Activities

To train Japanese Language teachers.
To conduct JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) in Pune as a host institution for The Japan Foundation.
To improve quality of Japanese language teaching by organizing seminars and workshops for teachers.
To provide text book (Nihongo shoho) to the students all over India with the permission of The Japan Foundation.
To make available study material, audio cassettes and material useful for self study to students for JLPT.
To give career guidance to students of Japanese language
To recommend teachers for undergoing short term and long term training in Teaching Methodology at The Japan Foundation.

The Japan Foundation and JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)
The Japan Foundation is a widely known organization of Government of Japan. Among its various projects and activities, it also conducts JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), which has worldwide recognition. This test is held world-wide at more than 128 centers in 50 countries on same day (First Sunday in December) every year. Its objective is to evaluate and certify Japanese Language Proficiency of non-native speakers.

Before 1993, there was only one center (New Delhi) for JLPT in India. Students from Maharashtra and southern parts of India had to go all the way to New Delhi to appear for the test. The number of students studying Japanese language in southern parts of the country and particularly in Pune increased steeply in the 1980s. Considering the need for a center for JLPT in this part of the country, a group of senior Japanese language teachers in Pune, led by a veteran teacher Ms. Michiko Tendulkar took tireless efforts to start a center for JLPT in Pune, with a strong encouragement from Dr. Govind Damale, the then Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, University of Pune, and Japanese language teachers Dr. Hari Damle and Dr. V. N. Kinkar. Special thanks are due to Honorable Mr. H. Nakajima, the then Counsel, Information and Culture, from Consulate General of Japan, Mumbai, for his valuable guidance and support.

This turned out to be a great convenience for the students from Maharashtra and southern parts of India, which is reflected in the fact that in 1993, about 375 students had appeared for JLPT from Pune center and the number grew enormously up to about 2600 in the recent test.

Japanese language Text books

A) Nihongo Shoho (日本語初歩)
Earlier, Japanese language textbooks were not available in India and students had to buy textbooks from Japan, which was very difficult. JALTAP pursued the issue with The Japan Foundation and The Japan Foundation kindly granted the copyright to print and sell the textbook Nihongo Shoho in India. Over the last 16 years, JALTAP has sold thousands of copies of this text book at a nominal cost all over India.

B) Other self learning material
Some of the senior teachers have written Japanese textbooks for self learning. JALTAP has also supported distribution of these books, this includes:
1) Sulabh Japani Vyakaran (सुलभ जपानी व्याकरण) Part I and II by Dr. V. N. Kinkar
2) Sulabh Japani (सुलभ जपानी) by Mr. A. B. Soman

C) Study material for JLPT and JETRO
JALTAP makes available study material like audio cassettes, paper sets, supporting material for JLPT and JETRO examinations.