Events & Programmes Archive

©Hiroyasu Daido We are proud to support this gripping contemporary dance: Naraku 奈落 (Abyss), performed by Japanese Dance Company Lasta. The performance depicts a dark, dream-like world where a man struggles with his deepest desires. Adapted for film in 2022, the performance won awards and was screened in Paris, Venice, London, and Athens.

The Japan Foundation London has begun collecting information for the Japanese Studies Survey 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: 1Session One: 8th September 2025 (Monday), 13:00 to 13:30 (Deadline: 7th September 2025, 23:59) Session Two: 18th September 2025 (Thursday), 13:00 to 13:30 (Deadline: 17th September 2025, 23:59) Attendance is free but booking is essential. We will be using Zoom software. Once you have applied we will send you information on how to join the session. This seminar will be held in English but the presenter is a bilingual Japanese-English speaker. Please use Japanese in this application form and at the Q&A if you would prefer. Fill out the application form here        

We are delighted to announce that the 21st Japanese Speech Contest for University Students is open for applications! This contest gives students the chance to demonstrate their Japanese speaking skills and to make their voices heard in Japanese. Finalists will be invited to give their speeches and presentations at the Speech Contest Finals Day, which will be held at King’s College London on Saturday 7th March 2026. There will be fantastic prizes to finalists. :: Contest Aims The main purpose of the event is to improve the speaking and presentation skills of students studying Japanese as a foreign language. Through this event, we hope to promote Japanese language learning at higher education level in the UK and Ireland. :: Who can apply? The contest is aimed at undergraduate students who are currently studying Japanese as a foreign language at a university in the UK or Ireland. There are three different categories*: *Please be advised that contestants are expected to choose appropriate topics according to the category to which they are applying. 1. Speech Category Aim: To discuss and/or argue a topic of your choice and offer opinions, suggestions and/or solutions. Eligibility: ·       Undergraduate students who are studying a Japanese course aiming for the equivalent of JF standard C1 or C2* at a university in the UK or Ireland including, as an elective, optional or other university-based language course. ·       Those who have less than a total of three years’ residence in Japan since the age of six. *      Five finalists will be selected. Application Deadline: Monday 10th November 2025  (15:00 GMT) 2. Individual Presentation Category Aim: To explain your chosen topic and to convey your opinion or message using PowerPoint slides. Eligibility: ·       Undergraduate students who are studying a Japanese course aiming for the equivalent of JF standard B1 or B2* at a university in the UK or Ireland. ·       Those who have spent not more than 12 months in total in Japan. *      Five finalists will be selected. Application Deadline: Monday 8th December 2025 (15:00 GMT) 3. Group Presentation Category Aim: to introduce a topic related to the U.K. or another country outside of Japan. Eligibility: ·       Undergraduate students who are studying a Japanese course aiming for the equivalent of JF standard A1 or A2* at a university in the UK or Ireland. ·       Groups of two to four students. ·       Postgraduate students alongside undergraduate student(s). *      Five finalist groups will be selected. Application Deadline: Monday 15th December 2025 (15:00 GMT) *Details of JF Standard can be found here: https://www.jfstandard.jpf.go.jp/pdf/web_whole_en.pdf   Please see the files below for the contest poster, FAQ, and application guidelines for each category. URL for online application form can be found in the Application Guidelines for each category. Contest Poster Frequently Asked Questions Speech Category Application Guidelines Individual Presentation Category Application Guidelines Group Presentation Category Application Guidelines See videos from previous University Speech Contest Finals Day here. Please email speechcontest@jpf.go.jp if you have any questions.

Autumn 2025 Applications Now OPEN!  Institutions can apply for up to £2500 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 £2,500 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 £2,500 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 £2,500 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: 30th September 2025, 23:59 (Tuesday)   General Information document LPSP 2025-2026 Grant Flowchart Grant Application Form (Autumn 2025) 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!

This year’s JETAA Japan-Scotland festival will take place over 3 days in New Abbey. Aiming to foster deep cultural connections between Japan and Scotland through arts, crafts, education, and sustainability. Everybody is welcome!  

The second round of applications for the Japan Foundation London Grant Programme FY 2025-26 has opened! Deadline: Friday 8 August 2025

MORIIZUMI Takehito is a Japanese manga artist and an illustrator by profession. Having debuted in 2010 with Mary in the Forest, his representative manga works include Serie and Asleep, a post-apocalyptic science fiction tale. His unique technique of drawing initially with just water, then by dropping ink onto the paper and using toothpicks and chopsticks, among other unconventional tools, to fill in the details not only distinguishes him from other manga artists, but also allows him to create very poetic expressions of his highly intellectual story lines. His professional activities are also characterised by his passionate involvement in literature: he has provided illustrations for Japanese literature publications and produced graphic adaptations of a variety of novels by esteemed authors including Franz Kafka, George Orwell, and MURAKAMI Haruki. Owing to his deep knowledge of and great interest in literature, he was once described by Japanese media as “a manga artist who is more of a literary figure than a novelist”. In this special talk, MORIIZUMI will showcase his career and his works, explaining his unique creative process as well as the ethos behind his creations. As the son-in-law of late film director OBAYASHI Nobuhiko, and having once worked very closely with him, MORIIZUMI will also touch upon his personal relationship with OBAYASHI.

In conjunction with MORIIZUMI Takehito and his wife OBAYASHI Chigumi, there will be two special film screenings at the Garden Cinema in London for the films of OBAYASHI Nobuhiko. OBAYASHI began his career with a largely experimentalist style but ultimately explored different genres throughout his life. His films feature themes of youth, love, and war.  6 August 18:00 ~ His Motorbike, Her Island. Followed by a Q&A with OBAYASHI Chigumi, the director's daughter, as well as her husband MORIIZUMI Takehito, distinguished manga artist and illustrator.  9 August 17:00 ~ Hanagatami Venue: The Garden Cinema London

If you are a pre-university student in the UK, and you are interested in making friends from Japan and learning Japanese culture, while also attending lectures at top UK universities delivered by academics and professionals and learning crucial team work and presentation skills through participating in the UCL Grand Challenge Workshop, then why not register for the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2025?! This is a prestigious, annual summer school programme that was established in 2015. The programme brings together students visiting from high schools across Japan with pre-university students from the UK. The programme takes place across various locations, including the Rikkyo School in England, the University of Cambridge, and UCL. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the programme! The theme is “Space for the Future”, focusing on how we can shape our future with the most advanced science and technology. This year’s programme will run from Saturday 26th July – Sunday 3rd August 2025. Please note that some dates are optional, and full details can be found on the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge website. The programme is now taking applications from UK students, so if you know anyone you think might be interested, please share the information with them! For more information, visit the UCL-Youth Challenge official website: UCL-Japan Youth Challenge - Summer school programme

The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2025 is looking for volunteers! If you are interested in Japanese culture or learning Japanese, and are over 18, why not come along to this week-long campus summer school programme to help pre-university students shape their future studies and careers? The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge is an annual summer school programme for pre-university students from UK sixth form colleges and Japanese high schools for cultural interaction through various educational activites held at UCL and the University of Cambridge. Dates and Venues*: Saturday 26 July (Rikkyo School in England), Sunday 27, Monday 28 July (University of Cambridge), and Tuesday 29 - Saturday 2 August (University College London). *Volunteers may choose to join from one day to the whole programme. What will be provided: Reasonable travel costs and lunch. Eligibility: Volunteers must be 18 years of age and able to travel to the volunteer locations. If you can volunteer, please email ujyc@japanatuk.com to register your interest. To find out more about the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge, visit: ucl-japan-youth-challenge.com.

The Japan Foundation, London is holding a Refresher Course for Japanese teachers online over a few weeks from late June to mid-July. This is to help non-native-speaker-level Japanese teachers brush up their Japanese level and network with other Japanese teachers. The in-person Final Day of the Refresher Course will be held in London and is open to all school teachers, even if they have not participated in the Refresher Course. Why not join us in London for a chance to meet fellow teachers of Japanese, participate in workshops, and hear from expert speakers? The event is free, and lunch will also be provided. You can find information on the Final Day event below: Basic Information Date: Saturday 19th July Venue: The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, 13/14 Cornwall Terrace (Outer Circle), London, NW1 4QP Fee: Free Languages Used: English with some Japanese Application Deadline: 10th July 2025 (Thursday), 15:00 Link to Application Form *Applications will close once the maximum number of participants has been reached. Eligibility (Any one or more of the following) Japanese teachers who teach at secondary and/or primary schools, including teaching extra-curricular activities such as school clubs. PGCE students who are aiming to become Japanese teachers. SCITT trainees/candidates Private tutors may also apply *Your application may not be accepted if it does not meet the eligibility criteria. Schedule (TBC: Please note that this schedule is subject to change) 10:40　Venue opens 11:00　Opening 11:10　Session 1 (Seminar about GCSEs/A-Levels) 11:40　Break 11:50　Session 2 (Workshop about teaching methodology) 13:20　Break 13:30　Buffet lunch 15:00　End Speakers Ms Fiona Pryce at Pearson Edexcel Fiona Pryce is a Senior Qualification Manager at Pearson Edexcel, with a portfolio of 16 GCSE and 15 A Level language qualifications. Fiona has extensive experience as an MFL teacher, teaching Spanish and German up to KS5 and French up to KS3. As a HOD she supported students taking additional language qualifications, including Japanese GCSE. She also ran a primary MFL business for 6 years. Fiona joined Pearson in 2022 and led on the development of the GCSE 2024 Spanish Edexcel and AQA course resources. Ms Anne Rajakumar Anne Rajakumar has been teaching Japanese for over thirty years, in both Australia and the UK. She is the author of the successful Australian primary-level workbooks, Yonde Kaite, and has a website and Youtube channel which hosts a wealth of material to support the GCSE, A-Level and International Baccalaureate Japanese programmes. Until giving up classroom teaching in 2020, Anne was the Head of Japanese at Hockerill Anglo-European College and since then she has focussed on teaching online. For the past fifteen years making online resources to support 'Flipped Learning' in the classroom has been a major focus of her work, and she has integrated the use of online resources into her teaching (Flipped Learning) to great effect. Click here to register to attend