JENESYS2025 aims to promote mutual trust and understanding among the peoples of Japan, ASEAN Member States, and Timor-Leste, to build a basis for future friendship and cooperation, as well as to encourage an understanding of various aspects of Japan. The project is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). This is the highlight of JENESYS2025 reported by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) in December 2025:

JENESYS2025 Online Japan-Visit Advanced Program for ASEAN Alumni

JENESYS Alumni who love Japanese culture and pop-culture joined a five-day online Japan-visit program themed Japanese Language, Tradition and Pop-culture. Their interest and knowledge were already impressive, but through engaging lectures, observations and experiences, and meaningful discussions with fellow alumni, they deepened their understanding even further.

JENESYS ASEAN-Japan Sports x SDGs Exchange for Youths

88 high school students and supervisors interested in contributing to the SDGs and solving social issues through sports in ASEAN countries visited Tokyo and Osaka on 28 October to 4 November 2025. In collaborating with the J.League  (Japan Professional Football League) and Gamba Osaka participants gained valuable insights and experiences such as the lecture on SDGs initiatives by J.League, lecture, observation and experiences by Gamba Osaka, and watching the Levant Cup final at the National Stadium.

The Philippines-Japan Development Exchange

From 25 November to 2 December, a group of 10 Japanese university and graduate students visited Manila, the Philippines. The theme of this program was “Development Exchange.” To learn about education and poverty, the students visited the JICA Philippines Office and gained insight into volunteer programs. Through this program, the students learned about the Philippines from both development and cultural perspectives, and they will use this experience to inspire their future goals.

Global Connections at Expo2025 by Nguyen Pham Thuy An

"During my last year studying in Japan, I joined as a volunteer at the ASEAN Pavilion during Expo 2025 in Osaka! Working with amazing friends from Japan, Myanmar, Laos, and more made every single day exciting and full of new discoveries," said Nguyen Pham Thuy An, JENESYS20218 Alumni.

Read the full stories of Nguyen Pham Thuy An and other JENESYS alumnis in JFTP News Issue No. 18: https://jice.org/exchange/info/2025/09/JFTP%20News%20第18号%202025年9月版.pdf

Lao PDR–Japan Young Entrepreneurs Exchange

Eight Japanese university students visited Laos for a week-long program from 2 to 9 December, celebrating the 70th anniversary of Laos–Japan diplomatic relations, engaging in intensive exchanges under the theme of entrepreneurship.

Malaysia-Japan Academic Exchange

For one week between 2 to 9 December, 10 university representatives from Malaysia engaged in an exchange program in Japan. The program included visits to Tokyo, Tsukuba, and Sano City, offering a rich experience of Japan’s education, research, and culture.

Thailand-Japan Friendship Exchange Program (Dispatch of Japanese High School Students

Seven high school students and one chaperone from Nagasaki Nanzan Senior High School visited Thailand for the JENESYS2025 Thailand-Japan Friendship Exchange Program on 25 November to 2 December 2025. During their visit, the delegates had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the relationship between the two countries through courtesy calls at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand and the Department of Children and Youth, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

Hello from JENESYS Alumni - Indonesia

Meet one of our inspiring alumni from Japan's Friendship Ties Programs, Muhammad Ammar Hidayahtulloh, JENESYS ASEAN2017 alumni. Through JENESYS, Ammar explored peace education in Nagasaki. Today, he’s a postdoctoral researcher focusing on Women’s Groups and Post-Conflict Development in Southeast Asia.

Brunei-Japan Environmental Protection Exchange

For one week between 18 to 24 November, eight graduate students and working professionals from Brunei participated in an exchange program in Japan. During this program, they visited Tokyo and Shizuoka Prefecture to learn about Japan’s advanced environmental technologies in areas such as marine plastic waste countermeasures, waste management, and recycling, while also experiencing Japanese culture.