Hello Germany 2025 – Mastering Challenges

Between 10-19 August 2025, the moment had finally come: 15 young people from Japan and 15 young people from Germany came together for the Hello Germany 2025 exchange program. Ten days full of encounters, exciting topics, and new friendships took them to Dresden, the Spreewald region, and Berlin.
The focus lay on current topics affecting both societies: work, diversity, history, sustainability, and urbanization. In workshops, discussion groups, and group work, the participants developed their own ideas, exchanged perspectives, and were inspired by experts.

But it wasn't just the content of the program that was exciting. Personal interaction also played an important role: Whether it was a Spreewald boat trip, a game night, or karaoke until late into the night, moments arose everywhere that fostered closeness and friendship. Many participants later reported that it was precisely these shared experiences that made the exchange so special.
The program was supported by the German-Japanese Youth Society, as well as the Japanese-German Youth Network and the German-Japanese Society Dresden. The Japanese Embassy in Germany assumed patronage, and the Japanese-German Center Berlin provided its premises – a strong signal of the importance of youth dialogue between the two countries.

The results are impressive: In addition to in-depth language skills, the young people gained new intercultural understanding and formed friendships that extend far beyond the program days. The commitment of the volunteer organizers also inspired many participants to become active themselves.
Thus, Hello Germany 2025 not only built bridges but also provided stimuli for the future. Looking forward to the next major meeting – Hello Japan 2026 – it is clear that when young people from both countries engage in dialogue with one another, they can sustainably strengthen relations between Japan and Germany.

Source: German-Japanese Youth Society