Let's go to Japan!

What do you imagine when you hear the word "Japan"?
Maybe traditional sports like Judo or Sumo? Or rather cars like Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, etc? Maybe big companies like Sony and Panasonic? Perhaps some of you think about Japanese cuisine like Sushi, Tempura. Or are you rather interested in traditional arts like Ikebana, Ocha (tea ceremony) and calligraphy?
What do you know about Japanese agriculture?
You have certainly heard about Wagyuu, Japanese feeder cattle. The Japanese eat rice as staple food, so you can easily imagine that there are many rice farmers in Japan. What about vegetables, fruits, dairy products or flowers?

Your image about Japan is based on information given by the media. As your country can't be expressed by fixed images of foreigners, (like Germany = sausages, beer and forests; Switzerland= cheese and mountains; Netherlands= windmills and tulips...) you can only observe within the country what is really going on in Japan.

We the JAEC support those of you who want to experience Japanese agriculture and who want to increase their opportunities.

How can I participate?

We offer you the opportunity to make an agricultural training program abroad for about one year.
The trainees shall be suited to the following criteria.

(1) Having agricultural background, aged between nineteen and thirty years and finished at least 6 months practical training in agriculture.

(2) Completed at least basic studies in agriculture at universities or colleges.

(3) Having firm determination and physical strength to carry out agricultural training in Japan, as well as having the ability to adapt themselves to life in Japan.


We don't take participants directly and require all applicants to apply through one of our partner organizations.
At the moment we have partner organizations as listed below.
If you have difficulties to contact the partner organization, you can contact us: europe◎jaec.org

Denmark:
Travel to Farm Travel to Farm
Contact person: Mr Wegger: new◎t2f.dk

Germany:
Deutscher Bauernverband DBV
Contact person: Ms Henn: b.henn◎bauernverband.net

Netherlands:
Stichting Uitwisseling Stichting Uitwisseling
Contact person: Ms Mens:outbound◎uitwisseling.nl

Switzerland:
Agroimpuls Agropimpuls
Contact person: Ms Hirt: info◎agroimpuls.ch

To avoid spam mails, all att-marks are changed to ◎.

We are waiting for your application and looking forward to meeting you soon!

Before you start...

To gain knowledge about foreign cultures is very interesting. It does not only mean learning about agriculture but it is also an opportunity for you to get new ideas and a new way of thinking through the agricultural life in Japan. If you take part in the agricultural internship you may suffer because of the difficulty of language, the big difference of the mentality and you may probably get homesick. But during your stay in Japan you surely increase your tolerance and broaden your mind.

・ Working at Japanese agricultural company is very hard. There you will have to be patient for short holidays, stern company owner, hard physical work.

・ Not every Japanese speak English well. Therefore is very important learning Japanese language before you arrive to Japan. We staff from JAEC can speak English, so if you have some problems, please contact us unhesitatingly.

・ It might be happen that the farmer doesn't tell you not much things. That is because of typical Japanese way of thinking which is called "you have to steal the technique" i.e. you have to look the boss and have to improve yourself. Sometimes you might think the boss doesn't know anything or you are denied, but it is not so. He want that you realize something on your own.
It is very valuable to bare this burden and to stay a year.
Please don't worry and try to take the first step!

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