Embassy of Japan in the UK

Feature

JET-ing off to Japan
This year∏s contingent sets off

Ambassador Hayashi (right) chats with this year's JETs

The 2011 Farewell Reception for UK JET Programme participants departing for Japan this summer was held on the evening of 5 July at the Embassy of Japan. Following the tragic events of March, it was encouraging to see so many people eagerly anticipating playing a role in helping Japan to move forward. In his greeting, Ambassador Hayashi acknowledged the fundraising efforts of current and former JETs after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and expressed his hope that this year∏s group of JET participants would be ∪a source of particularly great encouragement and inspiration to the people they will be working with∪. He also encouraged them to welcome family and friends from the UK to their new homes in Japan.

This year 195 participants from the UK have been selected to go to Japan, as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) based in schools or as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) based in local government offices working to promote internationalisation at grass-roots level. The number of JET Programme participants scheduled to go from the UK is more than last year∏s figure, which was a 50% increase from the year before, reflecting the important role that the Programme continues to play in UK-Japan relations.