Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaft Tokyo

The Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaft Tokyo (JDG Tokyo; Japanese: 日独協会, Nichidoku Kyōkai) is a public interest incorporated foundation based in Tokyo and the largest of more than fifty Japanese-German societies in Japan. Its stated purpose is to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the Japanese and German peoples by promoting cultural exchange and maintaining close scientific, technological and economic ties. It is headquartered in the Shinanomachi district of Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, and operates under the supervision of the Cabinet Office (内閣府). The society traces its origins to 1911, when the pre-war Nichidoku Kyōkai was founded under the patronage of Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi, with former Prime Minister Katsura Tarō as vice patron and former Foreign Minister Aoki Shūzō as president. Suspended during the First World War, it was revived in 1926 and, after the Second World War, re-established on 22 July 1952 as a foundation that inherited the work of both the old society and the Japanisch-Deutsches Kulturinstitut. It was officially recognized as a juridical foundation in December 1953 and transitioned to public interest incorporated foundation status in October 2010. Today the JDG Tokyo runs German language courses, lectures, discussion salons, Stammtisch gatherings, cultural events and exchange programmes, and publishes the member magazine Die Brücke and the information sheet Der Brückenpfeiler. It maintains close ties with the German Embassy in Tokyo, the Goethe-Institut, the DAAD, the OAG and other German-related organizations, and serves as the chairing society of the Verband Japanisch-Deutscher Gesellschaften (VJDG), founded in 1988. As of 31 March 2025 it reported 47 corporate members and 594 individual members.

The pre-war forerunner of the Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaft Tokyo was founded at a general meeting on 30 October 1911 as the Nichidoku Kyōkai (日獨協會). Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi (1873–1929) became its first patron; Prince Katsura Tarō, general and former Prime Minister of Japan, served as vice patron; Aoki Shūzō, privy councillor and former Foreign Minister, was president; Nagai Nagayoshi was managing director; and Arthur Graf von Rex, the German ambassador, was honorary president. With the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, all German members were excluded and all activities were suspended. Activities resumed in 1926, now as a foundation, with Gotō Shimpei as president, Nagai Nagayoshi as vice president and Irisawa Tatsukichi as managing director. On 18 June 1927 the Japanisch-Deutsches Kulturinstitut was founded in Japan as a counterpart to the Japaninstitut established in Berlin in 1926. The institute was independent of the JDG but maintained close relations with it. Both organizations were dissolved in 1945. On 22 July 1952, with the resumption of diplomatic relations between Japan and Germany, the JDG Tokyo was re-founded by members of the pre-war JDG, the Japanisch-Deutsches Kulturinstitut Tokyo and others. Its purpose was defined as promoting cultural exchange and close scientific, technological and economic ties between the two peoples through mutual cooperation. The German ambassador to Japan was invited to serve as honorary chairman. On 16 December 1953 the society was recognized as a juridical foundation (財団法人) under the joint jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1988 the Verband Japanisch-Deutscher Gesellschaften (VJDG) was founded, with the JDG Tokyo as the chairing society. In October 2010 the JDG received public interest certification and registered as a public interest incorporated foundation (公益財団法人) on 13 October 2010. Since then it has continued as a central body promoting friendly relations between Japan and Germany across many fields, working closely with both governments and related organizations. Its presidents have included Kōkyo Mushanokōji (1952–1955), Ryūtarō Takahashi (1955–1965), Takayō Mitsui (1965–1984), Tsunemitsu Ueda (1984–1987), Yoshirō Maruta (1987–1995), Kōtarō Higuchi (1995–2003), Shigetaka Komori (2003–2022) and Toshiaki Higashihara (since May 2022).

• Pre-war Nichidoku Kyōkai founded at inaugural general meeting under Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi.

• All German members excluded and activities suspended due to the First World War.

• Activities resumed as a foundation with Gotō Shimpei as president.

• Japanisch-Deutsches Kulturinstitut founded in Tokyo as counterpart to the Japaninstitut in Berlin.

• Both the JDG and the Japanisch-Deutsches Kulturinstitut dissolved.

• JDG Tokyo re-founded with the resumption of Japan-Germany diplomatic relations.

• Recognized as a juridical foundation under the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Verband Japanisch-Deutscher Gesellschaften (VJDG) founded with JDG Tokyo as chairing society.

• Registered as a public interest incorporated foundation (公益財団法人).

• Toshiaki Higashihara becomes president.

Non-profit cultural exchange organization and the central coordinating body for Japanese-German friendship societies in Japan.

• German language courses

  Regular and academic German courses, including monthly enrolment options.

• Gesprächskreis Aktuelles

  Discussion circle on current affairs.

• Stammtisch

  Regular informal gatherings for members and young Japanese and Germans.

• Die Brücke

  Member magazine published monthly.

• Der Brückenpfeiler

  Association information sheet published monthly.

• Japan-German MANGA Competition

  Competition promoting manga exchange between the two countries.

1. 1日独協会 Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaftjdg.or.jp
2. 2日独協会とは | 日独協会 Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaftjdg.or.jp
3. 3協会概要 | 日独協会 Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaftjdg.or.jp
4. 4アクセス | 日独協会 Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaftjdg.or.jp
5. 5Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaft Tokyode.wikipedia.org
6. 6Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaft Tokyowikidata.org