The international youth exchange program of the Cabinet Office originally started in 1959 when it implemented the Japanese Youth Goodwill Mission Program which the then Prime Minister Kishi had proposed personally in order to commemorate the marriage of H.M. the Emperor, who was at that time the Crown Prince.

In 1967, the Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise Program started as one of the projects to commemorate the Centennial of the Meiji Restoration. Both the Japanese Youth Goodwill Mission Program and the Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise Program gave a big dream and hope to the youth of Japan since the government would take the initiative to send the youth overseas at the time when it was still very difficult for them to go aboard on their own.

Due to the recent expansion of the international role of Japan and the remarkable advancement in internationalization in various fields all over the world, the improvement of the contents of international youth exchange programs of the Cabinet Office has been found necessary in order to cope with such a changing social environment. Firstly, therefore, the Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise Program was reorganized and upgraded to the Ship for World Youth Program in 1988. The main objective of the former program, which was sending Japanese youth overseas, was changed, so that the exchange between Japanese and foreign youth became one of the main activities. The contents also became more academic through the introduction of activities such as discussions and seminars.

The purpose of the Ship for World Youth program is to broaden the global view of the Japanese youth, to promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japanese and foreign youth as well as to cultivate the spirit of international cooperation and the competence to practice it, and furthermore to foster the youths with capability of showing leadership in various area of international society.

In addition, this program aims at establishing networks and promoting joint activities among youths around the world through providing, as the concrete and practical opportunity, the cohabitation and the joint activity on the board of the Ship for World Youth, which is the epitome of international society with wide variety of cultures and ideas, to make an visible international contribution from the perspective of human resource development.

Each country has an association for alumni participating youth, founded for the purpose of continuing the spirit that was fostered through the Ship for World Youth (SWY) program. The basic structure of the organization begins with the President (1 person), Vice Presidents (2 people), and E-mail Recipients (2 people) who are responsible for electronic information exchange. The main activities of the SWYAAs include, but are not limited to, updating

contact information for members, planning and managing post-program activities such as those that contribute to society in their country, strengthening ties with Japanese Embassies and the Government of Japan, as well as supporting future participants of the program.

The program is run each year by the Cabinet Office in Japan. They are responsible for organising the whole program and inviting various countries to participate.

Each year the Japanese Government invites the governments of some 11 - 15 other countries to send delegations. The participating countries usually change each year. Generally there is a mix of countries from various regions of the world.

Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Columbia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Fiji
Finland
Germany
Greece
Hungary
India
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Mauritius
Mexico
Morocco
Nepal
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Qatar
Russia
Western Samoa
Senegal
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Tanzania
Tonga
Tunisia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
United States of America
Venezuela
Yemen

To apply for the Indian Delegation, applicants must be;

Indian Citizens

Age 18 - 30 for participating youth

Age 30 - 39 for National Leader

Each year the Japanese Government invites the governments of some 11 - 15 other countries to send delegations. The participating countries usually change each year. Generally there is a mix of countries from various regions of the world.

Each year the Japanese Government invites the governments of some 11 - 15 other countries to send delegations. The participating countries usually change each year. Generally there is a mix of countries from various regions of the world.

Each year the Japanese Government invites the governments of some 11 - 15 other countries to send delegations. The participating countries usually change each year. Generally there is a mix of countries from various regions of the world.