Europe is a diverse and multi-talented continent. The EU's member states' embassies and cultural institutes in Japan support access to a huge range of European creativity, and the Delegation works with them and other local partners to raise awareness of European culture and cultural diversity.

EU School Project

'The EU comes to Your School' 2024

EU Delegation and Member States diplomats have visited high schools throughout Japan each year since 2007 to give presentations on the EU and their respective countries under the "EU Comes to your School" project. The objectives are to bring the EU closer to young people in Japan and to raise young Japanese people's curiosity about the EU and the rich and diverse history and cultures of Europe.

Over 1,000 schools have participated in the school project.  This year, the project is scheduled to be held on 30 and 31 October 2024.

For details, please see announcement (in Japanese only).

Schools wishing to participate in this event are requested to fill out and submit the on-line application form by Friday, 10 May 2024.

On-line application: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/EUComestoYourSchool2024

List of schools which took part in the past can be found here.

EU Film Days

The main cultural event for the Delegation, EU Film Days, is a unique event showcasing the diversity and distinction of filmmaking in Europe. Films from EU member states are shown over several weeks in Tokyo, sometimes with additional screenings in other cities in Japan. First held in 2003, the event has taken place annually, with increasing success. In 2015, over 11,000 people attended screenings in Tokyo and Kyoto.

The Delegation also hosts occasional public events such as film screenings, concerts, workshops and conferences. Information on these events is on the Events page as well as on our social media channels X (former Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.

Centrally, European culture is supported through the Creative Europe Programme. The programme, which runs from 2014 to 2020 and has a budget of €1.46 billion, supports initiatives including cultural cross-border cooperation and exchange and initiatives in the audio-visual sector. The European Capitals of Culture scheme raises the visibility of European culture, as do awards such as the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage. See here for further information on Creative Europe in Japanese.

A new EU strategy for international cultural work promises to increase the importance of culture in what we do. Early preparations for this are set out in a Preparatory Action on Culture in the EU's External Relations.

EU-Japan Friendship Week

The EU-Japan Friendship Week first started in 2001 as a programme of events lasting for a number of weeks, focusing on public diplomacy, academic and cultural activities.

Since then it has grown into a comprehensive schedule of such events taking place throughout May, June and part of July, both in Tokyo and in Japan's regions.

The aim of Friendship Week is to give the Japanese public a chance to learn more about the EU, its relations with Japan and Europe's history and diversity.

To that end, the EU Delegation organises selected events and activities and sponsors or encourages many others. Traditionally, Friendship Week kicks off with the celebration of Europe Day on 9 May, with numerous interesting, informative and entertaining activities following in the weeks thereafter.

Read more about Edition 2024.

Erasmus+ is the EU's flagship education initiative that offers opportunities to Japanese higher education institutions to engage with European counterparts as part of higher education mobility and cooperation projects. The three types of project that are of particular relevance to universities in Japan are Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM), International Credit Mobility (ICM), and Jean Monnet Activities.

• Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM)

Under Erasmus+, Japanese universities can become full or associate partners with European universities in Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees　(double degree programmes are also possible), similar to the way in which several universities already offer joint programmes, established under Erasmus Mundus, the forerunner to Erasmus +.

Japanese students can also apply as individuals to take part in joint master programmes and study in Europe in at least 2 different countries. 

EU-Japan Joint Master Degree Programmes

A new EU-Japan Joint Master Degree programme scheme was launched at the time of the first EU-Japan policy dialogue on education, culture, and sport in July 2018.  As a result of the first call for proposals, three new EU-Japan Joint Master Degree programmes were selected in July 2019.

-History in the Public Sphere

Lead institutions: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Central European University

-Erasmus MundusJapan - Master ofScience inImaging and Lightin ExtendedReality

Lead institutions: Toyohashi Institute of Technology, University of Eastern Finland

-Japan-EuropeMaster onAdvancedRobotics

Lead institutions: Keio University, Ecole Centrale de Nantes

• International Credit Mobility (ICM)

Non-European students can apply for a grant to study at a partner institution in Europe for a period of 2-12 months. Students can earn credits at their host university, which will be recognised by their home university, without paying any extra fees. University staff and academics can also receive a grant to spend 5 days to 2 months at partner institutions in Europe, to deliver teaching or training.  Between 2015-2021 well over 2000 students and staff have taken part in periods of study, training, or teaching in Japan or Europe as part of ICM partnerships between European and Japanese universities.

• Jean Monnet Activities

The EU supports excellence in teaching and research on the European Union worldwide through the Jean Monnet initiative. Japanese universities may apply for funding to set up individual courses on the EU (Jean Monnet Modules), or to establish focused EU research and teaching centres (Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence) or networks (Jean Monnet Network)  Individual scholars can also apply for funding to support their teaching and research on the EU (Jean Monnet Chair).

There are currently two Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence active in Japan, operating with the support of the Erasmus+ programme:

-Kobe University Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence

-Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence-Kyushu (based at Kyushu University)

There is also an active Jean Monnet Centre for EU Studies at Keio University.

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European Union, 2024

You can find out more on the EU’s official Study in Europe page (English only)

Learn about EU scholarships to study or conduct research in the EU, about a unique opportunity to meet European university representatives at the European Higher Education Fair, and where to get more information on studying in Europe.

Erasmus+: Study in Europe with an EU scholarship

Erasmus+ is the European Union's programme for education, training, youth and sport for the period 2021 – 2027.  It offers a range of opportunities for higher education students, staff and institutions from around the world.

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) are operated by consortia of higher education institutions (HEIs) from the EU and elsewhere in the world. They provide high quality integrated courses and joint or multiple diplomas following study or research at two or more HEIs.

They offer EU-funded scholarships or fellowships to:

• Masters students to study in an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree
• Scholars and guest academics to teach or carry out research as part of an EMJM

Students from all over the world are eligible to apply.

• When and how?

Over 100 Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees will be awarding scholarships for courses starting in the academic year 2025/2026. Applications should be submitted directly to the programmes in the last quarter of 2024 or in early 2025. For more information, please visit the website of the Masters programme that interests you. You can find a list on the EMJM website.

The scholarship covers the costs of taking part in the course, travel and installation, subsistence costs and insurance. Altogether this can amount to up to 16,800 euro per year

2. International Credit Mobility (short-term study in Europe)

To date, some 200 mobility agreements have been signed between Japanese higher education institutions (HEIs) and those in the European Union. Together, these will provide grants for selected Japanese universities to send almost 350 of their students and staff every year to partner universities throughout Europe.

If your university has one or more of these inter-institutional agreements, you will be able to apply to spend part of your degree period (2 to 12 months) at the European university. This mobility is possible at bachelor, master or doctorate level. Contact your university's international office to see where you can go, and what you can study.

Japanese students coming to Europe may receive a monthly contribution to their expenses abroad of between EUR 800 and EUR 900, depending on the cost of living in the host country, plus a travel contribution based on the distance from the sending to the receiving institution.

'Information on Erasmus+ can also be found on the official Erasmus+ website, the Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Association website, and the official Erasmus+ Facebook page, and this fact sheet.

• Doctoral candidates

Doctoral candidates can apply for a doctoral fellowship or other research grants available under the Marie Sklodowksa-Curie programme part of the EU's Horizon Europe framework programme for research and innovation.

Europe is a global leader in study programmes for learners of all ages and is a popular destination for students from around the world. The EU Delegation in Tokyo helps to promote Study in Europe, working with EU Member States to organise the annual European Higher Education Fair (EHEF).

EHEF 2025 will be held in June. For further details, including exhibitor application forms, will follow in late 2024/early 2025.

EU Delegation to Japan, 2024

EU Delegation to Japan, 2024

The 2024 edition will take place on Saturday 26 September at Nara Women's University.

Further details to follow.

Founded in 1980, the purpose of the European Union Studies Association-Japan is to promote studies on the EU through close co-operation with similar academic associations around the world. It has around 500 members, mostly academics, but also including journalists, businessmen, government officials, and lawyers.  The Association organises an annual conference at a different host university each year.