Welcome to the Official JET Program Website for U.S. Citizens

The 2010 JET Program on-line application is now available. Thank you for your patience.

Please see Application Info page for the link.

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program seeks to help enhance internationalization in Japan by promoting mutual understanding between Japan and other nations. The program also aims to improve foreign language education in Japan and to encourage international exchange at the local level by fostering ties between Japanese youth and foreign youth.

The objectives of the program are being achieved by offering JET Program participants, (hereinafter, participants) the opportunity to serve in local government offices as well as public and private elementary schools, junior high and senior high schools.

The program is conducted by local authorities and other organizations (hereinafter, contracting organizations) of Japan in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (hereinafter, CLAIR).
(*see Roles of the Government Entities)

The program started in 1987 with the cooperation of the governments of the participating countries. As of July 2009, there were 4436 participants in the program from 36 countries (see Chart 1).

As the JET Program has achieved an excellent reputation over the last 23 years, it is of great importance that this high level of respectability be maintained. Participants are invited to Japan as representatives of their countries. Therefore, they are expected to be responsible in all of their activities, especially those concerning the promotion of mutual understanding between nations. It is desirable that participants be adaptable and have a positive interest in Japan.

Participants enter one-year contracts with their contracting organizations. The cost of transportation from the participants' country of origin to Japan, as well as remuneration, is funded by taxpayers of the contracting organization where the participant is employed. Because participants serve as civil servants of their contracting organizations they are required to uphold appropriate behavior. Withdrawal from the program after placement assignment or early termination of contract shold be avoided as it greatly inconveniences contracting organizations.