What's IYEO|特定非営利活動法人 IYEO青少年異文化交流推進協会

Chairperson’s Welcome Message

The Intercultural Youth Exchange Organization (IYEO) is a non-profit organization approved by the Japanese Cabinet Office and its purpose is to help the young develop independent, positive and active personality with well-balanced broad views who can be useful in the diversified international community of today.

Not only do we assist elementary school, middle school, high school or college students in Japan to study abroad, but also we do various kinds of intercultural activities like adopting sister-city relationships, holding activities between sister schools, cultural and sports events which promote international exchange and understanding. These activities are supported by our member offices and their counselors with specialized knowledge and extensive experience in the field.

Our head office is located in Hiroshima (Japan) which is often referred to as “Peace City” and our activity network is spreading from the city to Sapporo, Sendai, Chiba, Osaka, Fukuoka, Miyazaki, Okinawa in Japan, further to many other cities in other countries like Seattle, Perth, Brisbane, Wellington and so on.

Recently the number of foreigners who come to Japan for studying has been increasing rapidly. In 2008 the Ministry of Education and Science announced a plan to welcome 300,000 foreign students no later than 2020. According to this policy, multi-national companies or international educational institutes in Japan are asked to play an important social role by accepting more foreign employees or students.

In this situation, what role can IYEO do for the society, for the young from other countries? How can IYEO help the young from different nationalities with different cultures and traditions understand ours and get along with us?

It is by setting up placements or opportunities for young students from abroad, helping their parents and their educators to know more about Japan and Japanese people, and so leading to better mutual understanding. Not through bookish knowledge but through actual communication with people with different cultural and traditional backgrounds, we can learn attitudes and skills to accept the diversity of people. This is what is called internationalism. Therefore, setting up a common
meeting ground for different cultures is our mission, I believe.
We are going to promote more intercultural activities for the better mutual understanding between Japan and other countries. We look forward to serving ambitious young people from foreign countries who are eager to study in Japan.

 

Hiroshi YOSHIKAWA
Chairperson of the board
The Intercultural Youth Exchange Organization
A non-profit organization approved by the Japanese Cabinet Office

What’s IYEO?

You may think “I have a few simple questions about studying abroad. Even though they may be simple, I want to ask them to a counselor in person.” But you don’t have to travel by plane or by bullet train to Tokyo or Osaka just to talk to him/ her for advice far way from your home. IYEO’s nearest office is there for you and we are looking forward to serving you. As each of our member offices is community-based, your counselor might have graduated from the same school as yours, she/he might be a friend of your parents’ classmates. We don’t treat you mechanically as one of our many customer students, but treat you more like a friend.

Some of the students who take our Academic Year in America (AYA) program, one year exchange student program in the U.S., want to study further at college in the United States or other English-speaking countries. We can help such aspirants make their dream come true by giving them appropriate and friendly guidance. We can also help them apply to non-repayable college scholarship programs in the U.S. in order to lessen their financial burdens. We can offer most suitable advice after considering each student’s future career choice.

From 2011, we also support foreign students coming to Japan.

Our service is not limited to the AYA exchange student program, but it expands to various intercultural programs such as adopting sister-city relationships, holding activities between sister-schools, and other cultural or sports events. As these activities are planned and carried out by our member offices, they accumulate various practical knowledge, skills and know-how in intercultural exchange through such events, which can be made use of for their counseling service later.

Each of our counselors is unique and each has his/her own interesting experience. Some of them: won an M.V.P. award in a sport club at a college in the U.S., graduated from first-rated university in the U.S. with excellent grades, traveled around the world as a special attendant of the Prime Minister, obtained an aircraft pilot’s license in the U.S. and so on. We are sure you will be interested in talking with them.

IYEO has a nation-wide network for study abroad and intercultural activities.

Informative Aspects of IYEO

Official name:

The Intercultural Youth Exchange Organization
A non-profit organization approved by the Japanese Cabinet Office

 

Head office:

Address: 2-1-2 Senda-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken,730-0052
Phone:082-246-9400
Fax:082-243-1849
E-mail: info@iyeo.org
URL:www.iyeo.org
Organization approved: February 16, 2001, by the Tokyo-Metropolitan government as a non-profit organization. Then on August 6, 2003, our Headquarters moved to Hiroshima with the approval of the Japanese Cabinet Office Date of foundation: March 1, 2001

 

Board members:

Board Chairperson: Hiroshi YOSHIKAWA
Deputy Director: Teruo KIKUSHIMA
Director: Akiko AOKI
Director: Sayuri IWASHITA
Director: Yuko YAGI

 

Fundamental principles of the organization:

Our business is to help young people in Japan study abroad and hold various kinds of intercultural programs, activities and events to promote understanding of different cultures. Through these activities, help them foster “an international outlook” so they can see the world from various perspectives, and serve others as a citizen of the global society today.

 

Our specific activities:

(a) To arrange various activities which foster sound mind and sound body of young people.
(b) To arrange international cultural, artistic or sports events which promote deeper understanding between nations.
(c) To arrange activities which promote international friendships.
(d) All the works related to the above mentioned activities.

 

Detailed activities for the specific activities:

(a) Promoting intercultural activities
(b) Offering information and assistance in foreign study and international exchange.
(c) Promoting international exchange student program between schools in different. countries. Sister city or sister school linking assistance in different countries.
(d) Inviting specialists in promoting intercultural exchange activities.
(e) Organizing volunteer network for studying abroad and intercultural activities.

 

Our Service Divisions:

A) Academic Year in America(AYA) Program, Japan Division
AYA is one of the most largest and respected high school / home-stay programs in the United States, which is well recognized by high schools across the U.S.
B) American Collegiate Scholarship Program, Japan Division
C) Division for promoting other foreign study with scholarship promoting division
D) Intercultural Exchange Advisory Division

 

We are a member of:

The Japan Association of Overseas Study (JAOS)
The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET)
The Equal Opportunity Japan, non-profit organization
Inuyama International Interaction Organization
International Interaction Organization of Shizuoka City
International Interaction Organization of Kumamoto-ken

 

Supported by:

The American Institute for Foreign Study Foundation (AIFS), NPO in USA
The Educational Resource Development Trust Foundation (ERDT), NPO in USA
IEI Foundation- the American Collegiate Scholarship Association, NPO in USA

 

Our member offices in Japan:

Sapporo: Intercultural Exchange Network(IEN)
Hiroshima: American Dream, Inc.
Fukuoka: Study Abroad Information Plaza, Japan Center

 

Our member offices overseas:

Western Australia: Shoji Australia Pty.Ltd. (Perth,WA)
Eastern Australia: International Student Counselling Australia Pty. Ltd.(Brisbane,QLD)
New Zealand: Wellington Business School (Wellington)

 

Administrative agencies or other supporting organizations in the past:

The Educational Board of Tokyo Metropolis
The Educational Board of Okinawa-ken
The Educational Board of Hiroshima-ken
The Educational Board of Miyazaki-ken
The Educational Board of Fukuoka-ken
Inuyama City, Nihcinan City, Kagamigahara City, Tateyama Machi,
The Educational Board of Miyazaki City
The Educational Board of Hiroshima City
The Educational Board of Fukuoka City
The Educational Board of Kagamigahara City
The Educational Board of Nichinan City
The Educational Board of Suginami-ward, Tokyo
The Community Welfare Conference of Tokyo Metropolis
The Association of All Public & Private Junior & Senior High school of Hiroshima-Ken
The Kid’s Dream Foundation
The Ryukyu Shinpo Newspaper
The Miyazaki TV Broadcasting Corporation
The Miyazaki Taiyo Bank

Our History

Dec, 1999: Became the executive agent in Japan for the University of California Consortium of English Language & Professional Programs

Mar. 2000: Became an agent for AIFS and ERDT to promote exchange high school students.

Jul. 2000: had a 28-day “Nursing Student’s Program” for Japanese students at UCLA, which was designed and planned by us.

Aug. 2000: had a 9-day Youth Motivation Program at University of California, Irvine (UCI) for Japanese junior and high school students. The program was designed by UCI.By the request of Inuyama City, Aichi-ken, held an intercultural program at University of California, Davis (UCD) for junior and high school students in the city.Coordinated the sister-city adoption between Inuyama City and Davis City.

Feb. 2001: Became the contractor for the Okinawa-ken International Exchange & Human-Resource Development Foundation.Became a executive contractor for Hiroshima-ken Soccer Association to promote international exchange activities.

Jul. 2001: Hosted a “Youth Motivation Program Japan Camp” in Hiroshima, as a promotional activity of “the Kid’s Dream Foundation,” in which many junior and high school students participated

Aug. 2001: Promoted goodwill study in U.S. with scholarship for Inuyama City, Aichi ken, supported by the city and its educational board.

Sep. 2001: Promoted goodwill study in U.S. scholarship work for Kagamigahara City, Gifu ken, supported by the city and its educational board.

Jan. 2002: Promoted goodwill study in U.S. scholarship work for Tateyama Machi, Toyama ken, supported by the town and its educational board.

May. 2002: Promoted goodwill study in U.S. scholarship work for Nichinan City, Miyazaki ken, supported by the city and its educational board.

Jun. 2002: Worked for Inuyama city, Aichi-ken, for the exchange student program with high-schools in Davis, California.

Jul. 2002: First government-funded foreign study students of Inuyama City and Kagamigahara City in Gifu-ken were sent to the U.S.

Aug. 2002: Hosted a “Youth Motivation Program Japan Camp” at Youth Outdoor Activity Center in Osaka-fu, as a promotional activity of ‘the Kid’s Dream Foundation.”

Sep.2002: Started the cooperative development and research with Columbia University, NY for its language learning and advanced sentence writing software marketed to Japan.

Dec. 2002: Appointed by Inuyama city as an official supervisor for its international exchange activities. One of IYEO’s board members appointed as a board member of Hiroshima International School, an educational foundation in Hiroshima.

Jun. 2003: Our member office Shoji Australia Pty, Ltd. became the first official Japanese agent of the Educational Board of West Australia State Government for accepting foreign students.

Jul. 2003: Due to our many years’ achievements in the management of public scholarship foreign study for high school students, registered as the first foreign agent for the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) by the recommendation of a foundation approved by the U.S. Department of State.

Aug. 2003: Our headquarters moved to Hiroshima with the approval of the Japanese Cabinet Office.

Oct. 2003: Coordinated the sister-city adoption between Hiroshima Johoku Junior & High School and Yarra Valley Grammar School in Australia and held the signing ceremony at our Hiroshima member office.

Apr. 2004: Our Okinawa member office started an administrative business for “the Ryukyu Shinpo Newspaper” scholarship program, which was supported by the Educational Board of Okinawa-ken.

May. 2004: With the support of the Educational Board of Miyazaki-ken, the Educational Board of Miyazaki City, TV Miyazaki Broadcasting Corporation and the Miyazaki Taiyo Bank, started 2005 U.S. foreign exchange student program.

Dec. 2004: Co-hosted “Palea Festival” in Kumamoto-ken, and coordinated panel discussion on intercultural exchange activities in the event.

Jun. 2005: As a part of friendship exchange activities of Inuyama City and St.Goarshausen, Germany, the delegates from St.Goarshausen visited Japan. We welcomed them in Kyoto for Inuyama City and were given a letter of appreciation from the Inuyama City.

Jul. 2005: With the support of the Educational Board of Hiroshima-ken, the Educational Board of Hiroshima City, the Association of All Public & Private Junior & High school of Hiroshima-Ken, we had explanatory program for U.S. college scholarship, U.S. College Sports Scholarship and higher education in the U.S.

Feb. 2006: Signed the contract to be the executive agent for the American Collegiate Scholarship Association.

Sep. 2006: Administrated a seminar programmed by the United Nations Institute of Training & Research (UNITAR) towards the students of Hiroshima Johoku Junior & High School and sister-school students in the United Kingdom, which was introduced on the website of UNITAR later.

Sep. 2006: 24 students of John Wollaston Anglican Community School in Australia visited Suzugamine Girl’s Junior & Senior High School, Suzugamine Junior College, Kurekou High School and David English House. We coordinated various intercultural events and programs including visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Nov. 2006: “Hiroshima International Peace Summit 2006” was hosted by the three Nobel Prize winners: Dalai Lama, Desmond M.Tutu and Betty Williams. At the end of the summit, we arranged a special chorus singing of 37 domestic and foreign students. They sang peace song together with the Nobel Prize Winners and the audience.

Sep. 2007: 14 students of Corrigin and Kulin District High School in Australia visited Hiroshima. With the assistance of the Senior High School attached to Hiroshima Bunkyo Girl’s College, Anzai Kindergarten, Anzai Elementary School, Anzai Junior High School, the Association of Hiroshima Private Institutions, we coordinated various intercultural events and programs including school visit, home-stay and visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Oct. 2007: 14 students of Karratha High School in Australia visited Hiroshima. With the assistance of Takeda Junior & Senior High School and the Association of Hiroshima Private Institutions, we coordinated various intercultural events and programs including school visit, home-stay and visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Jun. 2008: A counselor of Fukuoka member office was appointed as Tourism Ambassador of Granada, Spain.

Nov. 2008: “Australia U-19 Hiroshima Goodwill International Youth Soccer 2008” hosted by the Hiroshima-ken Soccer Foundation was held in Hiroshima with the cooperation of our Hiroshima member office.

Mar. 2009: Had the 7th explanatory meeting on public-expense study and higher education in the U.S. with the support of the Hiroshima-ken Educational Board and the Hiroshima-ken All Public & Private Junior & Senior High school Association.

Jul. 2009: Had a seminar for international education with the support of the Fukuoka-ken Educational Board, the Fukuoka City Educational Board, the Fukuoka-ken Private School Association and the Fukuoka-ken International Exchange Foundation.

Jul. 2009: Had a seminar in Miyazaki-ken on U.S. scholarship and higher education in the U.S. with the support of the Miyazaki-ken Educational Board.

Aug. 2009: Had a seminar in Miyazaki ken on higher education in the U.S. and public expense foreign student program with the support of the Miyazaki-ken Educational Board.

Jan. 2010: 5 teachers of Wollaston Anglican Community School in Perth, Australia came to Hiroshima member office to take a Japanese language course and a Japanese culture experience course designed by the Hiroshima office.

Feb.2010: Our Hiroshima member office, as the general facilitator, coordinated “APEC Junior Conference in Hiroshima.”

Mar.2010: IYEO was authorized as a member of the Foreign Study Conference.

Mar.2010: Had the 8th explanatory meeting on public-expense study and higher education in the U.S. with the support of the Hiroshima-ken Educational Board and the Hiroshima-ken All Public & Private Junior & Senior High school Association.

Jul.2010: Had a seminar for international education with the support of the Fukuoka-ken Educational Board, the Fukuoka City Educational Board, the Fukuoka-ken Private School Association and the Fukuoka-ken International Exchange Foundation.

Aug.2010: Had a “Japan-Korea Joint Camp” at English Village in Korea.

Jan.2011: “Australia U-19 Hiroshima Goodwill International Youth Soccer 2011” hosted by the Hiroshima-ken Soccer Foundation was held in Hiroshima with the cooperation of our Hiroshima member office.

各種プログラムのお問い合わせ・ご相談は、最寄りの日本国内IYEO各地担当相談デスク・連絡カウンターへ
本部 広島 〒730-0052 広島市中区千田町2-1-2-3階 (TEL:082-246-9400) hiroshima@iyeo.org
相談デスク 札幌 〒060-0003 札幌市中央区北3条西7丁目1-1 SAKURA-N3 (TEL:011-522-8108) sapporo@iyeo.org
相談デスク 福岡 〒810-0041 福岡市中央区大名2-1-43-302 (TEL:092-713-8235) fukuoka@iyeo.org
連絡カウンター 仙台 TEL 090-2845-8901 (金子)
連絡カウンター 千葉 TEL 043-271-0812 (菊島)
連絡カウンター 千葉 TEL 080-6697-2913 (中浜)
連絡カウンター 福山 TEL 080-5756-5815 (梶原)
連絡カウンター 大牟田 TEL 090-8911-4896 (宮川)