The government revised regulations for foreign students at culinary schools to allow them stay in Japan for two years after graduation if they take up apprenticeships at Japanese-style restaurants, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced Friday, Feb. 15. Agriculture minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said the same day that he hopes the revision will help nurture people who contribute to promoting Japanese food and food culture overseas, leading to an increase in exports of Japanese agricultural products and food items.
Foreign students who study at culinary schools in Japan had to leave the country after graduation, but the revision enables them to stay longer if each student’s school and host restaurant jointly work out an internship program for approval by the agriculture ministry.
The program should clarify specific plans and pays for learning Japanese cooking. Each restaurant can accept up to two students at a time. If the program is approved, the Justice Ministry will switch the student’s visa status to the “designated activities” category, which includes “working holiday” programs.
Currently, some 200 foreign students are enrolled at culinary schools nationwide. According to the agriculture ministry, the number of Japanese-style restaurants overseas totaled 55,000 as of 2013, and the number is rising along with the increasing popularity of Japanese cuisine. The ministry plans to support the students find jobs in Japanese-style restaurants in their home countries after they finish internships.
The revision is part of the government’s plan to revitalize the agriculture industry and rural areas. The agriculture ministry, which has a goal of increasing agricultural exports to JPY 1 trillion in the next 10 years, is working on promoting Japanese cuisine overseas and encouraging use of Japanese food items in other countries’ cooking.
(Feb. 15, 2014)