TWENTY-five young Jamaicans who will this year be participating in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) were treated to a send-off party at the St Andrew residence of the Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica Yasuo Takase last Friday night.

“This year’s group holds special meaning, given the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries,” Ambassador Takase said.

Gregory Gordon, who provided the night’s entertainment and who is himself an alumni of the programme, also recognised the significance of the 2014 group.

“When I first went to Japan on the JET programme, there were only 13 of us. Now that’s almost doubled and the level of the Japanese I heard tonight is amazing,” he said.

The 25 are Aneika Angus, Nikkisha Baugh, Tia Braham, Craig Dixon, Nneka Gaynor, Mario Grant, Audley Green, Sania Green, Janiel Hazle, Jody-Ann Hines, Leveth Jackson, Ashford Kerr, Roxann Lawrence, Prudence Marson, Temu Moore, Marc Mundy, Rodney Newby, Rochelle Robinson, Kenrick Sharpe, Jessica Silvera, Kerrian Thompson, Tamla Walker, Nicola Williams, Kadeen Wright and Seccola Youton.

They will depart for Tokyo on July 26 and will spend a minimum of one year as assistant English language teachers (ALT) across Japan.

Started in 1987, JET offers college and university graduates the opportunity to serve in local government organisations as well as various school settings. The programme facilitates cultural and language exchange between the participating countries and Japan.

— Rory Daley

The 2014 crop of Jamaican participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme pause for a photo op with ambassador of Japan to Jamaica Yasuo Takase (seated, second right), his wife Sayoko Takase (seated, second left), and two of their guests at the JET send-off at the ambassador’s residence, Friday night. (PHOTO:RORY DALEY)