The Japan Foundation is an institution dedicated to carrying out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs throughout the world.

The Japan Foundation was established in October 1972 as a special legal entity supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In October 2003, it was reorganized as an independent administrative institution.

The Japan Foundation has a global network consisting of its Tokyo headquarters, the Kyoto office, two Japanese-language institutes (the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa; and the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai) and 24 overseas offices in 23 countries, including two Asia Center liaison offices.