Embassy of Japan in Seychelles

03/06/2026

08/05/2026

Today, Ambassador Sakuta was pleased to join the 50th Jubilee Independence Day Lanbelisaz Tree Planting Activity in Town Area, invited by the Landscape and Waste Management Agency under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Office of the Mayor of Victoria.

06/05/2026

Today, Ambassador Sakuta received a courtesy call from Dr. Nathalie Regina Duval, a MEXT scholar who recently returned to Seychelles after completing her studies in Japan.

Under the MEXT scholarship, Dr. Duval travelled to Japan in 2020 and, after completing a six-month Japanese-language preparatory course, began her studies in education. In 2023, she earned a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Education at Naruto University of Education in Tokushima. She then pursued a PhD in the International Education Development Program at the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, and earned the degree in March, 2026. She also received Hiroshima University’s Excellent Student Award for fiscal year 2025.

We sincerely congratulate her on her remarkable success in Japan and hope that her academic achievements will contribute to further developing the education system in Seychelles.

04/05/2026

The Association for Japanese Language Speech, a Japanese nonprofit organization, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Seychelles, will offer 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 as follows:

- Level: Beginner
- Format: Zoom
(Participants need to attend individually. A Zoom link will be provided.)
- Date & Time: Friday, 15 May 2026, 1:30 pm (Seychelles Time)
(The lesson will take about 60-70 mins.)
- Cost: Free

There will be a few subsequent sessions (dates to be confirmed), which participants are encouraged to attend.

If you are interested in attending, please email the Embassy to receive the Zoom link: [email protected]

30/04/2026

Yesterday, the Embassy of Japan in Seychelles, in cooperation with the Seychelles Tourism Academy, held a presentation on Japanese cuisine, followed by a cooking demonstration by the official residence chef for the Academy’s students.

In the presentation, the Embassy official explained that “Washoku” was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013 and highlighted its emphasis on nutritional balance, health, and seasonal ingredients, before going on to explain the different types of sushi and how to enjoy them.

Afterward, Chef Nakamura, the official residence chef, demonstrated how to make grilled mackerel sushi (yaki-saba-zushi). The students learned—and practiced firsthand—how to wash and cook rice, prepare sushi rice, fillet fish, and make sushi. They showed great interest in Japanese ingredients, seasonings, and how to make sauces, and they worked hard on Japanese cooking themselves. We hope that what the students learned at this event will be helpful for their future skills and ideas.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the kind cooperation of Mrs. Brigitte Charlette, Deputy Director; Mr. David Hoareau, Chef Lecturer and the Programme Leader of the Food and Beverage Department; Mr. Ryan Marie, Culinary Lecturer; and all the other faculty and staff members of the Academy who helped organise the event.

20/04/2026

🎓Applications are now open for the following categories of 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗠𝗘𝗫𝗧) 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳❗️Check out the application guidelines at each link for more details.

If you are interested, submit the required documents physically to our Embassy at Maison Esplanade 5th Floor, Rue de la Possession, Victoria by 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

If you pass the paper screening, you will be invited to an examination and interview, which will be held at the Embassy in June 2026.

▶ Research
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-research.html
▶ Undergraduate
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-undergraduate.html
▶ College of Technology (KOSEN)
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-technology.html
▶ Specialized Training College
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-specialized.html

15/04/2026

We are excited to announce that 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 is now open for applications❗

▶ Application Guidelines
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/en/application/20/index.html

▶ Deadline: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

▶How to submit

The following two documents need to be submitted:

1. Application Form
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/4JutVgvh5Y

2. Manga Work PDF
ONE copy in electronic form (PDF)

*The electronic form (PDF) only. The printed version will NOT be accepted.

You will receive a URL for uploading your work from the Embassy after submitting the application form. The upload must be completed within two weeks of submitting the application form.

The Application Guidelines contain more instructions you will need to follow when submitting your work. Please read them carefully.

Related links:
-Japan International MANGA Award Website
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/index_e.html
-Japan International MANGA Award Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/manga.award

24/03/2026

On 24 March 2026, Ambassador Sakuta received a courtesy call from Ms. Maya Marday, a recipient of the 2026 MEXT Scholarship, prior to her departure for Japan.

Ms. Marday earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Seychelles in 2019. After serving as an assistant conservation officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, she worked as a fisheries scientist at the Seychelles Fisheries Authority for four years starting in 2022, covering a wide range of responsibilities, including project management in sustainable fisheries, field surveys, and education and outreach.

After arriving in Japan next month, she will undertake a six-month Japanese-language preparatory course, ending in October 2026. She will then enroll in the Graduate School of Science and Technology at the University of Tsukuba to pursue research in environmental education.

During the courtesy call, Ambassador Sakuta extended best wishes for her academic success in Japan.

05/03/2026

🇯🇵🇸🇨 On March 5, 2026, Mr. SAKUTA, Makoto, Ambassador of Japan to Seychelles, attended a report session on the Seychelles students visit to Japan in 2025, which was held at the Seychelles Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development. The report session was about a visit by Seychellois secondary school students who visited Japan from August 25 to September 3, 2025 as part of the Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan exchange activities.

This exchange program was made possible by Seychelles’ participation in the Expo 2025. The delegation including 10 students from three Seychellois secondary schools—Anse Royale, English River, and International School—visited Japan. At the Seychelles Pavilion at the Expo, they worked on joint activities with Japanese high school students to promote Seychelles’ sustainable tourism. They also visited Motoyama Town in Kochi Prefecture and Ozora Town in Hokkaido, paid courtesy calls on the Mayors, took part in cross-cultural activities, and interacted with each town’s high school (Reihoku High School and Ozora High School).

At the report session, the students gave presentations on their experiences in Japan, saying they had learned about Japanese traditions and culture, as well as the Japanese spirit of respect and discipline, and that it had been a meaningful opportunity to deepen friendship between Japan and Seychelles. After the presentations, Seychelles Education Minister David Pierre and Ambassador Sakuta presented certificates of participation to the students who took part in the programme.

In his remarks, Ambassador Sakuta encouraged the students to build on this visit by considering studying at universities in Japan and by finding ways to further deepen ties between Japan and Seychelles, saying such efforts would make the bonds between the two countries even stronger. He further stated that through cultural exchange, people from different regions and countries can experience one another’s traditions, perspectives, and values, deepen mutual understanding, reduce misunderstandings and prejudice, promote peace and cooperation, and open pathways to collaborative solutions for regional and international challenges.

27/02/2026

On 25th February 2026, in collaboration between the Embassy of Japan in Seychelles, the Seychelles Department of Culture, Arts and National Heritage, the Seychelles National Arts and Crafts Council, and the National Conservatoire of Performing Arts (the School of Music) , a workshop of the Japanese traditional bamboo flute Shakuhachi was held at the National Conservatoire of Performing Arts (the School of Music), inviting the Japanese shakuhachi artist Yosuke Irie visiting from Japan. The students and other participants learned and experienced how to play the shakuhachi for the first time. It was a meaningful cross-cultural experience.