Through the Invitational Group Tour Program, the Japan Foundation invites 14 administrative leaders of primary and secondary educational institutions to visit Japan on a nine day trip. This program was established in 2008 to build professional networks between American and Japanese educators, thereby enhancing existing Japanese programs and expanding opportunities for students to learn the language.
Participants will arrive in Los Angeles in late June for a pre-departure orientation which will include discussions on Japan travel tips and the current status of Japanese language education in America. Then on June 26, they will fly to Japan and spend nine days observing the cultural, societal, and educational conditions of Japan, and exchanging ideas among Japanese educators and administrators. Participants will visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, visiting schools and the Japan Foundation headquarters, and meeting with their Japanese counterparts in education at several Japanese K-12 schools.
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Affiliation | City | State |
| Dr. | Michele | AOKI | Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) | Olyympia | WA |
| Dr. | Gregory | BARFIELD | Georgia Department of Education | Atlanta | GA |
| Mr. | Scott | BARR | Classical High School | Providence | RI |
| Mr. | Jose | BUENO | Miami Dade County Public Schools | Hialeah | FL |
| Mr. | Aaron | COOK | Marysville High School | Marysville | OH |
| Miss | Katie | CRITES | Northwood Elementary School | Franklin | IN |
| Mr. | Timothy | ISALY | Creekview High School | Carrollton | TX |
| Mr. | Tony | PAYNE | Presidio Middle School | San Francisco | CA |
| Mr. | Douglas | REVSBECK | Harding High School | St. Paul | MN |
| Mrs. | Amy | ROSE | Kelly Walsh High School | Casper | WY |
| Ms. | Cheri | SMITH | Bowling Green Independent Schools | Bowling Green | KY |
| Dr. | James | SMITH | Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Virginia Beach | VA |
| Dr. | Eugene | SOLTNER | Great Neck Middle School | Virginia Beach | VA |
| Mrs. | Karen | STEGMAN | Dunsmore Elementary School | La Crescenta | CA |
5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036-
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
