Welcome to the Australia Japan Society – ACT Inc
IJSP (Ishikawa Japanese Studies Program)
28 Sept to 10 Oct 2025 | Australia-Japan Society (ACT)
The Australia-Japan Society of the ACT (AJS ACT), in conjunction with the Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange (IFIE), is again calling for applications for the two-week in-country course in Japanese language/culture in Kanazawa.
Applications close on 8 July 2025.
NOTE: there are only 15 places available for this course so it has to be “first in, first served”.
Membership
Membership of the AJS is open to all persons and organisations who have a genuine interest in Australia-Japan relationships. Members are invited to renew membership from 1 July each year. There are Individual, Family; Youth/Student; Educational Institution and Corporate membership categories.
Why not join the AJS (ACT), participate in the many events and active community of people interested in Japan and things Japanese?
Become a member of the AJS (ACT) and you will be automatically be signed up for our quarterly newsletter, Kakehashi, which contains articles of general interest regarding Japan-related events and exhibitions in Canberra, as well as film reviews and links to information and resources about the Japanese language and culture. As an AJS member, you will also receive discounts to Japan-related events around Canberra.
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The Australia – Japan Society (ACT) Inc. (AJS) is a non-profit community organisation, formed in 1972 to facilitate contact and understanding between Australians and Japanese and to promote informed interest in Japan, Japanese culture and Japanese people.
The Society enthusiastically cooperates with other organisations interested in promoting the Australia – Japan relationship, including universities, schools and the Federal and ACT governments, and works closely with the Embassy of Japan.
Affilliations
The AJS (ACT) has affiliations with many other organisations and groups that share our key goals.
- The AJS (ACT) has a longstanding ‘sister’ relationship with the Japan-Australia Society in Nara and is represented on the Canberra Nara Sister City Committee established to provide assistance and advice to the ACT Government on the implementation of the agreement between the ACT Government and the municipality of Nara.
- The AJS (ACT) has close working relationships with the Embassy of Japan and with a number of Japan-Australia Society, including in Kobe and Kumamoto.
- AJS (ACT) is affiliated with the Japanese Language Teachers Association (ACT), the Australia-Japan Foundation and has connections with the Canberra JET Alumni Association
- AJS (ACT) is a member of the National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies.
About
Advice and Assistance
AJS (ACT) receives a variety of requests from companies, organisations and individuals seeking information and assistance on Japanese contacts and communication. We assist where we can, including by providing referrals for interpreting and translation services
Exchanges
AJS (ACT) conducts an annual student exchange between secondary schools in Canberra and in Japan in collaboration with the Japan-Australia Society, Kobe.
Arranging host accommodation and short term billets for visitors from Japan is an integral part of the Society’s activities. Each year Society members host a large number of students and visiting cultural groups from Japan.
Newsletter
The Society’s quarterly newsletter, “Kakehashi”, includes articles of general interest on Japan contributed by members. There are regular items on AJS news, social events, exhibitions, television and film reviews and links to on-line information on Japan.
Programs
The Society manages, coordinates and supports a number of Program each year.
Please click on the Tabs below to view relevant details:
Student Exchange Scholarships
A student exchange is conducted each year in cooperation with the Kobe Japan-Australia Society. Secondary students from Canberra and from Kobe have an opportunity to study and live with a family. The 6-10 weeks exchange provides a unique cultural experience, immersion in the local language and can lead to lasting friendships. The AJS (ACT) provides the selected Canberra secondary students with the full cost of return travel.
Contact:
AJS (ACT) Student Exchange Program Coordinator,
PO Box 406, Jamison, ACT 2614
28 Sept to 10 Oct 2025 | Australia-Japan Society (ACT)
The Australia-Japan Society of the ACT (AJS ACT), in conjunction with the Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange (IFIE), is again calling for applications for the two-week in-country course in Japanese language/culture in Kanazawa.
Applications close on 8 July 2025.
NOTE: there are only 15 places available for this course so it has to be “first in, first served”.
The courses run for 2 weeks from a Sunday afternoon to the Friday evening two weeks later and include intensive language lessons, cultural activities and home stay accommodation with a Japanese family – this latter is one of the outstanding features of the program and certainly gives a boost to the participants’ language skills.
During the course, mornings are spent in formal language classes and, most afternoons, opportunities are provided to explore the local culture, either in organised classes and expeditions or by exploring on your own. There are excellent facilities and very helpful teachers at the language school.
The classes are tailored to the individual participant’s language skills ,participants are assessed on the first day and placed in classes according to their language abilities. Beginner classes are available in the September/October intake. There are excellent facilities and very helpful teachers at the Institute.
Applicants must be at least 20 years old, must be a member of an Australia-Japan Society or an affiliated organisation (or join one? JETAA, JLTAA and MLTAA are considered to be affiliated organisations) and must be prepared to stay in Japan for the duration of the course.
The course costs and homestay fee are subsidised substantially by the Ishikawa Prefectural Government. The total cost for participants (including all course fees, texts, cultural activities and accommodation for the duration of the course, depending on fluctuations in the $/Yen ratio and the number of participants) is around $1,000 – $1,400.
You have to find your own way and pay for travel to and from Kanazawa.
Participants are advised to allow about $35 – $50 per day for day-to-day expenses (bus fares, lunches, souvenirs, etc) so the total cost for the two week experience, by the time you have travelled to and from Kanazawa, is probably going to be around $3,500.
This is a great chance to commence, refresh, improve or develop your Japanese language skills and, if your profession is appropriate, the cost may be tax deductible as a self-education expense.
Contact the coordinator of the program, Mr Michael Hodgkin, for a more detailed outline of the program and for homestay application forms.
E-mail: ajsifiecourses@gmail.com
or snail mail:
IFIE Program Coordinator, c/o Australia-Japan Society (ACT), PO Box 1066, Canberra, ACT 2601
Tohoku Tsunami Youth Victims Program
HELP US BRING YOUNG VICTIMS OF THE 2011 TOHOKU DISASTER TO CANBERRA FOR A BRIEF RESPITE HOLIDAY
From early 2012 the AJS (ACT) has been running a program to bring students who lost parents in the disastrous Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, for a brief respite holiday in Canberra. Up to 300 children lost both parents and more than 1000 lost one parent.
This program is called the “TOHOKU YOUTH PROGRAM”.
The purpose of these visits is to create friendship and goodwill and to show these young people that the Australian community cares for them and wishes to help.They participate in many social and educational programs while in Canberra: they are hosted at schools, visit Federal and ACT government departments and visit many venues and sights in Canberra.
This program is supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation, the Embassy of Japan, Ashinaga Ikuei Kai in Japan, Radford College, Questacon, the National Zoo and Aquarium, the Farmyard Nursery at Symonston, our patron Mr. Ron Murray AM of Murrays Bus Company, Japan Airlines plus many more Canberran individuals. The students home-stay in pairs with host families from Radford College.
The funds for the program have been raised by the AJS (ACT) though fund raising events, grants from the Australia-Japan Foundation, plus the support many other Canberra organisations, too many to acknowledge here. The first visit took place in March 2012 and to date we have accepted eighteen young students and planning for another four this year.
We now know that this program does help these young people and can change their lives.
The AJS (ACT) is inviting the community to participate by supporting this program.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE TOHOKU YOUTH PROGRAM
- You can help by raising the money to sponsor a young victim to take part in this program. Contact ajspresidentact@gmail.com or the Australia-Japan Society (ACT), PO Box 1066 Canberra ACT 2601
- Your organisation can partner with the AJS (ACT) in sponsoring a young victim. Contact bjarman@homemail.com.au or the TYP co ordinator AJS (ACT) PO Box 406, Jamison, ACT 2614
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HE Mr Kazuhiro Suzuki (Ambassador of Japan to Australia)
Dr Ludmilla Kwitko -Women’s International League for Peace and Justice.
Dr Sue Wareham-Medical Association for the Prevention of War(MWAP)
Tara Gutman – Australian Board Member, ICAN.
David Smith MP, Member for Bean, Australian Parliament.
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The Australia–Japan Research Centre and the ANU Japan Institute will host Japan Update 2025 — Australia’s preeminent conference on Japan — in person at the Australian National University on Wednesday 3 September, 9am–4:45pm, with a simultaneous livestream for online audiences.
This flagship, fully catered and free event brings together leading experts from Australia and Japan to explore critical developments shaping Japan’s future — from economic trends and the energy transition to people‑to‑people ties, domestic politics, and foreign policy in an era of global uncertainty.
Don’t miss the chance to hear from distinguished keynote speakers Shin Kawashima, Sagiri Kitao, Masakazu Sugiyama, and Nana Oishi, and to connect with others interested in Japan’s evolving role in the region and the world.
Conference agenda and registration: bit.ly/4md83Hd … See MoreSee Less
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