Over these past 70 years, close to 10,000 Japanese and American young studentsand scholars have made reciprocal visits under the Fulbright Program. Learning and researching together, they have gained invaluable opportunities for deepening mutual understanding and sharing common values through the exchanges. Many of Fulbright alumni called “Fulbrighters”have gone on to playactive and leading roles in a wide range of fields extending to politics, business, education, science, academia, government and so on, includingNobel Laureates. They have contributed greatly to the building of the mature and trustfulJapan-U.S.relationship.

There have been trying periods during this long 70-year history, particularly during these past two years when visitsbetween Japan and the United States were forced to be suspendeddue to the COVID-19pandemic. However,even under these difficult circumstances, the founding belief of the Fulbright Program in the importance of people-to-peopleexchanges has never changed. Thanks to the strong zealand effortsof thehighly motivatedstudents, scholars, and the Secretariat, these exchanges have been promptly resumed and are again contributing to the even strongerties between thetwo countries.

In recent years, the international community has been facing numerous challenges, making Japan’s relationship with the United States, with which it shares basic values, even more importantfor global peace, security, and prosperity. Both Japan and the U.S.have affirmed that our partnership is stronger and deeper than ever before. We expect that the Fulbright Program will play a greater role in fosteringtheleaders ofthe next generation in both our countries.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) continues to support the Fulbright Program proactively with guidance and cooperation from you alland contribute to the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. relationship.