WESTERN BALKANS/JAPAN – Are you intrigued by Japanese culture? Would you like to immerse yourself in a 7-day cultural experience that lets you delve deeper into it? The good news awaits you.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) are excited to collaborate for the sixth consecutive year to bring you the highly anticipated youth exchange program “Western Balkans meet Japan: A Bridge into the Future”. Taking place from 13-19 February 2026, 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 3–10 December, 13 young people from the Western Balkans joined the MIRAI Program in Japan, selected through a competitive process among nearly 400 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 old or older on arrival in Japan.
- 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:
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To learn more about previous youth exchanges, please click the following buttons:
MIRAI PROGRAM 2018 or MIRAI PROGRAM 2019 or MIRAI PROGRAM 2022 or MIRAI PROGRAM 2023-2024 and MIRAI PROGRAM 2024-2025.
Deadline for applications is 15 October 2025 at 23h59 CET Time. Only selected participants will be notified, expected by mid-November.
Contact point:
Flutura Brakaj
Local program Officer, RYCO LBO in Albania
flutura.brakaj@rycowb.org
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