Asia Kakehashi Project+ in Japan

Grow your global competence and become a future leader by spending an exciting semester studying abroad in Japan! Whether you live with a host family or in a dorm, you will attend a Japanese high school and make friends with your Japanese peers. All this will help you improve your Japanese language skills, your academic prospects, and your intercultural fluency.

The Asia Kakehashi Scholarship is the initiative announced by the Japanese Government back in 2017 to strengthen relations between Japan and the rest of Asia. The Program aims to heighten potential interest in Japan by promoting Bridge Building between high school students of Japan and Asia. This government-sponsored program is focused on facilitating intercultural exchange and understanding between teenagers of Japan and other Asian Countries.

AFS Japan manages all aspects of the program, including identifying volunteer host families and dorms for student placement, providing intercultural training and supporting students as they adjust to living in a new country. Students are selected based on academic achievement, financial need, interest in Japanese language and culture, as well as potential to be future leaders of positive change in their own communities.

Become a leader of tomorrow
Experience Japanese culture
Build your academic prospects
Improve your Japanese language skills

For the Asia Kakehashi Project+ 2026. AFS is identifying and selecting scholarship recipients from 27 Countries.

Applicants to the program in 2026 must meet the following criteria:

Between 15 and 18 years of age, born after April 2, 2008 and before April 1, 2011;
Legal Citizen of India.
Obtained minimum of 60% marks in principle in all subjects in the latest examination at
school and overall minimum average of 60% marks in all subjects for the past two years;
Learners of Japanese. Participants for the Japanese speech contests are encouraged to apply and have priority for the selection.
Demonstrate strong potential of leadership to act as a bridge between the home country
and Japan during and after the program.
Should not have participated in the ASIA KAKEHASHI program before.
Priority will be given to students of families with low incomes.

Program Dates: August 2026 - December 2026

(The duration of the program is subject to change.)

Talented young people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply!

Application is Closed!

For more details related to the program, please reach out to:
Roli Verma: [email protected]

TRADITION, TECHNOLOGY & TRANSFORMATION

Why Japan?

Tea ceremonies, graceful gardens and tranquil temples along with high-speed trains, striking efficiency and hyper-modern skyscrapers are essential to the dynamic Japanese culture. Social life for teens in Japan mostly happens at school and in extracurricular clubs for sports (baseball, soccer, basketball, judo, kendo or Japanese fencing, karate or track) and culture (English, broadcasting, calligraphy, tea ceremony, drama, orchestra, cooking, science and math). Japanese teens also enjoy the culture of kawaii (everything cute and lovable), J-Pop (Japanese Pop music), manga and anime. Karaoke (singing) with friends is also very popular. Staying out late at night is not very common for teens.

Who is funding this scholarship?

AFS Japan has been appointed by the national Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to run the Asia Kakehashi project, to facilitate intercultural exchange and understanding between teenagers in Japan and 27 countries. This government-sponsored program provides full scholarships for Asian high school students to study in Japan’s public high schools. Together with thousands of their Japanese peers, these students will develop greater global competence and understanding of each other’s countries.

What kind of candidates are you looking for?

This scholarship is ideal for students who have excellent academic records, a strong desire to study abroad and motivation to participate in school-based activities. Strong candidates will be ready to fully immerse themselves in the intercultural learning experience for the duration of the program. Applicants should also already be studying Japanese.

AFS is committed to diversity and encourages students from any background to apply.

How do I apply for this scholarship?

What is included in this scholarship?

What is not included in the scholarship?

Where will I live during this program?

Who will support me during the program?

Kakehashi Program Inquiry

Name*
Email*
Cell phone number*
Address
City State / Province / Region
You agree that AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. may collect, use and disclose your personal data which you have provided in this form, for addressing your inquiry and keeping you updated about AFS activities, in accordance with our privacy policy. Please tick the box below if you agree.**
- I agree
Read the AFS Privacy Policy here: https://india.afs.org/afs-global-online-privacy-policy/

Contact Details

AFS Intercultural Programs India
A-9, First Floor, Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi 110019, India

For more details related to the program, please reach out to:

Roli Verma: [email protected]
Aanchal Aggarwal: [email protected]