The Japan Foundation 2006 Manual for the Japan Foundation Overseas Offices and Japanese Embassies to Carry

Out Group Tours Program for Secondary School Educators

Cultural Affairs Dept. Community Leaders and Youth Exchange Div. The Purpose This project aims to promote understanding of Japanese education and culture among the invited teachers from all over the world engaged in the education at a secondary school level (in particular majoring in social studies or international understanding education) through their visiting schools and various institutions or staying at host homes as well as to make the participants in the program help the younger generation in their own countries easily to understand Japan resorting to the experiences and information they get here. N.B., 213 educators were invited from 55 countries throughout the world in 2005. The Numbers of the Invited Participants and their Nations: 216 people and 54 countries. Schedules set: For Group 1: For Group 2: For Group 3: 14 days, June 22 (Thu) July 5(Wed) 14 days, September 7 (Thu) September 20(Wed) 14 days, November 2 (Thu) November 15(Wed)

For Korean Group : 14 days, September 28(Thu) October 11(Wed) Model Days Program

The first day (Thu) The second day (Fri)

Arrive in Japan Orientation/ Lecture by MEXT Tour in the Metropolitan Area

The third day (Sat) The 4th day (Sun) The 5th day (Mon) The 6th day (Tue) The 7th day (Wed)

Lectures by Researchers/ Go to Hiroshima Tour in the Hiroshima City, Go to Kyoto Tour in Kyoto Tour in Kyoto/ Respectively Go to Other Prefectures Pay a Courtesy Visit to The Board of Education/ Visit Schools / Welcome Party Visit Schools, / Inspect Institutions etc Visit Cultural Facilities/ Visit Schools Stay at Host Homes Go to Tokyo Free Study and Training Discussions for a Conclusion / Farewell Party Going Back Home

The 8th day (Thu) The 9th day (Fri) The 10th day (Sat) The 11th day (Sun) The 12th day (Mon) The 13th day (Tue) The 14th day (Wed)

Duties of Japan Foundation Overseas Offices and Japanese Embassies Japan Foundation Overseas Offices and Japanese Embassies (hereinafter collectively referred to as Overseas Offices) are requested to recommend prospective qualified participants, in consultation with the agencies concerned(the Ministry of Education etc) in the countries of their assignment, if necessary. Overseas Offices are also asked to carry out their duties and the relevant procedures for the project including exchanging necessary documents.

Recommendation Procedures Based on the number of the participants to be invited given by the competent department of the Japan Foundation, overseas offices are requested to recommend prospective invited participants who satisfy the following requirements. Participation Requirements fall under any of the following categories: Teachers: of social studies (history, geography, politics, economics, etc.) or international understanding education at a secondary school level, having careers of 5 years or more and aged under 50. The Persons in charge of educational administration: personally engaged in secondary educational affairs ()and preferably also have teaching experiences. including arrangement and determination of curricula, preparation of textbooks or training of teachers. (The persons in the above first and second categories) shall also meet the following requirements : make themselves fully understood in English. In particular able to understand lectures (on educational systems etc.) and briefings at schools they visit delivered in English as well as to exchange opinions with other participants. The Group 2 will be provided with interpreters of English and Spanish. The Korean Group will be provided with Korean interpreter; however each member of the groups is required to speak English at host homes etc., at the level of everyday English. have not been invited by the Japan Foundation. have not stayed in Japan for a long time of period (more than one month). stand in good health Considerations in Selecting Prospective Participants In selecting prospective invited participants, please take into consideration the following articles. Teachers shall be preferred to over others. The ratio between male and female in the prospects selected shall not be so extraordinarily ill-balanced. In selecting prospects the fields of duties they take charge of shall not be overspecialized. Prospective invited participants shall agree on the following conditions of itinerary:

take the flights designated by the Japan Foundation; and extended stays in the connection places are not allowed. stay at the hotels or inns designated by the Japan Foundation. follow the schedules set by the Japan Foundation for the participants activities. The participants who want in person to visit some other places such as institutions can utilize one day spared for free studying and training activities during their stay in Japan. After coming back to the hotels at the completion of the days programs participants are free to do as they like. not allowed to be accompanied by the spouse or children etc. even at their own expenses.

Expenses to be borne by the Japan Foundation The Japan Foundation pays the following expenses necessary for carrying out the project. But the expenses not listed below, as a rule, fall on the invited participants. The Costs paid for the Invited Participants Payment for Air Tickets: the prices of round-trip tickets for direct flights on regular routes between Japan and the airports nearest to the participants places of residence. Tickets are of Economy IATA PEX, to which a regular discount flight charge system common to all airlines is available. The reservation and payment for the tickets shall generally be made by the Japanese side according to PTA method (Pre-Paid Ticket Advice); and the invited participants (or overseas staff) shall be given the tickets at the branch offices of airlines Payment for Staying in Japan: Accommodation Charges (set off by provision in kind) / Food Expenses (allowed by cash and /or set off by provision in kind ) / Traveling Expenses (set off by provision in kind) Charges for Admission to Various Institutions etc (only for those that fall under the visiting spots covered by the official days programs). Visa Fees (at the time of arrival allowed in Yen in the amount specified on the receipt) The Charges of the Hotels at which participants need to stay at the time of connection (the arrangement and payment thereof is as a rule made by the Japan Foundation ) / Food Expenses (allowed together with those incurred during the stay in Japan) Premium of Accident Insurance for Traveling Abroad Period of Insurance: from take-off from the airports nearest to the participants places of residence to landing at the time of coming home. Insurance Payment Coverage Items (the amounts to be paid): injury and death (the amount to be paid: thirty(30) million yen) treatment of injury (the maximum amount to be paid: two(2) million yen) disease and death (ditto: three(3) million yen) treatment of disease (ditto: two(2) million yen) The sicknesses caused by past illnesses, chronic diseases, dental treatment, pregnancy, childbirth, stillbirth and miscarriage are not covered.

 Other Expenses Payment for Interpreters, attendants including escorts, etc./ Expenses for holding reception / The costs of purchasing and preparing materials for study.

The Process before the Program Starts

OVERSEAS OFFICES

THE JAPAN FOUNDATION give the number of the participants to be invited

select the prospective invited participants draw up and submit The List of the Prospective Invited Participants for approval approve: in principle admit the list of the prospects to the invited participants untouched draw up and submit Data Sheet of the Invited ParticipantsCheck Sheet of the Condition of Health (forty five (45) days or more before voyage) (if acquisition of a visa is required) forward the necessary documents including the Reason of Invitation Paper etc. forward the Outline of the Schedule for Staying (at latest three (3) weeks before voyage) (as the occasion demands) give prior orientation to the invited participants (participants themselves or overseas staff)receive air tickets arrive in Japan Considerations Once the persons referred to as the Prospective Participants pass the selection by Overseas Offices, the Japan Foundation unconditionally admits them to the membership of invited participants. However as for the prospects who are conceived not to meet the Requirements for Participation the Japan Foundation will confirm the reason for disqualification and determine whether they are admitted or not.

 Overseas Offices are requested to punctually keep the due date for submission of the necessary documents including the List of the Prospective Invited Participants etc. so that the Japan Foundation may smoothly carry out the various procedures such as arrangements for air tickets and hotels, notification to host families and so on. Note that if the documents are not submitted by the due date, the invitations are likely to be cancelled. Every year some invited participants made requests for flight change, extended stay, etc.; however any change at their own convenience shall never be permitted, about which overseas offices are requested to fully explain to the invited participants. The Japan Foundation will invite the very prospects that accept the terms and conditions (covering flights, accommodations, schedules, etc.) given by the Foundation.

Notes Information about Japan The web site written below gives information of Japan such as climate, lifestyle, and so on. The Foundation hopes it will be useful for the invited participants to visit the site. URL: http://www.japanlink.co.jp/ka/home.html, http://www.jnto.go.jp/ Souvenirs Invited participants sometimes give souvenirs to the board of education or schools they visit. Overseas offices are requested to convince them of no need for such kind considerations of theirs. But we think just small articles will please the people of host homes.

Departments in Charge Cultural Affairs Dept. Community Leaders and Youth Exchange Div. Ark Mori Building 20F, 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6021, Japan TEL/ FAX: +81) 3-5562-3532/ 3505 The Person in Charge: Mika Izui Mail to: Mika_Izui@jpf.go.jp