The Japan Canada Educational and Cultural Exchange Foundation
（known as Japan Canada Exchange Foundation or JACEF）was established in 1988 upon authorization by the Ministry of Education, currently the Ministry Education and Science, as a legal foundation with the main objective of cultivating ties between Canada and Japan, the first of its kind in Japan. It is headed by Mrs. Emiko Ohga, CEO, presently.
Their major activities up to the present are as follows;
Education Programs, Learning from Canada, Cultural Programs and Grants, Lecture and Orientation Seminars.
◆ Education Programs
In an aim to foster international awareness of high school students, the “Summer School for Language Study” was planned and has been carried out over many years. Requested for the program came also from colleges and vocational schools as well as the education board of many prefectures in Japan. The program was carried out in cooperation with various educational institutions in a number of provinces of Canada. JACEF also assisted in their sister-school arrangements. A total of almost 5,000 students and teachers benefited from this program that offered them on opportunity of cross-cultural exchanges during home-stays and “practical English” training.
The English Immersion Program for Japanese teachers held in Canada was valued very highly. JACEF developed their own program to retrain English Language teachers in small groups, which would fit into the framework of the Guidelines of the Japanese Education Ministry. The program included the teaching method and textbooks for oral communications, enhancement of the teacher’s understanding of different cultures, preparation of teaching plans via Internet, practical conversation in English, and intensified discussions.
◆ Learning from Canada
Under this theme, JACEF has been active in cross-cultural exchanges not only in the education circle but also in the Bar associated programs, for example, participating in the International Association of Women Judges Conference, planning study tours on the Canadian Adult Guardianship Act, and supporting the lecture meeting by and workshop with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Other activities include the planning and operation of training programs and seminars on issues of the environment, welfare, and emergency medicines.
◆ Cultural Programs and Grants:
For many years, JACEF has cooperated with the Canadian Embassy in Japan supporting the visitors from Canada, such as artists, musicians, actors/actresses of dramas and motion pictures, and novelists. JACEF offered grants to programs that would help Canadians understand the Japanese culture.
More than 500 Japanese books and dictionaries in the filed of law, literature, social science were given to the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta.
◆ Lectures and Orientation Seminars:
A large number of requests came from education boards of many cities and towns, post-secondary education institutions, business enterprises and various other organizations in Japan for lectures on cross-cultural exchanges and understanding. Upon invitations CEO Ohga has made lectures entitled, for example:
“Cross-cultural communications”
“How to accommodate yourself to a different culture”
“What one learns living in a foreign country as a representative of a Japanese company”
“How to accomplish your work between two cultures” etc.
◆ JACEF also conducted seminars and lecture meetings to introduce the education system in Canada, which differs from Japan. Some of them were entitled:
“Canadian education system”
“Studying in Canada”
“Education of the mentally disabled in Canada”
“You are never too old to study in Canada”
“Canadian education system to help foster self-esteem” etc.
In addition, invitations came from Prefectural Centers for Gender Equality and various women’s organizations for lectures on “Human Rights in Canada” and the “Status of Women.” At present, CEP Ohga is actively lecturing the secondary school students and is introducing Canada from different angles in an aim to enhance the cross-cultural understanding by younger generations.
