Please note that the deadline for an application for the German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum 2020 on "Designing a Prosperous Aging Society: The Perspective of the Young" expired in spring 2020 and the program was postponed to fall 2023. New applications are expected to be possible in spring 2024.

It will provide young prospective leaders from Germany and Japan with the chance to discuss the political, economic, and social dimensions of demographic change, the question of how to deal with its impact on younger generations in particular, and, moreover, how the young in return can make a difference in a society of many old people.

Since 2006, the German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum intends to inspire the next generation of future leaders to contribute to the relations between Germany and Japan. Young prospective leaders from various professions are invited to expose themselves to an intercultural setting, to address politically and socially relevant issues, to deepen mutual understanding by working together, and to build valuable contacts. The program aims at establishing sustainable networks that will both strengthen and further vitalize the future cooperation between both countries.
During the ten-day forum, renowned speakers from business, politics, administration, the media, and the academic world are invited to share and discuss their theories and viewpoints with the participants. Specific problems will be discussed in mixed working groups with German and Japanese participants in order to facilitate lively communication among group members, to enhance intercultural and interdisciplinary team spirit, and to further develop organizational skills.  The program also offers visits to selected institutions.
The summer school aims at making the participants reflect current and future developments in Germany and Japan in their global context, gain understanding for different points of views, and develop new approaches to find solutions together for the challenges that Germany and Japan face alike. During the alumni conference at the end of the forum the participants have the chance to establish additional contact with alumni from previous years.

Program

The German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum is coordinated 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.  in 2023 and supported by other institutions. The program covers all basic expenditure, such as costs for travel, accommodation, meals, transport, etc. The annual program is held alternately in Germany or Japan. The program is entirely conducted  in English language.

Target group & Application

Each year, a large number of internationally active private corporations and public institutions recommend their promising young staff members to the program. Among those recommended, 16 talented young professionals – eight German and eight Japanese – are carefully selected. Intentionally, the professional backgrounds in each group are highly diverse, ranging from business, politics, administration, and the media to the academic world. Applicants should be between 25 to 35 years old. Fluency in English is required.
Young Leaders who would like to apply for the program on their own initiative are invited to contact us directly. All applicants are required to submit the application form (provided upon request), a curriculum vitae, and a letter of recommendation by their current or most recent employer. All documents must be written in English.
The selection committee will carefully review each application, but also consider the professional diversity of the group. Since the number of excellent applications regularly significantly exceeds the number of available vacancies, not every application can be successful.

Dates

The deadline for an application for the German-Japanese Young Leaders Forum expired in spring 2020 and the program was postponed to fall 2023. New applications are expected to be possible in spring 2024.