Study Tour of Japan for European Youth 2010

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan invites young Europeans for a ten-day group study tour of Japan in November 2010.

The objective is, in the short term, to inspire participants’ interest on Japan through experiences on many aspects of Japan (i.e. Japanese politics, economy, culture, society). It is hoped that the participants’ deeper understanding of Japan gained during this tour will contribute to strengthening future ties between Japan and European countries.

I.

general rules

Applicants are required to meet the following conditions:
 

(1)     

Nationals of the following countries:

Andorra(Application at Japanese Embassy in France), Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus(at Embassy in Greece), Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein(at Embassy in Switzerland), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta(at Embassy in Italy), Monaco(at Embassy in France), the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino(at Embassy in Italy), Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, the United Kingdom, EU*

 * “EU applicants” are limited to officers and trainees of the EU Institutions– European Commission, Council of the EU, European Parliament etc.- with the nationality of the 27 Member States.

    Dual nationals of Japan are not entitled to apply.

(2)

Aged 25-35 as of 1^st June 2010

(3)

Able to communicate effectively in English

(4)

Others:

-    Applicants are not student.

-    Applicants have never visited Japan before and have no plan to visit Japan in the near future.

-    Applicants are expected to be enthusiastic, sociable and well suited to group activities for the Tour.

-    Participants are required to submit a short essay. It is also required to answer to a questionnaire and submit a report after the Tour. The theme of the report is; “The future between Europe and Japan.”.

Applications should include:

 (a)

a cover letter in English containing participant's:
full name

sex

date of birth

nationality

present address and telephone numbers (mobile included)

and how he/she came to know of this essay contest

  (b)

a Curriculum Vitae in English

  (c)

*

a short essay (one page in A4-sized paper) in English on:

"What would you do to strengthen the relationship between Japan and your country ( Europe or EU) ".

The submitted documents will not be returned

(2)

(3)

Where to send the applications:

Applications are required to be sent to the Japanese Embassy/Consulates General in the applicant’s country of nationality. (This rule, in principle, applies also to applicants residing in another country.)

Italian citizens living in the regions of the North of Italy (Liguria, Lombardia, Piemonte, Trentino Alto Adige, Valle d’Aosta, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna) are requested to send their application to the Consulate General of Japan in Milan at the following address:

CONSOLATO GENERALE DEL GIAPPONE

   Via privata C. Mangili 2-4 20121 MILANO Tel. 026241141

 "EU applicants" mentioned above are requested to send their applications to the Mission of Japan to the European Union in Brussels.

III.   OUTLINE OF THE Tour

Group A: from 8^th to 18^th November 2010 (ATTENZIONE: il gruppo A è stato cancellato: tutti i 37 partecipanti partiranno con il gruppo B)

Group B: from 29^th November to 9^th December 2010

(2)

Number of Participants

Up to 37 persons in total

(3)

Plan of Study Tour

(a) Experiencing cultural, economic and political aspects of Japan from both traditional and modern perspectives through lectures, visits and hands-on experiences.

(b) Discussions with Japanese youth.

(c) Visits to regional cities in Japan

(d) Stay with a host family.