JICA’s Collaboration with Nikkei Communities

JICA has continued its efforts from its predecessor, the Japan Emigration Service （JEMIS）, to support Japanese migrants who moved mainly to Latin America under postwar national policies. These efforts aim to help migrants settle and stabilize their lives in their host countries. Today, JICA focuses on addressing challenges arising from the maturation and generational shifts within Nikkei communities, primarily through initiatives in elderly welfare and human resource development.

The Cerrado, which became one of the world's leading grain-producing regions from barren land thanks to the contributions of Nikkei farmers. (Brazil)

Sports festival held in migrant communities. (Bolivia)

Yguazú settlement, established as a directly managed settlement by the Japan Emigration Promotion Co., Ltd., one of JICA’s predecessors. (Paraguay)

Monument commemorating the landing of Japanese immigrants, located in Santos, where is the starting point of Japanese immigration to Brazil. (Brazil)

Class at Kyoko Oti Education Center, operated by Nikkei people in Belém. (Brazil)

Health lecture at Yasuragi Center, an elderly welfare facility. (Dominican Republic)

Human Resource Development for Japanese Migrants’ Descendants

■ Training Programs for Nikkei Communities (Training Courses for Nikkei Society / Nikkei Supporters)
In order to cooperate in nation-building of the partner countries and promotes cross-border exchanges, JICA accepts trainees (not limited to Nikkei individuals) for the training courses that are based on proposals from Japanese local governments, universities, public-interest corporations, NGOs, and private companies.
Application Guidelines, Forms, and Contact Information of Overseas Offices & Deadlines List for the program in 2026 are in preparation.
The information (Spanish) will be posted here as soon as it is ready.
*Applicants from Brazil, please visit the JICA Brazil office website.

■Program for Developing Leaders in Nikkei Communities
JICA supports Nikkei individuals studying at Japanese graduate schools to develop future leaders for Nikkei communities.
・Overview of the Graduate School Scholarship: Program for Developing Leaders in Nikkei Communities
・JICA Nikkei Leaders Program（Facebook）

■Nikkei Next Generation Development Training programs
JICA conducts programs that invite descendants of Japanese migrants to visit Japan for school experiences and homestays, for deepening their understanding of Japanese culture and society, and for fostering Nikkei identity, and nurturing future leaders.

  • For junior high school students
  • For high school students
  • For university students

Application Guidelines, Forms, and Contact Information of Overseas Offices & Deadlines List for the program in 2027 are in preparation.
The information will be posted here as soon as it is ready.
*Applicants from Brazil, please visit the JICA Brazil office website.

Support for Nikkei Communities

Volunteers for Nikkei Community (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers)
As technical cooperation and activation support for the Nikkei community, as well as the development of the partner countries through the Nikkei community, JICA dispatches Japanese citizens as volunteers to the Nikkei communities. The volunteers live with immigrants and Japanese descents in the communities, and cooperate in areas such as Japanese language education, health, and welfare.

Collaboration with Nikkei Communities

Partnerships Between Nikkei Communities and Japanese Private Sectors
Dispatch of Business Missions for Collaboration with Nikkei Communities in Latin America
To promote partnerships between Nikkei communities and Japanese companies, JICA dispatches business missions to Latin American and the Caribbean Nikkei communities. As a result, some companies have begun utilizing JICA’s private-sector partnership programs, volunteer schemes, and Training Programs for Nikkei Communities.

Dissemination of Knowledge on Overseas Migration

Japanese Overseas Migration Museum
In 2002, the Japanese Overseas Migration Museum was established in Yokohama with the aim of promoting a deeper public understanding of the history of Japanese overseas migration and of migrants and people of Japanese descent.
The museum provides permanent exhibitions on the history of overseas migration and Japanese communities abroad, organizes special exhibitions on a wide range of themes, disseminates information through its website, and conducts research and scholarly studies.
Japanese Overseas Migration Museum

Japanese Migrant Support

Support in the countries where Japanese migrated to
For the purpose of supporting migrants settle and stabilize their lives, JICA provides grants for projects such as operating clinics in migrant communities, mobile medical services, elderly welfare programs, and Japanese language teacher training.

Migration Loans and Settlement-Related Operations
New loans to migrants and Nikkei organizations ended in FY2005; only debt collection is currently conducted.