Japan Urges Indonesian Scholarship Recipients to Strengthen Cultural Ties

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Japan is encouraging a new cohort of Indonesian recipients of Japanese scholarships to act as cultural bridges, using their studies abroad to strengthen ties and to deepen mutual understanding between the two countries.

The call was delivered by Director of Information and Culture Center at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, Hoshino Daisuke, during the send-off ceremony of the scholarship recipients, held in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 25, as reported by Antara.

Fifty-eight young Indonesians have been awarded scholarships from the Japanese Government, Monbukagakusho (MEXT), for 2026. The recipients will depart for Japan to begin their studies in April and October.

These scholars, hailing from various cities across Indonesia, are expected to play a vital role in strengthening ties between Japan and Indonesia.

“As you know, Indonesia and Japan share very strong relations, both economically and culturally. Japan is one of the most popular destinations for Indonesian students pursuing education abroad,” Daisuke remarked, while bidding farewell to the 58 MEXT scholarship recipients.

He expressed hope that the scholars would serve as cultural ambassadors, introducing Indonesian traditions and heritage to Japanese society, while also building lasting connections with the Japanese people.

“At the same time, Japan has much to learn from you. Indonesia’s rich and diverse culture deserves greater recognition among the Japanese public. Therefore, I encourage each of you to act as cultural envoys, representing your country and sharing Indonesia’s culture with Japan," he added.

Daisuke emphasized that the strengthening of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Japan is rooted in people-to-people exchange. He expressed hopes the scholars will bring back valuable experiences to Indonesia, particularly in sustaining the long-term friendship between the two nations.

One of the recipients, Patrick Kurniawan, who earned a “Research Student” scholarship at Kyoto University, expressed his excitement at being admitted to his dream institution. The young man from Padang, West Sumatra, will focus his studies on Southeast Asia.

“For me, university ranking was the top priority. I applied to Kyoto University, which is among the world’s top 50, though this year it slipped to 54. Still, it remains one of the best universities in Asia. My goal is to graduate with a PhD from a world-class university, and after weighing several options, I chose Japan,” Patrick explained.

The “Research Student” program allows scholars to conduct research at Japanese graduate schools. Those who pass the university entrance examination may continue as regular master’s or doctoral students.

Established in 1954, the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship has enabled more than 100,000 students from around 160 countries to study in Japan. Recipients receive full financial support, including tuition fees, living allowances, and round-trip airfare between Indonesia and Japan.

Additionally, scholars benefit from free student visa processing and are not bound by government service obligations. Beyond the “Research Student” program, MEXT also offers undergraduate (Gakubu), college of technology (Kosen), and specialized training (Senshu) programs.

Another recipient, Ardiansyah, noted that studying in Japan would help participants better understand different values and ways of thinking. He added that international education can enhance the ability to appreciate diverse perspectives, shaping how they interact with society. ***