401 Participants Attend Selection for Japan Internship Programme

A total of 401 participants took part in the selection for the 2026 Japan Internship Programme held at the Central Java Manpower and Transmigration Office in Semarang. Head of the Central Java Manpower and Transmigration Office Ahmad Aziz stated on Monday that 508 people had registered for the programme this year, but only 401 attended the selection stage. He noted that the participants came from various regions, including Central Java, East Java, West Java, Yogyakarta, Banten, Bali, Jakarta, North Kalimantan, Lampung, and West Nusa Tenggara.

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi said the internship programme to Japan demonstrates that Indonesian human resources, including those from Central Java, are competitive at the international level. ‘Indonesian workers are not inferior to workers from other countries. The Indonesian work ethic deserves to be reckoned with on the international stage,’ he said. He advised the participants to take the entire selection process seriously, as their courage to try is already an important step towards achieving their future. He expressed hope that they would become ambassadors for Indonesian workers who make their families, communities, and nation proud.

Meanwhile, IM Japan Vice Director Yamauchi Takeshi advised participants not to view the internship programme in Japan merely as a way to earn a salary. According to him, the most important aspect of the programme is to learn as much as possible during the internship in Japan, especially regarding work ethic. ‘Your goal is not just to go to Japan. The real goal is to learn as much as possible through working in Japan,’ he said. He added that interns must build good character, including obeying rules, being honest, respecting others, and actively learning while working in Japan.