Japan will promote its language in ASEAN member states by sending about 3,000 volunteers to local high schools over a seven-year period starting this year, a government source said.
The ¥10 billion project is aimed at strengthening relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations not only through economic activities, but also education and personnel exchanges.
Japan will first send about 60 volunteers to countries such as Indonesia in September to help local teachers of the Japanese language, the source said Monday.
The volunteers, aged between 20 and 69, won't be required to have experience as Japanese-language teachers. Each will be dispatched for a maximum of one year.