Asia KAKEHASHI Project + (Plus)

What is Asia Kakehashi Project +?

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe created this initiative to strengthen relations between Japan and the rest of Asia, KAKEHASHI (Japanese for “Building Bridges”), provides full scholarships for 1,000 Asian high school students to study in Japan’s public and private high schools over the next five years. Together with 40,000 Japanese teens, these students will improve their global competence skills and learn more about each other’s countries.

It is a full scholarship funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to build bridges between high school students in Japan and in Asia.
This scholarship provided opportunities for Asian high school students to study and be culturally immersed in Japan for 4 months.
Selected students will study in a Japanese high school while staying with a host family or in a school dormitory.
The other main goal of this program is to expose Asia high school students to Japanese culture, local communities, and industries and as well as Japanese high school students to Asian students.

MEMO

Name of Program: Asia KAKEHASHI Project
Country: Japan
Program Type: Government Fully-Funded Scholarship
Program Duration: 4 months
Program Start Date: November 2023
Program End Date: March 2024
Placement: Japanese High School and Host Family
Deadline of Application: June 27, 2023

Note: Program dates are subject to change

Asia KAKEHASHI Project (Memorandum for 2023-24)

To all interested applicants, apply through this link: AFS Global Link.

AFS PHI will hold an information session on June 13, 17, and 20, 2023 from 5 pm to 6 pm, to discuss how to send your accomplished application requirements for the program. If you are interested to join, please click this link: AKP + 2023 Info Session

The application has ended. See the results below.

Requirements

Accomplished AFS Global Link Online Application Form. Online application link. When creating an online application form make sure students apply for the Asia Kakehashi Project/Kakehashi Project
Recent 2×2 ID size photo with white background attached to the application form
Signed Certification and Consent Form by a parent or legal guardian.
Photocopy of Authenticated PSA Birth Certificate
Photocopy of most recent Form 137 or transcript of records from your Philippine high school.
Photocopy of valid or government ID. School ID is accepted.
Please take note that application forms with INCOMPLETE information and requirements will not be accepted.

Apply here!

Eligibility

Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines, at the time of application, selection, and preparation for travel, must have spent more than 50% of the last 5 years in the Philippines and with current family plans of returning to the Philippines after the program.
Between 15 and 18 years of age born after April 2, 2005, and before April 1, 2008.
Be among the top 25% of academic performance in grade level.
Have an equivalent of a B average or better without failing grades. Obtained a minimum of 60% marks in principle in all subjects in the latest examination at school and an overall minimum average of 60% marks in all subjects for the past two years.
Strong academic and social skills, openness, and flexibility.
Demonstrated Japanese language ability sufficient to study in a native Japanese-medium setting; must be willing to learn how to speak Japanese prior to the start of the program.
Sufficiently healthy to participate in the program.
No previous significant travel to Japan on a Japanese government-sponsored program.
Committed to cultural immersion in Japan through a homestay or dormitory experience.
Able to meet cross-cultural challenges with maturity, humor, and an open mind.
Plans to share his/her experience with his/her home and community upon return.
Note: Priority will be given to the students of families with low income

What has to be prepared by program finalists (not included in the Scholarship):

Submission Policy

All applications must be received by AFS Intercultural Programs Philippines no later than June 27, 2023.
In observance of safety protocols for CoVID-19, all applications must be submitted online.
All additional requirements stated above (Consent Form by a parent/legal guardian, PSA Birth Certificate, Form 137/Transcript of Records, and Government ID) must be scanned clearly with 100 dpi resolution, in PDF format and send it to [email protected] with an email subject format: KAKEHASHI2023-24 Application_Surname_First Name (i.e. KAKEHASHI2023-24 Application_Cruz_Maria)

Other Important Notes:

All immediate family members of AFS Philippines-administered sponsored programs scholars and alumni (ASEAN, ACCU-UNESCO, Akiko’s Wish, Egypt Educator, JENESYS, Kizuna, AFS INT Diversity, YES, PYLYP, AAI Journalism Grant, Kamenori, NEXT 50, Hiroshima, Marching J, The 1956, corporate scholarships, etc.) up to the first degree (by birth or by marriage), as well as AFS Philippines staff and board members up to the third degree (by birth or by marriage), and or those who have been granted of any Japanese Government funded scholarship are regretfully automatically disqualified from applying to this program.
Application forms with incomplete information and requirements will lead to disqualification.
AFS Philippines will only notify those selected candidates in due course.
AFS Philippines will conduct an online application information session on June 13, 17, and 20, 2023 via Zoom. Further details of Zoom ID and passcode will be posted on AFS Intercultural Programs Philippines Facebook Page (www.afs.ph)

Pre-Applications for the Asia KAKEHASHI Project will be accepted on June 12 to June 27, 2023. For more information, interested applicants may email [email protected] or visit https://www.afs.ph/kakehashi/

Thank you very much, and best wishes.

How can I apply for the program?

Answer: Download the application form from our website, and fill up the pre-application form and the essays. As for the school information section, you would need to ask your school to fill up that part and sign it as well. Afterwards, scan all the required documents (Application Form, PSA Birth Certificate, Passport and/or School ID, Form 137/Transcript of Grades) with at least 100 dpi resolution, compile it in a SINGLE PDF file, and send it to [email protected].

Can I input my answers directly into the form?

I do not have a passport yet. Can I still submit my application?

My passport is expired. Can I input the details of the expired passport?

Our school did not issue a school ID this year, and I do not have any other valid ID. What should I do?

I transferred to a new school this year, which school should I write in the school information part?

I cannot go to our school because of the community quarantine guidelines in our area, can I submit my form without the signature of the school administrator?

My school does not issue a Form 137. Can I submit my report card/transcript of grades?

Can I submit my NSO Birth Certificate?

I’m currently in Grade 10. Will I go straight into Grade 12 upon return to the Philippines after the program?

My birthday is April 1, 2005, can you reconsider my application for the program?

My parents are exempted from paying the taxes, what should I do about the ITR Requirement?

Final Selection Results

Final Qualifiers for 2023-2024

Finalists

#	Last Name	First Name	School
1	Kawamata	Ashlee Haruka	National University – Laguna
2	Meñeza	Frederick	Concepcion L. Cazeñas Memorial School
3	Miranda	Meryll Fiona	General Santos Hope Christian School

Alternates

#	Last Name	First Name	School
1	Alarcon	Shanessa Andrea	Salvacion National High School
2	Belarmino	Jade Zianaya	San Pablo City Science Integrated School
3	Rama	Dizzeus Leira	Kidapawan City National High School

Alternates are reserved candidates that may be advanced as finalists should one of the finalists have trouble in passing requirements, have been disqualified, and/or decided to back out.

Check the full memo here.