FOR COUNTRY PROFILE: JAPAN - DECEMBER 23

FOR COUNTRY PROFILE: JAPAN - DECEMBER 23

Promoting friendship through cultural exchange programs

The Japan Foundation, more popularly known in Indonesia as Pusat Kebudayaan Jepang, or the Japan Culture Center, is a semi- governmental, nonprofit organization that carries out the task of promoting friendship and mutual understanding through cultural and intellectual exchange activities.

Through its Asia Center, the Tokyo-based Japan Foundation works closely with the government and nongovernmental organizations in Indonesia to promote cultural cooperation programs.

Under the Foundation's invitation and fellowship programs, many Indonesian artists have visited Japan to introduce their artistic works to the Japanese people, and benefited from the opportunity to broaden their horizons on Japanese culture.

Also, numerous Japanese artists have visited Indonesia, under the sponsorship of the Foundation, to introduce a variety of Japanese arts to the Indonesian people.

The Japan Foundation also organizes courses on Japanese language and Japanese culture, such as ikebana (flower arrangement), paper dolls, go game, etc. Its library has a rich collection of books on many aspects of Japan. A filmshow has been long established and enjoys a good response from the Jakarta community. The Foundation's hall accommodates many different kinds of exhibitions of artistic works of either Japanese or Indonesian artists.

The Japan Cultural Center also manages the Japan Language Center under the same roof.

The library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On the first and third Saturdays of the month it is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Address: The Japan Cultural Center Summitmas Building, 2nd and 3rd floors Jl. Jenderal Sudirman kav. 61-62, Jakarta Selatan Phone: 5201266