Japan Summer Exchange Program

Dear 4-H Community:

Tennessee 4-H is gearing up for the 2025 Japan inbound exchange program. We will welcome a group of 18 Japanese students and two adult chaperones this summer through the States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs. This global citizenship experience offers Japanese students the chance to experience life in the United States, make new friends, and improve their English by staying with a 4-H family. Families will be able to expand their global perspective while opening a brand-new world to a young person from Japan. Here are the basics of what is involved…

Hosting Details:

  • Families may host a Japanese youth aged 12-18 (majority are 12-14) or an adult chaperone.
  • The hosting period is approximately 3½ weeks. The Japanese youth are scheduled to arrive on July 21, 2025, and return to Japan on August 16, 2025.
  • Youth have a range of English language abilities so host families should be prepared to communicate imaginatively.

Host Family Requirements:

  • The host family must have a child of the same gender who is within 3 years of the Japanese delegate. (Youth aged 9+ are eligible to host.)
  • The Japanese delegate does not have to have a private room but must have their own bed.
  • No special activities need to be planned since the Japanese youth want to experience American culture, make new friends, and improve their English by staying with our 4-H families.
  • Costs to the family would include lodging, meals, transportation, and fees for any cultural excursions the family might plan.

There are two promotional flyers and an exchange brochure for your review of the program. The Tennessee 4-H International Program webpage has also been updated and can be found at  https://tiny.utk.edu/4hexchange.

Below are links to the host family online application documents:

This is a unique experience allowing 4-H members to have an international experience without ever leaving their home. It requires relatively little effort on your part. If you have questions, please reach out to James McMillion.

Office: (865) 982-6430 (ext. 3)

Tennessee International Exchange Brochure: https://blount.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/181/2024/12/Tennessee-International-Exchange-Brochure-2025.pdf

2025 Japan Promotional Flyer IB: https://blount.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/181/2024/12/JapanPromotionalFlyerIB2025.pdf

2025 International Exchange Japan Promotional Flyer: https://blount.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/181/2024/12/International-Exchange-Japan-Promotional-Flyer-2025.pdf