When Kobi Bland headed to Japan to teach English in a fishing town on the west coast of Japan, she knew she was going for more than a job. Bland was taking part in one of the world’s largest exchange programs – the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, known widely as JET.

Set up in 1987, JET has facilitated exchanges to Japan for more than 70,000 university graduates from 75 countries, including Australia. While a JET participant’s day job usually involves teaching foreign language skills to Japanese locals in schools or local government offices, it’s aim is bigger. Sponsored by the Japanese government, JET is seen as an important grassroots cultural exchange.

“You’re not just a teacher, especially if you’re in a country town. You have to be a global ambassador. I was in the local paper a couple of times, I met the mayor and had to do official business meetings,” Bland says.

Inspired to participate after her own family’s experiences hosting Japanese exchange students during her high school years, Bland’s two-year stay taught her how education is woven into Japanese society.

“The community really chips in. You’ve got teachers and Grandpa helping the kids walk to school,” she says.
Lunches were also a communal activity.

“Everyone eats the same thing every day, so grade 1 students eat the same thing as the principal. School lunch is considered a subject, so they use it to learn about nutrition every day,” Bland says.

She spent about 30 hours a week teaching and was also introduced to the clubs that Japanese teachers are required to run after hours. One favourite was soft tennis, a game invented in Japan.

“It’s basically tennis, but with air-blown rubber balls,” she says.

While the pandemic paused JET intakes for a few years, the recent removal of travel restrictions means the program is now open again (2023 applications close on November 11).