The Japanese and U.S. governments have been promoting each other’s countries to their own students, encouraging them to share their experiences during their time abroad and hoping it will inspire others to follow suit.
The two governments launched a campaign in November 2022 to build new connections and motivate more students to study in each other’s country in a bid to boost enrollment across different programs. They have also sought advice from experts on how to optimize this campaign.
One idea is for current and former students to use the hashtags “#USJapanStudyAbroad" or "#JapanUSStudyAbroad when posting photos and videos on their social media in order to inspire more students to take a further leap in their education.
“The friendship between the United States and Japan that exists today was forged over time by people who traveled between the two countries,” said Philip Roskamp, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs for the U.S. Embassy, who studied in Japan twice because he wanted to learn more about its culture, language, and traditions.
“Coming into contact with diverse cultures will be an irreplaceable asset for you as well,” said Roskamp, adding that “each one who studies abroad will lead to a further improvement in the U.S.-Japan relations.”
Sharing the same belief, Koichi Ai, Public Affairs Minister for the Embassy of Japan in the U.S., said, “Early exposure to a foreign country, its people, and culture is a valuable experience that will broaden your possibilities in life.”
“There are a variety of programs and support systems available, so please consider studying abroad as one of your options,” he added.
Ai added that the Japan-U.S. partnership is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world because it advances economic relationships that are vital to the global economy.
“We also believe that it is significant in many ways for young people in Japan and the U.S. to gain a deeper understanding of each other through educational exchanges,” Ai said.
While the number of foreign exchange students rapidly decreased during the pandemic, both countries hope that there will once again be an increase in the coming years as the global economy is now gradually recovering.
