What's On

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a test for non-native speakers of Japanese which evaluates and certifies their Japanese-Language proficiency. The test takes place twice a year (July and December) in Japan and various locations around the world. Currently, it is the largest Japanese language test in the world, with approximately 1.72 million people worldwide having registered for the JLPT in 2024.

The next July JLPT will take place on Sunday, 5^th July 2026. Registration will start at each test centre from early/ mid-March.  

The July exam will be held at three test sites in the UK: SOAS University of London, the University of Leicester and King’s College London. For application opening dates and registration details, please refer to each university’s website using the links below (Please note that the JLPT is very popular and registration at each test centre will close when the test centre has reached its maximum capacity.):

×             Japan Research Centre, SOAS University of London

×             University of Leicester

×             King’s College London

Important Changes

1. Starting from 2025, examinees are not allowed to use mobile phones and other devices, including smartwatches and all camera and communication devices, until the end of the entire test, including during breaks. Examinees must turn OFF their devices until the test is completed. If the devices are turned ON during breaks, it will be considered misconduct and their test scores will be invalidated.

2. From July 2026, examinees who arrive after the set time that registration at the venue has finished will not be permitted to take the first test section. They will be permitted to enter the test room from the second test section. However, if examinees miss a section, they cannot pass the JLPT. Furthermore, since the December 2025 JLPT exams, the start time of the exam has been changed to an earlier time than previous years. Please check the new test schedule on your test centre’s website and on your test voucher, and make sure that you will be able to arrive at the venue on time for registration.

3. CEFR Levels have been added as reference information in JLPT score reports starting from the December 2025 JLPT. For details, please check here.

For more information about the test, please visit JLPT website.

Ø  Let’s Try Sample Questions! 

ハイブリッドセミナー

「ヨーロッパの日本語教師のための、日本国内の日本語教育基礎講座 」

主催：パリ日本文化会館主催　　　共催：ロンドン日本文化センター＆ローマ日本文化会館

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【日程】
2026年2月27日（金）
10:00-12:00 ハイブリッドセミナー（パリ時間　オンラインZoom　対面会場：パリ日本文化会館）
12:00-13:00 アフタートーク（対面のみ・会場：パリ日本文化会館　限定15名）

【講師紹介・メッセージ】
神吉宇一（かみよし ういち）（武蔵野大学グローバル学部教授、武蔵野大学学外学修推進センター長 ）
専門は日本語教育政策、地域日本語教育。社会人の始まりは小学校教員、その後、さまざまな職を経て2013年から大学教員に。 元日本語教育学会副会長、元文化審議会国語分科会委員、その他国や自治体の委員等多数の実績あり。主な著書・訳書『ことばの教育と平和』（2023年 明石書店）、『日本語学習は本当に必要か』（2024年 明石書店）、『一歩進んだ日本語教育概論』（2024年 大阪大学出版会）、『よい教育研究とはなにか』（ガートビースタ著 2024年 明石書店）。『現代日本語教育ハンドブック』（2025年 大修館書店）。2021年度日本語教育学会学会賞、2021年度日本語教育学会学会活動貢献賞。 

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【セミナー内容】

現在、日本は特定技能ビザや育成就労制度などで外国人就労者の受け入れを進めており、文化庁が「日本語教育の参照枠」を策定、文科省が認定日本語教育機関制度を定め、登録日本語教員制度が開始するなど、大きな岐路に立っています。ヨーロッパの日本語教師にとっては、現在のところ直接的な影響はありませんが、グローバル化が進み、オンラインで授業を行うことができるようになっている今、いずれはその影響を受けると考えられます。 本セミナーでは、日本の日本語教育政策にも深く関わってきた武蔵野大学の神吉宇一氏を講師として迎え、日本の現在の日本語教育の動向を解説していただき、今後のヨーロッパの日本語教育への影響を考えます。 

【言語】日本語

【形式】ハイブリッド　ZOOM＆体面

【費用】無料

【お申し込み締め切り】　2026年2月25日（水）

【お申込み】こちらから

【主催】国際交流基金パリ日本文化会館

【共催】国際交流基金ロンドン日本文化センター・ローマ日本文化会館

【セミナーに関するお問い合わせ先】kenshu@mcjp.fr 

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チラシのダウンロードはこちらから

Date:	27 February 2026 from 10.00am to 1.00pm
Venue:	Online event
Download 20260227ヨーロッパの日本語教師のための

We are delighted to announce that the 21^st Japanese Speech Contest for University Students Finals Day will be held on Saturday 7^th March 2026 at King's College London. 

The contest is co-organised by the British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language (BATJ) and The Japan Foundation, London. It has been held annually since 2006, in order to give university students learning Japanese in the UK and Ireland a chance to demonstrate their Japanese speaking skills.

On the Finals Day, finalists will give their speeches and presentations, entirely in Japanese, to an audience consisting of members of the public, fellow students, teachers, families, key figures from the UK-Japan community and a panel of judges. In this year’s speeches and presentations, finalists will talk about various themes, including genjitsu tōhi (escapism), ichi-go- ichi-e (a Japanese idiom which translates to “once in a life time”), and social diversity.

Come along and listen to what university students studying Japanese in the UK and Ireland have to say. Everyone is welcome! This event is free to attend, but prior registration is required. The registration deadline is Wednesday, 4th March 2026 at 1pm.

Title: The 21^st Japanese Speech Contest for University Students, Finals Day

Date & Time: Saturday, 7^th March 2026   1pm – 6pm (TBC)

* The hall is located inside the university building. As there are no vending machines or cafes within the building we would recommend bringing your own bottle of water or drinks if necessary.

Venue: the Auditorium at Bush House, King’s College London (Strand Campus, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG)

* Please note that the venue is different to previous years. The auditorium is in a different building than the recent venue.

Maximum capacity: 150 people (spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended)

Fee: Free to attend but prior booking is required.

Language: Speeches and presentations will be given in Japanese. Speech summaries and abstracts of presentations will be made available in English.

Deadline for Registration: Wednesday, 4^th March 2026 at 1pm (GMT)

Download the event poster

Book here

If you would like to know more about this year’s speeches and presentations, please download the speech and presentation abstracts below.

Enquiries: speechcontest@jpf.go.jp

Organisers: The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language (BATJ) and The Japan Foundation, London

This event is supported by (in alphabetical order): British Association for Japanese Studies (BAJS), Central Japan Railway Company, Clearspring, Eikoku News Digest Ltd, E’quipe Japan, Ltd., The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Japan Airlines, Japan Association in the UK, Japan Centre, JP BOOKS, NIHON SHOKKEN HOLDINGS CO.,LTD, Nikkei Europe Limited, Ningyocho IMAHAN, Regions, Ricoh UK Limited

Date:	18 December 2025 - 7 March 2026
Download 21st Speech Contest Finals Day Poster
Download Speech Summaries & Presentation Abstracts

Do you think your Japanese level is getting rusty? Why not study Japanese online to brush up your Japanese level?

This course is for non-native-speaker-level Japanese teachers who currently teach Japanese in secondary and/or primary schools. You can improve not only your Japanese level but also your teaching skills. Moreover you can build a network among other Japanese teachers. Trainee teachers are also welcome to join. School teachers who are not currently teaching Japanese but wish to do so are also welcome. For more information, see below.

Eligibility (any one or more of the following):

• Non-native-speaker-level Japanese teachers who teach or wish to teach at secondary and/or primary schools, including teaching extra-curricular activities such as school clubs.
• PGCE students wo are aiming to become Japanese teachers.
• SCITT trainees/candidates.

Suitable Japanese Level:

JLPT N2 or CEFR B2* (if you cannot assess your own level, please contact us.)

*This is an advanced course. The intermediate course will be held from April. Please wait for a future announcement.

Schedule:

This course consists of Online Sessions and a face-to-face Final Day event. The online sessions will be held on Mondays on the dates below, followed by the Final Day event, which will be held for all level native-speaking and non-native-speaking Japanese teachers together.

Online sessions

• Time: 18:00-19:30 (90 min x 4 lessons)
• Date: Monday 26th January, 9th February, 2nd March and 16th March.

In-Person Final Day Event (TBC)

• On a Saturday in late June or in early July, London Venue, 11:00-15:00.
• Workshops in person, commendation ceremony and lunch reception.
• More detailed information will be given later. Teachers of all Japanese levels are welcome. Applications for the Final Day event will open closer to the date.

N.B. The course will take place online, but on the final day of the course we would like to hold a special face-to-face session, with special speakers, and there will be a commendation ceremony. The Japan Foundation, London will provide lunch and cover your travel expense partly for the participants of the online sessions*.

* All participants are asked to pay up to £10 of their travel expenses out of their own pocket (no reimbursement). The rest of their travel expenses will be reimbursed by The Japan Foundation, London for amounts up to £100.00. If you need to travel the day before and stay overnight the night before the Final Day event, please consult us in advance.

Course fee: Free (including all handouts)

Registration Deadline: 18th January 2026

Languages used: Japanese (All handouts will be given during the lesson.)

This course may count as 10 hours of CPD (TBC)

Course Objectives: To be able to teach A-level or IB B-standard/higher level confidently

Course Content:

• Week 1 (online): Introduction, Review of A-level specification
• Week 2 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Week 3 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Week 4 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Final Day (face-to-face) : Workshop and resource sharing

To register, please click here

Further Enquiries: Ms Hiroko Tanaka

Hiroko_Tanaka001@jpf.go.jp

Applications for JaLaChamp 2026 are now open!

JaLaChamp, or Japanese Language Championship for Young Learners UK, is a contest for primary and secondary school students studying Japanese. There are two categories - the Speech Category, where students give a speech on a theme of their choice, and the Video Category where students are asked to create an original video based on a set theme either by individual or part of a group.

We want to encourage students to share with us their thoughts and viewpoints, as well as show us their creativity in full and have fun challenging themselves by entering this contest and using their Japanese!

The speech category is aimed for secondary school students who study Japanese as a foreign language, while the video category is open to all primary and secondary school students including those who have lived in Japan and who speak Japanese at home.

The theme for the video category of JaLaChamp 2026 is 私わたし(たち)のおすすめのサンドイッチ ”My/Our Favourite Sandwiches”. You can let us know about your favourite sandwiches, ingredients and recipes or create a video based on a sandwich you think would be a popular item if it were sold in supermarket or bakeries. It can be something else, such as onigiri, sushi rolls, wraps and hamburgers.    

From 2026, all videos created by students in the video category will be made available on the Japan Foundation London’s website, allowing your work to have a wider audience!

The Finals Day is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 20^th June 2026, in London. For JaLaChamp 2026, the Finals Day will be divided into two sessions: the morning session for Primary School Video Category finalists and the afternoon session for Secondary School Speech and Video Category finalists, with both sessions to be held on the same day.

For more details, please see the application guidelines below.

Download Guidelines for Primary School Students (English)/Guidelines for Secondary School Students (English)

Download Guidelines for Primary School Students (Japanese)/Guidelines for Secondary School Students (Japanese)

Download the Consent Form for the Video Category

Application Forms and deadlines

- Speech Category Application Form (Apply by Tuesday, 3rd March 2026 at 15:00)

- Video Category Application Form (Apply by Tuesday, 10th March 2026 at 15:00)

Download the JaLaChamp 2026 poster

Date:	16 October 2025 - 10 March 2026
Download JaLaChamp 2026 Poster
Download Guideline_EN_2026_Primary
Download Guideline_EN_2026_Secondary
Download Guideline_JP_2026_Primary
Download Guideline_JP_2026_Secondary
Download JaLaChamp2026_Consent Form Video Category