Irish students will be able to get visas allowing them to take working holidays in Japan under the terms of a new agreement struck by the Republic and the east Asian country yesterday.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, yesterday announced details of a new Ireland-Japan working holiday programme agreed between the two countries this week.

The agreement is an initiative by both the Irish and Japanese governments and aims to give young people from both states an opportunity to work in each others' countries while on extended holidays of up to one year.

The programme will begin on January 1st, 2007. Under its terms, Irish young people will be able to travel to Japan and work there for a period of up to one year.

Japanese people will be able to travel to the Republic and work here for a period of up to one year.

The visa is limited to one year and will apply to citizens of both countries aged between 18 and 25. There will be no limit to on the numbers of people who can apply to take part in the programme.

Participants will be allowed to take short-term work to supplement their living expenses, a department statement said yesterday.

They will have to be able to show that they have enough means to support themselves in the initial stages of their visit and will be required to hold medical insurance for the duration of their stay in each country.

In common with Irish people, many Japanese hold private medical insurance.

Anyone interested in taking part can apply via the Japanese Embassy in Dublin.

Japanese applicants will go through the Irish Embassy in Tokyo.

The Minister announced the deal in Tokyo yesterday in the course of a week-long trade mission to Japan and China.

Announcing details of the agreement, Mr Martin pointed out that young Irish people have a range of options allowing them to travel to and work in Japan.

"The FÁS graduate programme provides placements for Irish graduates in major Japanese companies," he said. "The JET programme gives people a chance to teach English in schools throughout Japan.

"The working holiday programme will now give young people an opportunity to take long holidays while working and travelling in Japan."