Overview of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, Japanese Language Institute

History
Message from the Director
What is the IEC?
What is Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin?

History

Aug 1948	The International Education and Cultural Association authorized by the then Ministry of Education.
Jun 1953	The International Education and Cultural Association changed name to the International Education Center (IEC).
Jun 1960	IEC held the 1st International Speech Contest in Japanese. The Contest has been held annually and broadcast on NHK.
Jul 1964	IEC resumed the present series of the Japan America Student Conference (first begun in 1934; suspended during wartime).
Sep 1967	The Japanese Language Institute (JLI) founded.
Jul 1995	The University of Chicago began offering its Master of Arts Program in Humanities at IEC (until Dec 2003).
Apr 2004	Takashi Oi, President of IEC-Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, became Chair of IEC’s Board of Trustees.
Apr 2008	IEC’s new building completed.
Oct 2008	Takashi Oi became President of JLI.
Nov 2010	All Japan Teachers’ English Speech Contest resumed.
Nov 2010	The 65th Anniversary of Foundation of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin held.
Apr 2012	The International Education Center authorized anew by the Cabinet Office.
Oct 2014	"NIHONGO EXPRESS Practical Conversation in Japanese <Basic1>"　Published
Oct 2015	"NIHONGO EXPRESS Practical Conversation in Japanese <Basic2>"　Published
Jan 2016	Moved to Yotsuya temporary school building for redevelopment of Yotsuya station area.
Nov 2016	"Hito o Ugokasu! Jissen Bijinesu Nihongo Kaiwa Chukyu 1" Published
Jul 2017	"Hito o Ugokasu! Jissen Bijinesu Nihongo Kaiwa Chukyu 2" Published
Feb 2020	Moved into COMORE YOTSUYA Global Study Square when the COMORE YOTSUYA was completed.

Message from the Director

Our mission is to help individuals and corporations from all over the world to acquire Japanese language skills that will assist them in business as well as in daily life.

Over the years, the number of Japanese-language learners has been sharply increasing, in part due to the increased number of Japanese companies operating overseas. To serve the needs of those learners, the Japanese Language Institute (JLI) was founded in 1967. For over half a century, JLI has been teaching business and practical Japanese to individual and corporate clients. We have helped over 9,000 students from more than 90 countries to improve their Japanese skills.

Students who study at our language institute go on to bridge the cultural divide between their home countries and Japan. They play an active role in business, research, cultural exchange, and more. Not only in Japan, but also across the world, they are making contributions in our increasingly fast-paced and globalizing society.

Since October 2014, we have updated our curriculum to include four new original textbooks: NIHONGO EXPRESS Basic 1 & 2, and Jissen Bijinesu Nihongo Kaiwa Intermediate 1 & 2, published by Ask Corporation and 3A Corporation respectively. With these original textbooks, we strive to offer even more effective and useful classes.

In addition to language education, the International Education Center (IEC) – the parent organization of JLI – is actively involved in promoting activities for international exchange and cross-cultural understanding. One such activity is the International Speech Contest in Japanese, which celebrated its 62nd session in 2021 and is co-sponsored by the Japan Foundation and backed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. Begun in 1960, this annual event provides contestants from all over the world with the opportunity to express themselves in Japanese in front of a large audience. The contest aims to raise awareness about Japan’s role in the global community. It is nationally broadcast by the NHK every year.

IEC and JLI are dedicated to meeting the needs of our students by providing practical Japanese language education of the highest quality.

Konno Yō
Director of the Japanese Language Institute
IEC Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin

Profile:
Serving as Executive Director of the Japan-America Student Conference (JASC)

Academic qualifications:
Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS), Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
BA in Economics, Keio University, Tokyo Japan

What is the IEC?

“IEC” is an acronym of the International Education Center, the English name of our organization.

International Education Center

The IEC was established in April 1947 under the name of the International Education and Cultural Association, later changed to the IEC (the International Education Center). In August 1948, the IEC was authorized as a non-profit organization (Zaidan Hojin) by the Ministry of Education and later moved under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In April 2012, the IEC was authorized anew as a general incorporated foundation (Ippan Zaidan Houjin) by the Cabinet Office. Ever since its foundation 75 years ago, the IEC has been promoting International education and cross-cultural understanding and engaging in language education both in English and Japanese.

Promoting International Education and Cross-Cultural Understanding

The IEC organizes “Japan-America Student Conference” (since 1934) , “International Speech Contest in Japanese” broadcast by NHK (since 1960), “Seminar on English Teaching Methods” designed for junior and senior high school teachers, “Princess Takamado English Essay Contest Japan Office”, and so on. These programs and events enjoy the backing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology, the Embassy of the United States, etc.

Language Education: English, Japanese, etc.

The IEC has been operating Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin which offers elementary to highly advanced English education, such as professional interpreter training, since its foundation in 1945, and the Japanese Language Institute (JLI), which offers Japanese education for adult foreigners, since 1967.

What is Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin?

Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin is an English language school tailored for the training of individuals wishing to acquire authentic English in globalized society. The Japanese Language Institute (JLI) was founded in 1967 as the Japanese training division of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.

Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin since 1945

Since its foundation in 1945, Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin has been offering diversified English training programs such as English Conversation, Practical Business English, Interpreter Training and so on, for employees from government organizations, private companies and other adult learners.

The Japanese Language Institute – JLI – since 1967

Meeting once a week to 5 days a week, the JLI offers diversified practical Japanese training programs for all contexts both in the office and in day-to-day life. The JLI’s target learners are business people, company trainees, expatriate families, people married to Japanese spouses and other adult foreigners studying Japanese language and culture.