About IEC

Organization Profile

• Organization Name
  General Incorporated Foundation International Education Center
• Chair
  Yo Konno（CEO）
• Location
  3F, 1-6-2 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
• TEL
  +81-3-3359-9620
• Establishment
  August 4th, 1948
• Incorporation
  April 1st, 1948
• Principles
  IEC aims to promote international and intercultural exchange, facilitate mutual understanding among peoples of the world, and contribute to world peace.
• Our Core Activities
  Programs to Promote International Educational Exchange and Cross-Cultural Understanding
  We implement a variety of initiatives aimed at fostering globally competent individuals with strong English proficiency and cultural literacy. These include the Global Human Resource Development Program, the Japan-America Student Conference (held alternately in Japan and the United States), the Japanese Language Speech Contest for Foreign Nationals, and the English Teaching Methods Seminar for English language instructors.
  In addition, we serve as the Japan-side secretariat for the Takamado Essay Contest in English.
  
  Language Education Programs (English and Japanese)
  We operate two institutions dedicated to practical language education: the Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin (Japan-America Conversation Institute), which provides practical English instruction, and the Japanese Language Institute, which offers practical Japanese language education for non-native speakers.
• Basic assets
  10 milion Yen
• Competent authorities
  Cabinet Office

Organization Chart

List of Directors, Auditors and Corporate Officers

General Incorporated Foundation International Education Center: List of Trustees, Directors and Auditors

• Council member
  Naohisa Fukuya

  Senior Advisor, PwC Advisory LLC
  Representative Director, Kien Global Corporation
  
  Ikuko Morio

  Professor, Integrated International Organization, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
  Yoshio Okubo

  Chairman of the Board, Japan Investor Protection Fund
  Nobuko Sasae

  Representative of Nobuko Forum Japan, Director of Toyo University
  Waichi Sekiguchi

  Representative Director, MM Research Institute, Inc. and former editorial writer, Nikkei Inc.
  Akiho Wada

  Trustee, Japan-U.S. Educational Exchange Foundation (Fulbright Memorial Foundation)
• Representative of a board of directors
  Yo Konno

  Dean of the Japan-America Conversation Institute, Director of the Japanese Language Institute, and General Manager of the Sales Division of the International Education Promotion Association
  Former Executive Officer, Chase Manhattan Bank and RBS (UK)
• Director
  Takako Abe

  General Manager, Personnel and General Affairs Department and General Manager, Public Service Division, International Education Promotion Agency
  Kyohei Hosono

  Executive Vice President, Dream Incubator Inc.
  Yuki Kojima

  Director of Administration, International Education Promotion Association
  Masaru Morimoto

  Chairman and Representative Director, Showa Aircraft Urban Development Co.
  Sumiko Sakaguchi

  Director, Corporate and Private Division, International Education Promotion Agency
  Shigeru Suzuki

  Director of English Department, Association for the Promotion of International Education
  Shuji Tomikawa

  Chairman of the Board, Mitsui Fudosan Investment Advisors, Inc.
• Supervisor
  Hideo Niwa

  Director, Niwa Hideo Office, Certified Public Accountant and Tax Accountant
  Eriko Matsumae

  Certified Public Accountant
  Director, Sakura Certified Public Accountant Office
• honorary advisor
  Toyoo Gyoten

  Honorary Advisor, Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ; Former Finance Minister, Ministry of Finance
  Masanobu Ibe

  Former President, Association for the Promotion of International Education
• Special advisor
  Junichi Kogo

  Director of the International Organization for the Promotion of Education (IOPE) Meta Representative Council, and President of the Meta Academy of Nippon Yonkai Dialectics,
  Vice President of Mitsui Real Estate (New York).
• Advisor
  Takashi Oi

  Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Gakugei University; Former President, International Education Promotion Association; Former Dean, The Japan-America Institute of Conversation

History

• 1945
  September

  At the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' End of War Liaison Office and others, the founder, Tomio Muto, decided to establish the “Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin,” which later becomes IEC project, and began preparations at the Naigai Building in Marunouchi, Tokyo.
  November

  Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin opened. Tomio Mutoh was appointed Director of the school. The first term of classes began at Nihonbashi school (now Nihonbashi Jogakkan) in Asakusabashi.
• 1946
  May

  The founder, Tomio Mutoh, retired from the institute after recommending Namio Itabashi as the president and dean of the institute as an incorporated foundation.
• 1947
  April

  Moved to Ishitsubo Bldg. in Imagawa-bashi, Kanda. International Education and Cultural Association was established.
• 1948
  August

  Approved by the Ministry of Education as a Foundation for International Education and Cultural Association.
• 1953
  June

  The name of the Foundation for International Education and Culture was changed to the
  International Education Center.
• 1956
  November

  Moved from Kanda Imagawa-bashi to the present location in Yotsuya.
• 1958
  December

  The foundation was transferred from an incorporated foundation under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education to an incorporated foundation under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
• 1960
  June

  The first “International Japanese Speech Contest” was held (became the “the International Speech Contest in Japanese” from the 6th contest in 1965). Since then, the contest has been held annually and broadcast by NHK.
• 1964
  July

  The “Japan-America Student Conference” was resumed after a hiatus since the 15th conference. Since then, the conference has been held every year alternately in the U.S. and Japan.
• 1966
  March

  Yotsuya, new school building completed (old Yotsuya school building) completed.
• 1967
  September

  Nichibei Japanese language institute established.
• 1973
  April

  The School of International Studies (now the School of International Studies -SIS- [International Studies Course], Global Human Resource Development Program) was established.
• 1976
  October

  Approved as a specialized English language course under the special training school system.
• 1978
  August

  Exchange program with Elmira College, New York, began.
• 1995
  July

  The University of Chicago, U.S.A., opened a regular graduate MA course (until December 2003), using the IEC as a venue.
• 1997
  August

  Over 50 students have taken part in the Elmira College exchange program.
• 1998
  April

  Mr. Itabashi passed away as the president of the Board of Trustees and the president of the Institute.
  October

  Ikuomi Yamamuro was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors.
• 1999
  April

  Takashi Oi was appointed Dean of the Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.
• 2000
  October

  Began training in Japanese language at the French-Japanese Center of the Graduate School of the University of Rennes I, France (until March 2005).
• 2004
  March

  Chairman Yamamuro retired from the Board of Directors.
  April

  Takashi Oi. was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
• 2005
  March

  The number of graduates exceeded 28,000.
  May

  Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, a series of “IEC Forums” was held through March 2006. Partially sponsored by the U.S. Embassy.
  November

  Dr. Seidensticker (late Professor Emeritus, Columbia University) delivered the Commemorative IEC Forum Lecture at the 60th Anniversary Homecoming Day of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.
• 2006
  August

  Moved to the Iidabashi temporary school building for renovation of the Yotsuya school building.
• 2008
  April

  Completion of the new school building in Yotsuya.
  April

  With the dissolution of Tsuda Jyuku kai Foundation, some of its students and faculty members were transferred to the IEC.
• 2010
  May

  The English Specialized Course was abolished.
  October

  The School of International Studies (SIS), established in 1973, has been reorganized. The School of International Studies (SIS), which was established in 1973, has been reorganized as the School of International Studies (SIS).
  November

  The “National English Speech Contest for Junior High and High School Teachers”, which had been suspended for a period of time, was resumed under the joint sponsorship of the Eiken Foundation of Japan and the Eiken Foundation of Japan. (Supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the U.S. Embassy, the British Council, the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, the Asahi Shimbun, etc.)
  November

  The 65th anniversary ceremony of the founding of the Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin was held at the Shigaku kaikan. Received the congratulatory address by Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.
• 2011
  August

  The 11th Research Seminar on Methods of English Education was expanded into Part 1: Research Seminar and Part 2: Practical Workshop, co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.　
• 2012
  April

  The Foundation is transferred from an incorporated foundation under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to a general incorporated foundation under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet Office. Name changed to the International Education Center.
• 2014
  October

  NIHONGO EXPRESS, Basic 1, a textbook for Japanese business conversation written by the Japanese Language Institute, was published by ASK Publishing Co.
  November

  80th anniversary ceremony of the Japan-America Student Conference held at Josui Kaikan.
• 2015
  September

  Masanobu Ibe was appointed Representative Director.
  October

  NIHONGO EXPRESS, Basic 2”, a continuation of the aforementioned, was published by ASK Publishing.
  November

  The 70th anniversary ceremony of the founding of the Japan-America Institute of Conversation was held at the Shogakukan.
• 2016
  January

  Moved to a temporary school building in the project site, a 2-minute walk from the former school building, due to the Yotsuya Ekimae District Redevelopment Project.
  March

  Takashi Oi resigns as President and Dean, and Masanobu Ibe was appointed Representative Director and Dean of the Japan-America Institute of Conversation.
  December

  Junichi Kogo was appointed Representative Director and President of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin. Ibe and two Representative Directors are appointed. Ibe was also in charge of public service and director of the Japanese Language Institute.
• 2017
  November

  Symposium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Japanese Language Institute held at Shigaku Kaikan.
• 2018
  March

  Masanobu Ibe retired as Representative Director. He continues as Director.
  June

  Yo Konno assumes the position of Representative Director. He and Kogo again manage the company as a two-person team. He also served as the director of the Japanese Language Institute.
  October

  Junichi Kogo retired as Representative Director. Konno Yo also served as Director of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, leaving the Board of Directors with one Representative Director.
• 2020
  February

  Moved into the Yotsuya Global Study Square, an educational building in the Yotsuya Station Area Redevelopment Project (Comore Yotsuya), from a temporary school building upon its completion.
  March

  Enrollment plummeted due to the Pandemic.
• 2024
  October

  The 63rd Japanese speech contest by foreigners, which had been discontinued after the Corona disaster, was held in Odawara City.