students

• Video Creation Hints
• Videos of JaLaChamp 2023

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• Finals day: 11th May 2024 (Saturday)
• Venue: Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5SA

* Please note: The Finals Day of JaLaChamp 2023 was held in July, however the JaLaChamp 2024 Finals Day will be held in May

Date:	25 September 2023 - 24 January 2023
Download JaLaChamp 2024 Poster (1)
Download JaLaChamp2024_Application Guideline_EN
Download JaLaChamp2024_Application Guideline_JP
Download JaLaChamp2024_Video Creation Hints
Download JaLaChamp FAQ

In collaboration with William Morris Gallery, we're proudly presenting the UK's most wide-ranging exhibition dedicated to Mingei, the influential folk-craft movement originating in Japan during the 1920s and 1930s. Showcasing a diverse array of works including ceramics, woodwork, textiles, and more, this exhibition explores Mingei's cultural significance and its enduring relevance in contemporary craft and consumerism.

Date: now on, until 22 September 2024
Venue: William Morris Gallery
Click here for details

Join curator Roisin Inglesby, along with contributors KIKUCHI Yuko, Aaron Angell, and Dasom Sung, for an exciting evening exploring and expanding on the themes of the book Mingei / Art Without Heroes, chaired by YOSHIZAWA Tomo.

Originating in Japan in the 1920s, the Mingei movement was based on the principle that beauty is inherent in handmade, everyday objects created by anonymous craftspeople. Spearheaded by the philosopher YANAGI Soetsu, and potters HAMADA Shoji and Bernard Leach, the movement sought to elevate the status of folk craft in a rapidly modernising society.

Mingei / Art Without Heroes covers a wide range of objects associated with Mingei, from ceramics and furniture to textiles and toys, alongside a series of profiles of leading designers and makers working in Japan today. Contributors from a variety of backgrounds explore Mingei’s origins, interpretations and contemporary implications, shedding new light on the ways in which the principles of the movement remain relevant to today’s personal, social and environmental concerns.

Join curator Roisin Inglesby and key exhibition partner YOSHIZAWA Tomo for a guided tour of the exhibition Art Without Heroes: Mingei at William Morris Gallery.

Drawing on their respective areas of expertise, Roisin and Tomo will give further insight into the context surrounding the objects featured in the exhibition.

We are proud to partner with the Barbican Centre for a special screening of NAKAMURA Genji's Beautiful Mystery (1983), screening as part of Queer 80s.

Political correctness flies out the window in this outrageous gay erotic comedy that satirises author and nationalist MISHIMA Yukio and his private army. 

Aspiring, patriotic bodybuilder SHINOHARA is spotted by the dominant MITANI (a caricature of queer writer and ardent nationalist MISHIMA Yukio) and recruited for militia, with plans to launch a coup d'état. The soldiers have more than revolution on the mind, though, and SHINOHARA finds himself in a world of gay sex and worship of the body. 

With an introduction by critic, curator, and occasional filmmaker Tony Rayns, this one-of-a-kind film is not to be missed.

*Please note this film contains a scene of rape that some viewers may find distressing.

Join the University of Edinburgh for the final talk in their Asian Studies Seminar Series for the academic year 2013 - 2014, in partnership with The Japan Foundation.

This free talk by Dr Caroline Astell-Burt is entitled 'Translation of Bodies: performance work of a professional puppeteer inspired by Japanese otome bunraku'.

Dr Astell-Burt first encountered puppets based on otome bunraku at a training workshop in 2009 at the London School of Puppetry. This developed into a long study of the bodily presence of the puppeteer before being formalised into a doctoral enquiry and the opportunity to observe the extremely rare and beautiful performances at Hitomiza in Japan.

She regularly writes academic articles about puppets and puppetry often within an educational or therapeutic context. She is a puppet-maker, performer and teacher and co-founder of the first full-time professional training for puppeteers in the UK. She holds two Masters Degrees from Middlesex and Royal Holloway Universities and a doctorate from Loughborough University.

No booking essential, just turn up!

To visit the event page on the University of Edinburgh's website, click here.

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a test for non-native speakers of Japanese which evaluates and certifies their Japanese-Language proficiency. The test takes place twice a year (July and December) in Japan and various locations around the world. Currently, it is the largest Japanese language test in the world, with more than 1.36 million people in 87 countries worldwide having registered for the JLPT in 2019.

The next JLPT will take place on Sunday, 7^th July 2024. Registration will start at each test centre in March. 

Please check this page for any updates on UK test centres for the July 2024 JLPT. For application opening dates and registration details, please refer to each university’s website using the links below:

Japan Research Centre, SOAS University of London

University of Leicester

Please note that the JLPT is very popular and registration at each test centre will close when the test centre has reached its maximum capacity.

For more information about the test, please visit JLPT website.

Ø  Let’s Try Sample Questions!

Ø  Download a Guide to the 2024 Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.

Date:	7 July 2024
Download guide_2024