Japan urges Indonesian scholarship recipients to strengthen bilateral ties

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Embassy of Japan encourages Indonesian scholarship recipients to strengthen relations between the two countries through study experiences and cultural exchanges. Director of the Information and Culture Centre at the Japanese Embassy, Hoshino Daisuke, stated this at the send-off event for scholarship recipients in Jakarta on Wednesday (25/3). He mentioned that Indonesia has beautiful and diverse culture that needs to be better known by Japanese society. On the other hand, Japan also has much that can be learned by the scholarship recipients. Hoshino hopes that the scholarship recipients can build lasting relationships with Japanese society. “I want each of you to become a cultural ambassador, representing your country and introducing Indonesian culture to Japan,” he said. “You have the potential to make Indonesia a special place for the community where you will live in Japan.” One of the scholarship recipients, Patrick Kurniawan, said that he and the other participants understand their role in strengthening friendship between Indonesia and Japan. “We hope this scholarship allows us to contribute positively to the community, the country, and the international society,” he stated. Another scholarship recipient, Ardiansyah, said that the learning experience in Japan will help understand different values and ways of thinking. According to him, education in an international environment can enhance the ability to understand diverse perspectives. This will shape the way they interact with society. The Japanese Embassy in Jakarta farewelled 58 Indonesian recipients of the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho/MEXT) scholarships for departure in 2026. They consist of 32 participants in the Research Students programme, 6 in the Gakubu (Bachelor’s) programme, 12 in the Kosen (Associate) programme, and 8 in the Senshu (Diploma) programme. According to the Japanese Embassy, the number of Indonesian students studying Japanese is the second largest in the world. Japan is also one of the popular destinations for Indonesian students to continue their studies.