WESTERN BALKANS/JAPAN – Are you interested in learning about peacebuilding in Japan to help build a brighter future for the Western Balkans? This 7-day cultural and academic program is the perfect opportunity for you!
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) are excited to collaborate for the seventh consecutive year to bring you the highly anticipated youth exchange program “Western Balkans meet Japan: A Bridge into the Future”. Taking place from 20-26 January 2027, this program welcomes 13 undergraduate or graduate students aged 20 years old or older, coming from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to apply for a great opportunity of personal and professional growth.
Western Balkans meet Japan: A Bridge into the Future is a youth exchange program, organized under the MIRAI Program since 2018, aiming to deepen participants’ understanding of Japan and its policy, promote mutual understanding and reconciliation through intellectual and cultural exchange, and build a basis for future friendship and cooperation between Japan and the Western Balkans.
During last year’s exchange program, from 13–19 February 2026, 13 young people from the Western Balkans joined the MIRAI Program in Japan, selected through a competitive process among over 1000 applicants. Through visits to key institutions like JICA HQ, Sophia University, and the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, participants explored Japan’s approaches to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and global cooperation. The program blended academic discussions, cultural exchange, and emotional reflection, offering a transformative experience that deepened participants’ understanding of intercultural dialogue and conflict resolution. This once-in-a-lifetime journey created lasting connections and empowered participants to become active promoters of peace in their communities.
Eligible applicants:
- Being a currently enrolled student in an undergraduate or graduate program and aged 20 years+ at the time of application.
- Living in one of the Western Balkans societies and holding a passport issued by one of the WB6 (Applicants who have Japanese nationality are NOT eligible).
- Having a good command of English.
- Being motivated to disseminate information on Japan’s attractions through various communication tools, good academic achievements and social activism.
- Neither having participated in exchange or similar program(s) by the Government of Japan nor having lived in Japan.
- Respecting the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation in the Western Balkans.
- Having a valid passport.
- Applicants with demonstrated ties to Japan, whether through previous studies, cultural activities, or related experience, will be considered an asset
- Desirable that applicants have a proven track record in the fields of dealing with the past, reconciliation, regional cooperation and/or intercultural learning.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro also need to apply for a visa to participate in the program. The organizers will inform the selected participants of the application process once decided.
Costs:
Round trip international air tickets to Japan by economy class, overseas travel, accident insurance, accommodation and transportation in Japan, meals during the program, and admission fees for scheduled activities in Japan are covered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (Participants shall pay their personal expenses, including passport, visa acquisition, vaccination, excess baggage charge, travel expenses between their home and the designated airport, and purchase of souvenirs/personal goods before or during the program).
Read the full overview of the program and check if you are eligible to apply by clicking the following button:
Frequently Asked Questions about the MIRAI Program 2026–2027
Please fill out the form below in order to submit your application:
To learn more about previous youth exchanges, please click the following buttons:
- MIRAI PROGRAM 2018
- MIRAI PROGRAM 2019
- MIRAI PROGRAM 2022
- MIRAI PROGRAM 2023-2024
- MIRAI PROGRAM 2024-2025
- MIRAI PROGRAM 2025-2026
Deadline for applications is August 31st 2026 at 23h59 CET Time. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview in September. Only selected participants will be notified, expected by mid-October.
Contact point:
| Nadira Ćurulija
Local program Officer, RYCO LBO in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Please note: Only inquiries regarding clarifications of the application process will be replied to. Given the high number of applications, we regret that individual requests about selection or non-selection cannot be addressed.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence