The Japan Foundation is committed to various cultural initiatives aimed at deepening knowledge of Japan abroad and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and other countries. We believe it is crucial that our work, including our commitment to Japanese education, continues in a way that fosters mutual understanding, especially when it involves international cultural exchanges. The textbook "Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture" for adult learners of Japanese as a foreign language was developed based on this philosophy.
"Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture" is based on the JF Standards for Japanese Language Teaching and is designed with an emphasis on using Japanese to communicate and on understanding and respecting other cultures. Furthermore, the textbook's content and approach are designed to ensure students enjoy learning the language and culture, even when they are not in Japan.
Each topic in "Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture" features situations in which people from diverse cultural backgrounds interact in Japanese. You can experience various aspects of Japanese culture through photos and illustrations, while listening to a range of natural conversations that occur in each situation. We would be delighted if this book would help people around the world become fully acquainted with the language and culture of Japan, as well as with the people who actually live in this culture and speak it.