The next German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum will be held in Summer 2026 in Berlin.

A new call for applications is expected to be announced in due course.

Objectives and Program

Young prospective leaders from various fields are invited to participate in a ten-day program to address politically and socially relevant issues, to deepen mutual understanding by working together, and to build long-lasting friendship among the participants, which will further and strengthen cooperation between both countries. Top-level speakers from diverse fields are invited to share and discuss their theories and viewpoints with the participants. Specific developments in Germany and Japan will be reflected in their global context and new approaches to finding solutions will be discussed by participants, e.g. in mixed working groups. The program, alternating annually between Germany and Japan, also offers visits to various institutions. During the alumni conference at the end of the forum the participants have the chance to establish additional contact with alumni from previous years.

Applicant Eligibility

Each year, a large number of private corporations and public institutions is requested to recommend their promising young team members to the program. Applicants should be between 25 to 35 years old. Fluency in English is required. Among those recommended, 16 talented young professionals – eight German and eight Japanese – are carefully selected, so that the professional diversity of the group is secured.

Topic

The topic of the 17th German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum will be announced in due course.

Funding and Expenditure

The German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum is planned and realized by the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB). It is funded by Daido Life Insurance Company, the Mori Manufacturing Research and Technology Foundation, the Yamaoka Memorial Foundation, YANMAR Holdings Co., Ltd., and Yuasa M&B Co., Ltd. While the program covers all basic expenditure, such as travel costs, accommodation, meals, etc., additional financial support from the applicants’ affiliations are greatly appreciated.

Application

Information about the application process will be announced in due course.

All applicants are required to submit the application form, a curriculum vitae, and a letter of recommendation by their current employer. All documents must be written in English.