THE IMPLEMENTATION OF JAPANESE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN INDONESIA THROUGH THE MONBUKAGAKUSHO PROGRAM (2014-2019)

Abstract

The use of public diplomacy becomes very significant for many countries nowadays, including for the Japanese government. Public diplomacy is seen as a crucial soft power instrument that will help a country to achieve its interests and goals toward foreign audiences. The Japanese government also implements its public diplomacy in Indonesia through the Monbukagakusho program. This is an educational scholarship program from the Japan to Indonesian students and researchers. This research would like to analyze the implementation of Japanese public diplomacy in Indonesia through the Monbukagakusho program during 2014–2019. It uses qualitative methodology in doing the process of research. The research also uses public diplomacy theory and soft power theory to analyses the research topic. Finally, this research finds that the Japanese government implements the public diplomacy of Monbukagakusho program through the comprehensive strategies, campaign and promotion regarding the quality and benefit of Japanese education. Monbukagakusho has been successfully to be public diplomacy tool in Indonesia. This public diplomacy has interest to build stronger mutual understanding and mutual trust between Indonesian society and Japanese society.