Consulate-General of Japan at Nashville
在ナッシュビル 日本国総領事館

• Events
• JET Program
• Japanese Government Scholarships
• Study in Japan
• Japanese Language Education
• Educational Exchange and Grants
• School Visit Program
• 2010 Invitation Program for Japanese American Students

The Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville oversees the JET Program for the Mid-South region. Residents of Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee with any questions or comments about the JET Program should contact us. If you are not a resident of the Mid-South region, please contact your local consulate, unless you intend to apply through the Nashville Consulate.

The JET Program invites new graduates and young professionals from around the world to participate in international exchange and foreign language education in Japan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Home Affairs co-sponsor the program. Here at the Consulate-General of Japan at Nashville, we work with the program sponsors and the Embassy of Japan to recruit, interview, and select applicants from the Mid-South region, and to prepare participants for departure. Successful applicants are placed at various contracting organizations around Japan, from boards of education in rural Japan to urban government offices.

This website contains a general overview of the JET Program and information specific to the Mid-South region. For complete information about the JET Program, please visit the official JET websites of MOFA and CLAIR. American applicants should also consult the Embassy of Japan’s JET website, which contains the application for U.S. citizens.Please note that there are hundreds of unofficial sites about JET on the web, which may contain useful information, but which may also contain inaccuracies. If you need any clarification, please contact us.

Eligibility criteria and positions are outlined in full on the JET Program application. Basic requirements for American applicants include an interest in Japan, the ability to adapt to life in Japan, and a willingness to study the Japanese language. Excellent English language skills and a bachelor’s degree are also required; all majors are welcome!

JET positions are for one year. However, contracting organizations may invite participants to renew their contracts. Applicants may request to be placed in a specific area of Japan. However, because JET participants are needed throughout Japan, requests cannot always be fulfilled.

• Assistant Language Teachers Most participants are assigned to positions as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) in junior high and high schools. ALTs assist in classes taught by Japanese teachers of foreign language. ALT duties can also include assisting with other aspects of foreign language training, visiting primary and elementary schools, and engaging in local international exchange activities. Japanese language skills are not required for the ALT position. However, participants must commit to studying Japanese upon their acceptance.

• Coordinators for International Relations Approximately 5% of the American participants on the program are Coordinators for International Relations(CIRs). Because CIRsare placed in Japanese government offices, they must have a functional command of the Japanese language. CIRs assist with various projects related to international activities. These activities can include editing and translating publications, hosting foreign guests, and interpreting at events for overseas visitors. CIRs may also provide language instruction, assist with private international exchange activities, and help raise cross-cultural awareness and understanding.

• Sports Education Advisors Sports Education Advisors (SEAs) engage in internationalization through the instruction of specific sports. Applications for the SEA position are accepted by invitation only.

American participants receive 3,600,000 yen per year and are exempt from both U.S. and Japanese income taxes. This amount is more than enough to cover the cost of living in Japan. Participants also receive training, travel expenses, insurance, housing assistance, access to counseling and support services, opportunities to network at professional conferences, and optional Japanese language instruction.

Before filling out the application, please read all background information carefully. Application materials, including detailed instructions, may be accessed at the Embassy of Japan’s JET website during the recruitment season. The new application usually becomes available online in early September. Prospective applicants who become interested in the program before the current year applications are available are encouraged to get ahead by gathering supplemental application materials. These materials are detailed on the Embassy of Japan’s JET site. Completed applications should arrive at the Embassy of Japan to the United States in Washington, D.C. on or before the deadline. Late applications are NOT accepted.

The following timetable is for general reference. Be sure to get exact dates for the JET year for which you are applying.

September
The applications becomes available in the fall on the Embassy of Japan’s JET website. If you are unable to access the internet, please contact the JET Coordinator at jet@cgjnashville.org to request a hard copy.
Late September – Mid November
Info Sessions take place on university campuses.
Late November - Early December
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE! (The deadline can vary from year to year, so be sure you have the correct deadline.)
Mid-December – January
The Embassy of Japan reviews applications.
Late January
Applicants are notified of their status.
February
The Consulate-General of Japan interviews those candidates who passed the initial embassy screening.
Late March / Early April
Interview results are released.
April
Successful applicants are required to submit additional documents.
May
Successful candidates are notified of their placements.
June
An optional Question and Answer Session is held by the Consulate.
July / August
The Consulate hosts a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation in Nashville for participants.
Participants depart the morning after the Orientation and arrive in Tokyo, Japan the following day.
July / August
CLAIR hosts a mandatory Post-Arrival Orientation in Tokyo.
Participants depart for their contracting organizations.

University personnel interested in having an Info Session should contact the JET Coordinator For more information on an Info Session, please contact the JET Coordinator or the university contact.

JET participant returnees who reside in our five-state region are granted membership in the Mid-South JETAA chapter. New returnees who have not yet registered should contact us, or Mid-South JETAA President at president@no.jetalumni.org. The JET Alumni Association International (JETAAi) is the umbrella organization overseeing the various associations around the world. Their website, http://www.jetalumni.org/, is a valuable resource for applicants, current participants, participants’ parents, and returnees. Please visit the mid-south JETAA website: www.no.jetalumni.org.