On November 4 , Ambassador Kitagawa Katsuro attended the opening ceremony of the Preparatory Japanese Language Training (PJLT) for the 19th Batch of Filipino Candidates for Nurse and Certified Careworker under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

In his remarks, Ambassador KITAGAWA highlighted JPEPA as a symbolic initiative of cooperation between Japan and the Philippines, and expressed that people-to-people exchanges under this agreement would serve as a catalyst to further strengthen bilateral relations. Furthermore, sharing his own experiences of learning Filipino since assuming his post in September 2026, Ambassador Kitagawa emphasized that learning other languages is beneficial in understanding the people better and fostering close ties with each other. He then encouraged the candidates to make every effort in their Japanese language studies.

The ceremony, held online, was also attended by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) National Language Skills Center Administrator Mitzi G. Samson-Endriano; Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc. (NCF) President Philip B. Sanvictores; Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) Director Suzuki Ben; and Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS) Managing Director Kataoka Yoshikazu.

The 198 candidates will undergo six (6) months of training to learn the Japanese language, culture, and social etiquette in preparation for their departure for Japan. The training will be conducted online for 121 candidates and in person for 77 candidates. Upon arrival in Japan, the candidates will undergo another six (6) months of Japanese language training before taking up their respective assignments at hospitals and caregiving facilities. Both training programs are free of charge as part of the government-to-government deployment scheme under JPEPA.

The candidates will aim to pass Japan’s national examination for nurses or certified careworkers while acquiring skills through their employment at Japanese healthcare facilities.　Candidates who eventually pass the examination may further advance their employment status in Japan beyond the initial period under the JPEPA program.

For future announcements and information about the program, interested applicants may visit the official website of the DStory epartment of Migrant Workers: https://www.dmw.gov.ph/