Organization Overview

Japan Guide Association (JGA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1940, operating under the supervision of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The members of the Association are those who have passed the guide-interpreter examination conducted by the Ministry. The purposes of the Association are as follows: "By promoting communication and cooperation among the members, and improving the quality and the social position of the guides, we serve for the development of international tourism and goodwill."
Number of Regular Members: 858 (as of March 31,2005)
Languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Korean
Office Address: 9th Floor, Kokusai Building, 4-1 Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005
Phone:03(3213)2706 Fax:03(3213)2707
E-mail: jgahq@sepia.ocn.ne.jp
Web: http://www.jga21c.or.jp/

Tasks

1) Training

The Association organizes various training and lecture sessions to improve the quality of guide-interpreters.

2) Job Placement Service

The Association provides free guide-interpreter job placement service licensed by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, and introduces tour guides and conference interpreters in English, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Korean languages to travel agencies, hotels, private companies, and local government offices.

3) Public Relations

In order to disseminate its guide-interpreter services, the Association implements publicity and advertising activities through its newsletter as well as information exchange with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other tourism stakeholders and cooperation with mass media and commercial publications.