Thank you for your interest in the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language programs. Regarding 2) The Japan Foundation Toronto (JFT) local grant programs in Canada below, the release of details of these programs has been postponed until further notice. Please visit our website around mid-February for updates.

Announcement of Changes to Japan Foundation Support for Japanese-Language Education in Canada

Beginning in the next Japanese fiscal year (starting April 1, 2010), Japan Foundation Worldwide Open Programs will change in order to provide support that is more flexible and suitable for each country’s educational needs.
Because of this change, support for Japanese-Language Education in Canada will be restructured as follows:

1. Japan Foundation Worldwide Open Programs
Current Japan Foundation Worldwide Open Programs for Japanese-Language Education, except training programs at the Japan Foundation Japanese Language Institutes in Urawa and Kansai, will be discontinued in Canada. “Training Programs for Japanese-Language Teachers Abroad” and “Japanese-Language Programs for Specialists – Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields” remain as Japan Foundation Worldwide Open Programs. Depending on where you apply from, please mail the completed application forms to either the Japan Foundation, Toronto or the nearest diplomatic mission of Japan by December 1, 2009. (Applications for the Graduate Program in Japanese Language and Culture [Doctor’s Course] should be mailed to the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) by December 15, 2009.)

2. The Japan Foundation Toronto (JFT) local grant programs in Canada
The Japan Foundation, Toronto (JFT) will support Japanese language projects through local grants.
The details of the JFT Japanese-language local grant programs will be announced in late January, 2010 on our web site: http://www.jftor.org/language/programs.php

3. Support for special projects
The Japan Foundation would like to consider supporting special projects that meet the following criteria.
Priority will be given to projects that:
(1) Enforce networking and cooperation among institutions/organizations involved in Japanese-language education
(2) Are involved in public outreach and fostering of Japanese-language study
(3) Advocate to the government or educational administration of the province/country to strengthen the foundation of Japanese-language education
(4) Hold symposiums and conferences for Japanese-language teachers
(5) Hold teacher training, seminars and workshops intended to enhance the skills of the Japanese-language teachers
(6) Hold a lecture /seminar tour for Japanese-language teachers
(7) Prepare and publish teaching materials that are consistent with the curriculum and needs of Canadian schools
(8) Contribute to basic infrastructures for opening or expanding Japanese-language courses
(9) Contribute to introducing and/or expanding Japanese-language courses at the elementary and secondary levels

JFT will accept proposals for projects to be conducted between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011. Please contact JFT with an outline of the proposal, and then submit the official application (to be provided by JFT) to JFT by mail or fax by December 1, 2009. After applications have been screened by JFT and the Japan Foundation Headquarters, we will announce the results by April 2010.

Inquiries:
The Japan Foundation, Toronto
Address: 131 Bloor Street West, Suite 213
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1R1
Tel: 416-966-1600 ext. 224 Fax: 416-966-9773
E-mail: nsaito@jftor.org Web site: http://www.jftor.org