Japan Foundation

The Japan Foundation (国際交流基金, Kokusai Kōryū Kikin) is a Japanese foundation that spreads Japanese culture around the world. Based in Tokyo, it was established in 1972 by an Act of the National Diet as a special legal entity to undertake international dissemination of Japanese culture. It then became an Independent Administrative Institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 1 October 2003 under the "Independent Administrative Institution Japan Foundation Law". The Japan Foundation aims towards comprehensive and effective development of its international cultural exchange programs in the following categories: Promotion of (Japanese) arts and cultural exchange Promotion of (overseas) Japanese-language education (the JLPT exam) Promotion of (overseas) Japanese studies and intellectual exchange – Japan Foundation Information Centers collect and provide information about international exchange and international cultural exchange standard bearers. Prince Takamado served as administrator of the Japan Foundation from 1981 to 2002.