Last month, I received an unexpected request from a contact at the Directorate General of Teacher and Educational Personnel, the Ministry of Education of Indonesia: “Please help us find schools in Japan, from pre-school to upper secondary, for a bilateral comparative study”.

At the time, I honestly thought it might be impossible. Japan is known for its privacy, and with just three weeks until the visit, the challenge seemed too crazy. Even the Education Attaches at the Embassy in Tokyo were sceptical about pulling this off. But, of course, I agreed to take it on.

After days of emails, calls, and a bit of persistence, I finally secured two schools willing to cooperate. One was a private kindergarten in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and the other, a private primary and secondary school in Yamato, Kanagawa.

Accompanied by five representatives from the Directorate General, we were warmly welcomed and treated to the very best of Japanese hospitality. Our discussions focused on topics like teacher wellbeing, career development, employment practices, and capacity building. We also had the chance to tour the school facilities and observe various teaching and learning activities.

A huge thank you to both schools for their cooperation and incredible hospitality. There is so much to learn from Japan’s educational philosophy, and I am hopeful these exchanges will benefit both countries. Looking forward to future opportunities to contribute to strengthening Indonesia-Japan bilateral relations.