Sakura Network

The JF Nihongo Network (Sakura Network)

The Japan Foundation (JF) is establishing the “Sakura Network” to enhance Japanese language education overseas because we believe that the link between the JF and the institutions/organizations involved in Japanese-language education throughout the world is very important.

In principle, institutions/organizations that have a working relationships with the JF through our various support programs for Japanese-language education overseas form the "Members" of the "Sakura Network." In addition, institutions and organizations that work on projects that have an extensive ripple effect over an entire region or country in terms of enhancing the establishment and development of Japanese-language education form the "Core Members."

The name “Sakura Network” was chosen from over 100 suggestions collected through an online survey. Sakura, the Japanese word for cherry blossom, is widely recognized around the world as a symbol of Japan. We hope that this network will develop and prosper in every part of the world, just like beautiful cherry blossom.

The Japan Foundation will work together in cooperation with Members and Core Members of the “Sakura Network” to provide a positive learning environment for those who want to learn Japanese-language, and further advance the quality of Japanese-language education overseas.

Core Members

1. National Teachers' Organizations

• Alliance of Associations of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ)
• Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ)
• National Council of Japanese Language Teachers (NCJLT)

2. Japanese Language Proficiency Test Host Institutions

• DePaul University (Chicago, IL)
• Georgetown University (Washington DC)
• Lehman College of the City University of New York (Bronx, NY)
• San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA)
• University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
• University of Hawaii at Manoa (Manoa, HI)
• University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
• University of Washington (Seattle, WA)

Members

• Alaska Association of Teachers of Japanese
• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
• Arizona Association of Teachers of Japanese
• Association of Florida Teachers of Japanese
• Association of Indiana Teachers of Japanese (AITJ)
• Association of Teachers of Japanese in Oregon (ATJO)
• California Association of Japanese Language Schools
• California Association of Japanese Language Teachers (CAJLT)
• California State University , Los Angeles
• College Board
• Delaware Valley Teachers of Japanese (DVTJ)
• Duke University
• Hyogo Business & Cultural Center
• Japan-America Societies in Texas
• Japan-America Society of Central Ohio
• Japan-America Society of Georgia
• Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania
• Japanese American Association of Northern California
• Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation (Aurora Foundation)
• Japanese Language Teachers Association of Guam (JALTA)
• Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan
• Japanese Teachers Association of Texas (JTAT)
• Kentucky Association of Japanese Language Teachers (KAJLT)
• Louisiana Association of Teachers of Japanese
• Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese (MAATJ)
• New Heights Academy Charter School
• North Carolina Association of Teachers of Japanese
• Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese
• Ocean Charter School
• RI Japan Society Language and Culture Center
• Southern Nevada Japanese Teachers Association
• Texas A & M University
• United Japanese Society of Hawaii
• University of Colorado - Boulder
• Vanderbilt University
• Washington Association of Teachers of Japanese (WATJ)
• Wisconsin Association of Teachers of Japanese (WiATJ)