As JET Programme turns 40, alumni and ministers stress its importance in age of AI

Peter Cave joined the JET Programme's inaugural cohort in 1987 and spent three years teaching in the city of Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture. | Courtesy of Peter Cave

Nov 11, 2026

Japan celebrated the 40th year of its flagship international exchange program this month, marking four decades of a project that has brought young people from around the world into Japanese classrooms and communities.

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, more commonly referred to as JET, was launched in 1987 to promote foreign-language education and grassroots cultural exchanges, and has grown from an initiative involving 848 participants from four countries into one of the world’s largest international exchange programs.

However, the program is facing mounting pressure in recent years as translation work dries up due to the proliferation of artificial intelligence and as a weak yen makes Japan a less attractive destination for prospective participants.

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