The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is pleased to announce the final selection of participants for the 2025/2026 MIRAI Program – Western Balkans Meet Japan: A Bridge into the Future.
This year’s open call attracted 1,223 applications from across the Western Balkans. The selection procedure consisted of several steps, including eligibility screening, detailed evaluation of applications, interviews with shortlisted candidates, and assessment of applicants’ motivation and alignment with program goals.
The selected participants will take part in the official program in Japan from 13–19 February 2026.
We are delighted to present the final group representing our region in Japan:
About the Program:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) are collaborating for the sixth consecutive year on the highly anticipated youth exchange program “Western Balkans Meet Japan: A Bridge into the Future.” Organized under the MIRAI Program since 2018, the initiative aims to deepen participants’ understanding of Japan and its policies, promote mutual understanding and reconciliation through intellectual and cultural exchange, and strengthen the foundation for long-term friendship and cooperation between Japan and the Western Balkans.
Please note: We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this year’s program. While we value the high level of engagement, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback or respond to personal inquiries regarding selection or non-selection. We warmly encourage you to apply again in future editions of the program and to explore other opportunities offered by RYCO.