Managed by JLGC’s head office in Tokyo, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, the JET Programme sees participants selected from 40 countries to fill the post of ALT (Assistant Language Teacher), SEA (Sports Exchange Advisor) or CIR (Coordinators for International Relations). The ALT and SEA posts are usually based in local schools; the ALTs provide language instruction (predominantly English) in schools; the SEAs promote international exchange through sport whilst the CIRs are based in town or city halls and work in the community on international exchange activities.
The recruitment of the JET Participants is conducted by the Japanese Embassies and Consulates in each respective country, and each potential applicant (after screening) is interviewed. Once the successful candidates have been announced, a series of seminars is organised to induct the applicants into what is required of them whilst they work in Japan, and ex-participants are invited to give advice based on their experiences. Each contract is valid for one year, although the opportunity to extend may be available. All JET applicants must be graduates, and if they have dual Japanese citizenship, this must be renounced before they can complete the application process. Japanese language skills are not required unless the applicant wishes to apply for a post as a CIR, but participants are given some text books and the local authorities may hold Japanese language classes once the participants arrive in Japan.
Once in Japan, the affiliates meet their host local authorities and are given training in preparation for filling their posts. As a programme for foreigners wishing to work in Japan, it is by far the most comfortable in terms of living, working and benefits when compared with employees who go to Japan and find work in the private sector.
A number of associations exist to help the participants to adjust to the requirements of the country, and the AJET (Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching) is administered by current participants who hold bi-annual talks with the sponsors to exchange opinions on how the programme might be improved for the participants; whilst the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) is made up of ex-JETs who have returned to their own countries.
| Year | UK | US | Australia | Ireland | France | Germany | Canada |
| 2025 | 777 | 3,042 | 255 | 119 | 20 | 21 | 521 |
The programme is jointly administered by the Ministry for Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
The JETAA is an independent organisation for former JETs who have completed their tenure in Japan and assist the embassies and JLGC (CLAIR London) in the promotion of the JET Programme in their home countries. The main goal of this organisation is to maintain friendship ties with Japan and communicate with JETAA members. They are financed by JLGC and hold regular events for members. In the UK and Ireland, there are seven local chapters and two national executives (the UK and Ireland respectively) comprising of almost 6,300 members.
