FORTY-SEVEN Filipinos were selected to be part of the 2022 Japan Exchange and Teaching program.

The Japanese Embassy in Manila said the Filipino participants this year are composed of 46 Assistant Language Teachers and one Coordinator for International Relations.

ALTs will work in public or private schools, or local boards of education in the prefecture or municipality where they will be assigned. They will assist in classes led by Japanese English teachers.

During a send-off reception last month, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa congratulated the 47 Filipinos.

“Promoting mutual trust and internationalization, participants become cultural ambassadors that bridge Japan to their home nations. Filipino JETs do so well in this aspect, consistently paving avenues for stronger linkages between Japan and the Philippines,” Koshikawa said in his speech.

The Embassy said Filipino JET participants increased to 250 since it started in 2014.

The JET Programme was launched by the Japanese government in 1987 to deepen mutual understanding between the people of Japan and those of other countries through foreign language exchange and cultural immersion.

As of 2019, 5,761 participants from 57 countries have been admitted to the program.