The University of Tokyo
Website for International Students
（click HERE to download flyer）
One-to-One Cultural Exchange Program (Kashiwa) is a program for international students of the University of Tokyo Kashiwa Campus to meet with Japanese volunteers on one-to-one basis. Foreign faculty, researchers, and their family members are also welcome to join this program.
Meeting a local person can help you settle into University life, learn more about Japan, enhance your experience of studying abroad and increase your understanding of local traditions and customs.
Although the language will be in Japanese basically, a high level of Japanese language proficiency is not necessary. You can use other languages such as English at first.
We hope that this program will give you an opportunity to learn more about Japanese traditions, customs and language, and ultimately make your life bright and prosperous.
The Japanese volunteers are very varied ranging from the University of Tokyo students, faculty and staff on Kashiwa Campus, community members of Mitsui Volunteer Network, and members of Kashiwa Library Tomonokai. Family members (spouse, parents or children) of student, faculty and staff of the University of Tokyo could also be your Japanese partner. All Japanese volunteers are interested in meeting and helping you to feel at home.
"One-to-One Cultural Exchange Program" is very flexible - your volunteer partner might want to meet you for a cup of coffee, or go sightseeing with you. Whatever you and your volunteer partner decide to do together, you can be certain it will help to enhance your experience of Japan, and help you engage with local customs and traditions.
Here are some examples of activities:
- Practicing Japanese conversation
- Going sightseeing together and learning about Japanese traditions and culture
- Interacting with Japanese family
Remember your Japanese partner is a volunteer, so please do not ask your partner to do things which can be a burden to deal with, e.g. revising long research papers or a thesis.
If you are unable to continue this program because of your studies or other commitments, please let your partner know.
● This is a very useful program for me, it is an additional personalized help and motivation to learn Japanese language at a more one-on-one level. Would love to continue with my current partner and benefit more from this program. (Student, M1)
● This program has been very helpful for me as a foreign student. My partner helped me understand Japanese culture better through our very interesting discussions and I am improving my Japanese speaking ability. (Student, D1)
● This profram is a very good idea and I enjoy very much meeting my exchange partner. I can really improve my conversation skills thanks to my partner. (Researcher)
Step 1
First, please register your information from online application form below.
Step 2
After submitting the application form, KIO will send you a list of applicants within days. If you find a partner who you wish to meet from the list, please e-mail KIO(kio.adm @ gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp) the following information. ［1］Your name & ID#, ［2］ID# of the Japanese volunteer, ［3］Convenient date/time for the first meeting (Several choices appreciated). KIO office may contact you when we find the person matchs your desires.
Step 3
KIO staff will arrange the first meeting date and contact you after the date and time are fixed. The place is at KIO (Env. Studies Bldg. #124). "One-to-One Cultural Exchange Program" is completely flexible. You and your partner will decide what to do together, when and where to meet by yourselves.
*Please note that we may not be able to meet your expectations when your candidate partner has already matched up with another person. KIO staff will help arrange the first meeting only.
（click HERE to enlarge）
Lunch Party which provides an opportunity for all applicants to communicate with one another is held several times a year. KIO will contact you when the date draws near.
Q. Are there any places KIO provides to us?
A. We can provide a room on the 1st floor of Environmental Studies Building to you for the purpose of exchanging languages. Please email KIO to check the availability of the room, and apply for reservations by 5pm of the day before you use.
Q. Should I report how things are going with my language exchange partner to KIO afterward?
A. We hope so! We request all participants to submit a progress report to us within 3 months after the first meeting day in order to know how things are going with your partner. To improve our service, we also need your feedback and requests about this program.
If you are interested in helping others to learn your language or deepen mutural understanding of each culture, you may also enjoy our Language Exchange Program (Kashiwa).
Center for Global Education (Kashiwa Branch), (KIO):
kio.adm @ gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp
