The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 by special legislation in the Japanese Diet and became an Independent Administrative Institution in October 2003. The mission of the Japan Foundation is to promote international cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries.
The Foundation maintains its headquarters in Tokyo and operates through a network of 25 overseas offices in 24 countries worldwide. The Japan Foundation is represented by two offices in the United States-one in New York and the other in Los Angeles.