JETAA Philippines

15/04/2026

Congratulations! おめでとうございます！ 🥳🎉

31/01/2026

JETAA Philippines held its annual Nihon Go! session on January 10 at Malanday Elementary School in Marikina City. The activity brought together Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme alumni, who volunteered their time and skills to share Japanese language and culture with students as part of JETAA-PH’s efforts to support community initiatives and contribute to strengthening 🇵🇭🇯🇵 relations at the grassroots level. It was organized in celebration of the 70th friendship anniversary of the Philippines and Japan as well as the 40th anniversary of the JET Programme.

Fifty Grade 6 students actively participated in the event, engaging in an introductory Nihongo lesson where they practiced basic Japanese greetings and expressions. They then took part in hands-on cultural activities, including origami folding and onigiri making, which allowed them to apply what they learned in a fun and interactive setting. Throughout the program, the young participants showed enthusiasm and curiosity as they created origami figures and assembled their own 🍙 rice balls, making the learning experience both meaningful and memorable.

Mr. Koji Isowa, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, and his son also joined the event and interacted with the students and JETAA-PH volunteers. Their visit highlighted the value of community-based initiatives that foster people-to-people connections between the Philippines and Japan.

Special thanks to the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) for making this project possible, as well as to the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, and Dr. Aizaleen M. Garchitorena (Principal) and Ms. Maria Luisa M. Rait of Malanday Elementary School. ✨

We look forward to bringing Nihon Go! to more communities. Which school should we visit next?

31/01/2026

For those whose JET plans didn’t move forward this time, your teaching experience still matters.

If you’re a Filipino citizen, actively teaching in a primary or secondary school, 35 years old or below, with 5+ years of classroom experience, the MEXT Teacher Training Scholarship offers another meaningful way to grow 🇯🇵

Learn and immerse yourself in Japanese education and culture while strengthening your future applications.

Ever thought about studying in Japan? This might be your moment! 🇯🇵📚✨

The 2026 Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program is now open for the Teacher Training and Japanese Studies categories. Whether you’re a teacher looking to grow or a Japanese Studies major eager to explore Japan, this fully funded opportunity could be your next big step! 🏫🗾

🧑‍🏫 For elementary and high school teachers:
Imagine learning new teaching methods straight from Japan’s education system, gaining fresh perspectives, and returning home with ideas that can inspire your students in ways you have never imagined.

🎓 For Japanese Studies majors:
Picture yourself deepening your language skills, experiencing Japanese culture firsthand, and studying in an environment where your learning becomes real.

And the best part? It’s fully funded, giving you the chance to focus on learning, growing, and exploring.

📅 Deadline for submissions is on 10 FEBRUARY 2026 (TUESDAY).

Eligible applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines carefully and prepare the necessary documents to ensure a smooth application process.
📍 Teacher Training: https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000194.html
📍 Japanese Studies: https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000196.html

So what are you waiting for? Let’s take the leap to make it to the Level!

17/01/2026

30/12/2025

Announcing the winners for the Hidden Japan Photo and Caption Contest 2025!

First Place - Entry #2 - Stella Marie de Sagun
Second Place - Entry #1 - Jeb Pereda
Third Place - Entry #3 - Ana Santiago

Congratulations! We'll be contacting you with prize details so watch out for a message! Thank you for participating in our contest!

26/12/2025

Hidden Japan ENTRY #5

"We went blueberry picking in summer on a blueberry farm in Yamagata. Blueberries are the fruit of summer and prices go down as the season reaches it's peak. We learned there's a lot of different kinds of blueberries depending on the taste that you prefer. There are small, tart ones good for baking, and round, sweet ones good for snacking.

Going to farms to pick just enough harvest that you need is a unique travel activity you can do when you come to Japan, especially when you travel to the countryside."

Hidden Japan Entries will be posted until this week! Post engagement count will be on Dec. 28, 2025 (Sunday), 10:00 PM, so get to liking, sharing, and commenting!

26/12/2025

Hidden Japan ENTRY #4

"Living near the rice fields, you witness the turn of the seasons through the harvest. In spring, the ground is prepared and tilled. As the warmer months arrive, the irrigation channels are opened and the fields are flooded. Come summer, the residents plant small, vibrant green rice shoots in their fields. I remember walking home from work seeing ducks swimming in ricefields among the stalks.

Late August to early September, the air smells uniquely of bigas, which I love. After harvesting the rice, they are dried, as in the picture. The rice stalks are collected and rolled, and the land is allowed to rest throughout the winter."

Hidden Japan Entries will be posted until this week! Post engagement count will be on Dec. 28, 2025 (Sunday), 10:00 PM, so get to liking, sharing, and commenting!

25/12/2025

Hidden Japan ENTRY #3

"While the world rightly admires Mt. Fuji, there's a quieter and, arguably, unparalleled beauty in Mt. Tate, one of Japan's three holy mountains (alongside Mt. Fuji and Mt. Haku). Pictured here is Mt. Tate in spring with its snow-covered peaks overlooking one of the world's most beautiful Starbucks in Kansui Park in Toyama City.

Last year, Toyama earned a spot in The New York Times' "52 Places to Go This Year," and a former student shares that this has driven tourism to the prefecture. In the three years I lived in Toyama, I noticed that the Japanese love these accolades—whether it's being a holy mountain, the site of a beautiful Starbucks, or a must-visit city—and I find this fierce and genuine pride they hold for their home truly admirable. It's a pride that motivates them to take care of their surroundings, and I think that's a beautiful lesson for us all."

Hidden Japan Entries will be posted until this week! Post engagement count will be on Dec. 28, 2025 (Sunday), 10:00 PM, so get to liking, sharing, and commenting!

25/12/2025

Hidden Japan ENTRY #2

"The Tokushima Oboke Gorge Sightseeing boat offers a peaceful cruise along the Yoshino River in Shikoku. The trip reveals stunning rock formations, but beyond the scenery, what struck me the most was the thoughtful care of the boat staff. After every trip, the staff meticulously arrange each life jacket back onto the seats. It’s a small detail tourists might overlook, but the way that each one is uniformly returned caught my eye. It reflects how Japan respects their things and the next people who will use them. This simple and thoughtful gesture is already a sight to behold."

Hidden Japan Entries will be posted until this week! Post engagement count will be on Dec. 28, 2025 (Sunday), 10:00 PM, so get to liking, sharing, and commenting!

25/12/2025

Hidden Japan ENTRY #1

"Travelling Japan with a new set of eyes as a Kyudoka has brought me such a joy this year especially having the opportunity to learn under the senseis that continue to cultivate this beautiful form of martial art. This photo was taken by a senior Kyudoka from Czech Republic who I was travelling with in a private tour arranged by a local archer in Shizuoka. Seeing the prefecture not just in its beautiful scenery and delicious food, but also in its rich Budo Culture just takes my experience of Japan in a whole new level. I am planning to visit again but in Nagoya to take my second ranking exam next year and hopefully qualify for Nidan. Thank you, Per-san, Graham-san, and Mikal-san!!!!"

Hidden Japan Entries will be posted until this week! Post engagement count will be on Dec. 28, 2025 (Sunday), 10:00 PM, so get to liking, sharing, and commenting!