Colleagues:
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary with events marking the occasion planned for the fall. In anticipation, the [a:http://www.clair.or.jp/j/forum/forum/articles/index-320.html]June 2016 issue of CLAIR’s Forum Magazine focused on the program, its history and its future.

In his 2000 book [a:http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520216365]Importing Diversity: Inside
Japan’s JET Program, David McConnell noted that JET was created as a joint effort of MOFA and the
earlier incarnations of MIC and MEXT. Each ministry had its own goals: Improve global attitudes
about Japan, internationalize Japanese localities around the country, and improve foreign language
proficiency in Japan – especially English. McConnell even presented the JET Program as having been a
gift from the Nakasone administration to the American people in the face of bilateral trade and
related tensions in the 1980s. An orientation toward the United States has certainly been maintained
over 30 years with more than 50% of all participants hailing from the U.S.

Setting aside perennial criticisms about the merits of the program with respect to its effect on
English language proficiency in Japan, how significant is the JET Program? How effective has it been
at attaining the other stated goals? What value does Japan derive from the program and the 60,000
alumni it has generated, especially those from the United States?

The Abe administration has expressed support for JET, even noting the program’s economic
development potential in the Japan Revitalization Strategy document (2014). Is this feasible? How
else might the program be exploited for Japan’s long-term benefit, economic or otherwise?

I’m curious to hear the thoughts of this list’s readership on the above issues as well as any
personal stories about experience with JET, either through the list or sent to me directly at
emetzgar at indiana dot edu

Best,

Emily

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
[a:http://mediaschool.indiana.edu/profile/?p=emetzgar]Emily Metzgar, PhD
Associate Professor & Director of the Honors Program
The Media School @ Indiana University
Senior Associate, Research Center for Chinese Politics & Business
Affiliated Faculty, East Asian Studies Center
Affiliated Faculty, Center on American & Global Security
mailto:emetzgar@indiana.edu