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Opening a path through mountainous Nepal: Japanese technology and international cooperation behind a tunnel project
Nepal is a land of rugged mountains. On the road linking the capital, Kathmandu, with other major cities, chronic traffic congestion and accidents had long been serious problems. To improve the situation, the Nagdhunga Tunnel, Nepal's first road tunnel equipped with modern facilities, was developed with support from JICA. The approximately 2.7-kilometer tunnel took about seven years to complete, with construction finishing in July 2026. Underpinning this long-awaited project were the determined efforts and cooperation of Japanese and Nepali engineers.
On the front lines of disaster medicine: A deep dive into the Japan Disaster Relief Team’s response to the Venezuela earthquakes
Earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, wildfires ... As large-scale disasters strike one after another around the world, the Japan Disaster Relief Team (JDR), whose secretariat is administered by JICA, is being deployed with increasing frequency. Following the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June and claimed more than 6,000 lives, a JDR Medical Team quickly arrived in the hardest-hit area. The deployment was also a way of expressing gratitude to the people of Venezuela for their support after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Through reports from the front lines, this article takes a closer look at JDR’s activities.
Taking on Africa’s water crisis: How the experience of a JICA volunteer changed her life
Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) work to address social issues in developing countries. After returning to Japan, many former volunteers draw on those experiences to create new value for society. At the “4th JOCV Commendation for Giving Back to Society” awards held in June, the grand prize went to Tsuboi Aya, who is working to solve water-related challenges in Uganda.
Across the seas: Tracing the history of Japanese migration and the roots of international cooperation
Japanese overseas migration began with the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Seeking employment opportunities and farmland, many Japanese crossed the seas, yet the hardships they endured and the realities they faced have often gone untold. This article traces the roots of international cooperation through JICA's long-standing role in supporting migration and its continuing efforts to strengthen ties with communities of Japanese emigrants and their descendants, or Nikkei communities, around the world today.
‘A world where everyone can enjoy sports’: A conversation with former Japan National Football Team player Kitazawa Tsuyoshi and others
Striving to create a peaceful world where everyone can enjoy sports beyond borders, languages and disabilities, JICA is working to promote sports. With the recent launch of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a global soccer event, we spoke with former Japan national team player Kitazawa Tsuyoshi and Arai Atsuko, a former sports volunteer with the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, about the potential of international cooperation through sports.
From Philippine farms to Japanese tables: international joint research project protects bananas from disease
Bananas are a familiar staple on Japanese dining tables. However, in the Philippines — where most of Japan’s bananas are imported from — diseases that cause leaves to wither and entire plants to wilt have become increasingly serious. A discovery by Japanese researchers made a significant contribution to establishing methods to control these diseases. With support from organizations such as JICA, Japan and the Philippines are working with determination across borders to prevent and contain these plant diseases. This article introduces their international collaborative research effort.
Japan and Nepal find mutual support through 'mitsumata' plants used to make new Japanese banknotes
Most of the mitsumata (Oriental paperbush) used as a raw material for Japanese banknotes is cultivated in the mountainous regions of Nepal, far from Japan. This is thanks to efforts by Osaka-based company Kanpou Inc., which has spent many years teaching people in Nepal how to cultivate and process the plant. Approaching the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Nepal, we look back at Kanpou’s efforts and JICA's cooperation in the initiative.
Seismic isolation and ‘Build Back Better’: Bringing Japan’s architectural technology and ideas to the world through ODA
JICA’s international cooperation activities bring together experts from diverse fields, both within and beyond the organization, all driven by a strong sense of purpose. The series “People tackling global challenges” highlights their stories, exploring their journeys and aspirations for the future.
This time, we spoke with Wong Kuok Hung, senior advisor of the Architecture Department at Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd. (OC Global), who has been involved in numerous projects in the field of building technology under Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).