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”Tsudoi”program has ended in year 2009.

- Expanding the Former Students in Japan Network-
About the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Tsudoi" Program

Students who once studied in Japan as a foreign student are utilizing the experience they gained in Japan and are playing an active role around the world in various fields. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) conducts various programs in support of former foreign students in the wish that they will become a bridge between Japan and the students' home countries. One such program is "Tsudoi," a reunion of former students in Japan. In this program, selected alumni and alumnae who are now active in the society of their home country are invited to spend about one week in Japan. While they are in Japan, the individuals participate in activities that include exchanging views with experts and people from MOFA and attending tours that enable participants to see, firsthand, Japan as it is today. The Tsudoi program enhances friendship between former study-in-Japan students and also help to promote the activities of the various alumni associations located abroad.

For example, in Southeast Asia, exchange through the Tsudoi program triggered the founding of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA). Founded in 1977, ASCOJA is a coalition of ASEAN-based Japan alumni. Today, ASCOJA consists of nine chapters: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam (in alphabetical order). It is aiming for membership by all 10 ASEAN countries and is making preparations to admit the remaining country, Laos, as a member. As you can see, the Tsudoi program has triggered the successful expansion of the network of Japan alumni associations in Southeast Asia by ASCOJA, thereby helping to enhance mutual cooperation between associations, deepen ties through the shared experience of studying in Japan as a foreign student and increase exchange activities.

In a similar light, Tsudoi also triggered the founding of the South Asian Federation of Japanese Universities Alumni (SAFJUA), a regional organization that cuts across Southwest Asia that began its activities in March 2005. Everyone is looking forward to seeing further expansion of their activities.

Tsudoi programs are held twice a year, with its target primarily on former study-in-Japan students in Asia. The program with the longest history is the "Reunion of Former Students in Japan from the Southeast Asian Countries" which began in FY1974. It was proposed by the late former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda - then Minister of Finance - upon his tour of ASEAN countries the same year. Target regions have been expanding since, with the reunion of former students in Japan from China begun in FY1989, from Southwest Asia in FY2001, from the Middle East in FY2004 and from Central Asia and Mongolia in FY2005. As of the end of FY2006, more than 2,000 former students in Japan had participated in this program.

Most Tsudoi participants are Japan alumni who are active in the various overseas alumni associations of former students in Japan. You can find information regarding the alumni associations of various countries at the following: List of Japan Alumni.(http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/ath/ath0201e.html)

[Countries covered by Tsudoi projects and Year of project commencement]
¤ Southeast Asian countries (10 ASEAN countries) :Begun in FY1974
¤ China :Begun in FY1989
¤ Southwest Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) :Begun in FY2001
¤ The Middle East (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey) :Begun in FY2004
¤ Central Asia (Uzbekistan) :Begun in FY2005
¤ Mongolia :Begun in FY2005

Please inquire at the Embassy or Consulate General of Japan nearest you for further details about how to participate in the Tsudoi programs.

We would appreciate your input regarding notices and events scheduled for former foreign students! If you have information regarding such events, please send details to the following Email address: webmaster@studyjapan.go.jp
Please note that we may not be able to publicize the event depending on its content.