Indonesia Ranks Second Worldwide in Japanese Language Learners

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Director General of the Japan Foundation, Inami Kazumi, stated that Indonesia still ranks second in the world as the country with the largest number of Japanese language and culture learners.

"Indonesia still has the second largest number of Japanese language learners after China," Inami said at a Media Gathering at the Japan Foundation's Koryu Space in Jakarta on Tuesday, as reported by Antara.

She emphasized that her foundation is committed to maintaining this trend so that Indonesians continue to learn about Japanese culture.

"Many Indonesians pay great attention to Japanese culture, and we want to maintain that interest so that it doesn't wane," she said.

According to Inami, these Indonesian students are not only learning the language but also understanding the work culture and social life in Japan.

"They learn about work ethic and how to interact with Japanese society," she said.

She added that the presence of a Japanese cultural center in Jakarta strengthens bilateral relations between the two countries through cultural exchange.

The Japan Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on cultural exchange, established by the Japanese parliament in 1972, and now has 26 offices in 25 countries.

The Japan Foundation Jakarta itself was established in 1974 with the goal of strengthening Indonesia-Japan friendship through cultural understanding.

JF Jakarta organizes various programs to foster interest in Japanese culture, such as the Irodori Workshop in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower, Nihongo Partners involving native speakers, and the 2025 Japan Film Festival.

Japan Foundation Jakarta's Various Activities

The Japan Foundation comprises five main areas: NIHONGO Partners, Japanese-Language Education Overseas (Language), Art and Cultural Exchange (Culture), Economic Partnership Agreement, and Japanese Studies and Global Partnerships.

NIHONGO Partners Batch 23

Students and teachers at high schools (SMA/SMK/MA) across Indonesia who partner with JF have a way to be sent to Japan through the NIHONGO Partners program. https://www.instagram.com/p/DL1boewSoY5/?igsh=MTFnZm56ZjM4ZzNjbg%3D%3D

Japanese-Language Education Overseas (Language)

Japanese language presentation competition for university students (November 8, 2025) and high school/vocational school/Islamic high school students (February 7, 2026). This event, organized by JF, provides an opportunity for young people in Indonesia to hone their Japanese language skills from various regions across Indonesia, including Aceh and several provinces in Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Sulawesi.

Japanese language learning opportunities will also be provided to the wider community through the JF-Standard Seminar in Yogyakarta in 2026, outside of the Minato platform (https://minato-jf.jp/).

JF also facilitates not only students but also teachers who wish to improve their Japanese teaching skills through the IRODORI Workshop (November 20-21 in Padang), the IRODORI Skill Up Workshop (December 10, 2025, in Jakarta), and the Japanese Language Teaching Methods Training for Beginner Teachers (November 2025 - February 2026 in Bali and Bandung).

Next year, teachers who wish to strengthen their Japanese teaching skills can apply for the Socialization of the Japanese Language Training and Improvement Program for Japanese Language Teachers program, which is open until December 2025 (https://www.apply.jpf.go.jp).

Art and Cultural Exchange (Culture)

Those interested in learning about Japanese culture can participate in programs offered by the Japan Foundation in the field of culture. The Japanese Film Festival, a film screening program to be held in November-December 2025, can be accessed through the link https://www.instagram.com/indonesiajff/?hl=en.

In addition, the JF Cultural Program is also holding a program called "Reading & Review Competition 2025: A Remote Castle in the Mirror." This program is being participated by 99 schools at the junior high, high school, and equivalent levels to increase interest in reading translated Japanese novels in Indonesia. https://linktr.ee/kombalasjfja

Beyond these two programs, JF also collaborates on other cultural projects in fields such as film (An Open Draft: Asian Film Curators Lab), literature (Japanese Translator Exchange), and the performing arts (Yokohama International Performing Art Meeting), where JF brings together Indonesians from professions such as directors, translators, and other artists to network with artists in Japan.

Japanese Studies & Global Partnerships (JSGP)

Researchers, enthusiasts, professionals, and even international relations students have the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn through activities offered by the JSGP Division.

This year marks the first year that JSGP has held a seminar-style program and invited international relations students to attend Campus Town Halls in Jakarta, Surabaya (Airlangga University), and Semarang (Diponegoro University).

For this event, the JF will invite speakers from various backgrounds: from the government, including the Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN, the former Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture (Muhammad Nuh), and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Havas Oegroseno); from expert fields such as Prof. Dewi Fortuna Anwar (Professor at BRIN), Prof. Asakura Takamichi (Professor at Hiroshima University), and others.

The JSGP Division will also hold its first-ever Journalist Bootcamp. This program provides training for young journalists to equip them to face the challenges of contemporary journalism.

Further information can be accessed through the Japan Foundation's official website at https://www.instagram.com/jf_jakarta/?hl=en and https://ja.jpf.go.jp/id/

Ditya Rasyadiputra Avrizal contributed to this article.

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