Japan Foundation
35°41′15″N 139°43′04″E / 35.687447°N 139.717781°E
| Founded | 1972 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Government of Japan |
| Type | Cultural institution |
| Legal status | Independent Administrative Institution |
| Location | |
| Origins | Act of the National Diet |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Product | Japanese cultural education |
| Website | http://www.jpf.go.jp/ |
The Japan Foundation (国際交流基金, Kokusai Kōryū Kikin) is a Japanese foundation that spreads Japanese culture around the world. Based in Tokyo, it was established in 1972 by an Act of the National Diet as a special legal entity to undertake international dissemination of Japanese culture. It then became an Independent Administrative Institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 1 October 2003 under the "Independent Administrative Institution Japan Foundation Law".
The Japan Foundation aims towards comprehensive and effective development of its international cultural exchange programs in the following categories:
- Promotion of (Japanese) arts and cultural exchange
- Promotion of (overseas) Japanese-language education (the JLPT exam)
- Promotion of (overseas) Japanese studies and intellectual exchange – Japan Foundation Information Centers collect and provide information about international exchange and international cultural exchange standard bearers.
Prince Takamado served as administrator of the Japan Foundation from 1981 to 2002.