There are 100 Irish people in Japan on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme, all of them helping promote cultural relations between the two countries and having a good time to boot.
The programme is funded by the Japanese government and open to graduates between 18 and 40. Fifty-seven Irish graduates went off on the programme last year and it's hoped to "significantly increase" the numbers for 2002.
The majority of those selected will work as assistant language teachers (ALTs) in schools around Japan, a smaller number will work as co-ordinators for international relations (CIRs). This year too there is one Irish sports education assistant (SEA) - Michael Patton is working as an Irish rugby coach.
The closing date for this year's applications is Friday, November 30th. The process is quite lengthy so anyone interested should get cracking. Details and forms from the Embassy of Japan at Nutley Building, Merrion Centre, Nutley Lane, Dublin, 4. Telephone (01) 202 8306 or e-mail: culture@japaneseembassy.ie.
