The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Nu 143 million as Scholarships to Bhutanese
In a significant milestone for Bhutan-Japan relations, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Royal Government of Bhutan signed a grant agreement worth Nu 143 million (JPY 243 million) on 17th July 2025, to support higher education scholarships for nine Master’s and one PhD Bhutanese civil servants and others. The signing coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) program, underscoring Japan’s continued commitment to Bhutan’s human resource development.
The grant is a part of the Japanese Development Scholarship (JDS), which enables Bhutanese to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Japanese universities. The scholarships target key areas vital to Bhutan’s development, including economic policy, public administration, international relations, agriculture, climate change, disaster risk management, and infrastructure planning.
The grant agreement was signed between the Chief Representative of JICA, Yoichiro Kimata and the Director of the Department of Macro-Fiscal and Development Finance, Ministry of Finance, Tshering Dorji.
Simultaneously, the exchange of notes was signed between the Ambassador of Japan to Bhutan, His Excellency Keiichi Ono, and the Director of the Department of Bilateral Affairs, Pema Tshomo, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MoFAET).
Since the launch of the JDS program in Bhutan in 2018, and starting 2019 a total of 39 Bhutanese fellows has graduated (36 with Master’s and 3 with Doctorate degrees). Currently, 13 fellows are studying in Japan, and another 8 candidates including 1 pursuing a Doctorate and 7 Masters are set to depart later this summer.
The signing was held on the same day JICA Bhutan commemorated the 60th anniversary of the JOCV program with a special event at the National Assembly Hall in Thimphu.
23 currently serving JOCV volunteers from Japan made a courtesy call on Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. The event was also attended by Ambassador Keiichi Ono, the Chairperson of the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), Tashi Pem, including the 22 Japanese volunteers currently serving across Bhutan, JICA Bhutan Office, MoFAET, and RCSC.
Lyonpo DN Dhungyel offered felicitations on the 60th anniversary of JOCV program and conveyed deep gratitude to Japanese volunteers, past and present, for their service to Bhutan.
“Two years ago, Bhutan graduated from the least development country (LDC) state and Japan will continue to support in the coming years. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Bhutanese government for their understanding and corporation in accepting JOCVs and support,” Ambassador Keiichi Ono said.
He said that next year 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Japan. “This is not just a celebration; it will be a basis for the next steps to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. I believe that the JOCVs have continued and will continue to contribute to building even stronger ties between Bhutan and Japan.”
Now known as JICA Volunteer Programme, JOCV was launched by the Government of Japan in 1965. Volunteers have been dispatched to Laos, and has since sent more than 57,000 volunteers to 99 countries worldwide, including Bhutan.
In Bhutan alone, the JOCV program began in 1988 and has deployed 663 volunteers to date. Their contribution spans across education, health, agriculture, sports, water and waste management, and technical skills development.
A 28-year-old JOCV volunteer, Ryohei Hachi, a Physical Therapist currently at the Paro Hospital shared that having previously worked at an international hospital, he encountered challenges while caring for foreign patients. This experience made him realize his lack of understanding of the lifestyles and cultures of people from other countries, prompting him to consider pursuing work abroad.
“I have always been intrigued by Bhutan, known as the ‘Land of Happiness.’ So, I decided to join the group of JOCV to Bhutan. It’s my 1year and 4months in Bhutan, and I aspire to utilize my experience as a physical therapist helping my patients who visits the hospital as well as reaching out beyond my work place,” Ryohei Hachi said.
Ryohei is even dedicated to learning Dzongkha language, as he says this helps in communicating with his patients and better understand them.
Another JOCV, Kaori Takahashi, is an elementary school teacher at Pam Primary School in Trashigang. A school with 70 students, 8 teachers and 5 support staff.
She said, “Back in Tokyo, I have taught an elementary for 5 years. My goal in Bhutan is to promote the significance and value of emotional education among teachers and students. I have prioritized arts and crafts, health or physical education. I have even got a Bhutanese name called ‘Sonam Choden’ which I like very much.”
She said that though initially she missed her home, the kind hearted and welcoming spirits of the students and teachers has made her feel at home and now she loves it here.
JICA Bhutan emphasized that the courtesy call and the grant signing are symbolic of the strong, people-centered partnership between Bhutan and Japan. The dual celebration not only marked a legacy of grassroots cooperation through volunteerism, but also laid the groundwork for a new generation of Bhutanese leaders empowered through quality education.
