The Asia-Kakehashi Project + (Plus)

Study and live in Japan. Full Scholarships for High School Students.

Applications for 2025 now open!
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The Asia-Kakehashi Project + (Plus) 2025 invites students from the UK to study and live in Japan for 4 months. All expenses will be fully covered by the Japanese government including travel tickets, accommodation, and school tuition.

Who’s eligible to apply?

If you’re a UK citizen between 15 and 18 years old, this exciting opportunity is open to you! We are looking for students who have some previous experience or interest in the Japanese language, whether that’s through self-study or at school. For the complete eligibility criteria, please see below.

Applications are now being accepted from students all across the UK. Don’t miss out on this chance!

Duration and Programme Details

■ Duration

August 2025 – December 2025 (Note: The schedule is subject to change.)

■ Content:

  • High school students in Asia and G7 member countries will be invited to study in Japan for 4 months.
  • Attend Japanese high school while staying in a dormitory or with a host family.
  • Exposure to Japanese culture, local communities, and education.
  • Attend international camps (twice: together with arrival/end of stay orientations) with Japanese high school students.

■ Fee:

Full scholarship sponsored by the Japanese Government

■ Number of Participants:

Prospective Number of Participants from Asia and G7 countries: 100
Prospective Number of participants from the UK: 2

■ Support:

All participants will be supported by AFS Japan’s experienced local volunteers and professional staff during the programme in Japan. Pre-programme support will be provided by AFS Wales under the AFS policies and guidelines.

■ Application Deadline: 14th March 2025

Eligibility criteria

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Applicants to the programme in 2024 must meet the following criteria:

1. Between 15 and 18 years of age, born after April 2, 2007, and before April 1, 2010.
2. UK Citizen at the time of application.
3. Obtained a minimum of 60% (or C grade) in the latest school examinations and obtained an overall minimum average of 60% (C grade) in all subjects for the past two years.
4. Learners of Japanese. Participants of the Japanese speech contests are encouraged to apply and have priority for the selection.
5. Demonstrate strong leadership potential to act as a bridge between the home country and Japan during and after the programme; and
6. The applicant has not participated in the ASIA KAKEHASHI programme prior.
7. Please note: Priority will be given to students of families with low incomes in case we cannot recruit students meeting requirements 1 – 7.

Required Documents

  • Complete the application form, plus the addendum form and health form (to be completed by your GP) and send them to [email protected] before 14th March 2025: Download documents here
  • Please see here a guide to help you complete your application: Application Guide
  • Academic report from your school: 
    If the school cannot provide the completed template form, you can provide the last 2 years’ end of year academic reports from your school and request your school to complete the template form in September.
  • Certificate of Health.
    If the potential applicants cannot obtain the completed certificate of Health from their GP before the 14th March, submissions of the certificate will be accepted until the 1st April.
  • Valid passport copy.

Download the following documents to know more and apply.

Guides on application

Application Forms

Kakehashi Project+ Information (English)

Apply Now

Application Submission

Please submit all required documents by 14th March 2025 to AFS Wales at [email protected] 

We will review applications immediately following the 14th.

Interviews commence from 24th March. 

Following selection, we will request a second interview with parents from the week commencing 31st March.

Enquiries

All enquiries should be directed to:
AFS Wales, [email protected]
+44 (0) 2920 828294 / +44 (0)2920 828287

About the Asia-Kakehashi Project + (Plus)

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Following the G7 Education Ministerial Meeting held in Ishikawa and Kanazawa, Japan in May 2023. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and technology of Japan has expanded the window of the “Asia-Kakehashi* Project + (Plus)” (kakehashi is Japanese for “bridging”) to G7 countries.

The programme’s aims are to strengthen relations between Japan and the rest of Asia and G7 member countries. The programme provides full scholarships for the high school students to live and study in Japan.

The first cohort of approximately 60 students arrived in Japan in November 2023, and the programme is gradually expanding in terms of numbers and length of stay.

Apply now!