Jakarta, 2 July 2026 – The Center for Government Translator and Interpreter Development (Pusbinter) of the Ministry of State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia officially launched the 2026 Japanese Language Proficiency Training in a virtual opening ceremony held on Thursday (2/7). The program forms part of Pusbinter’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the competencies of Government Functional Translators, particularly in strengthening foreign language proficiency to support the effective delivery of government duties.

In her opening remarks, Sri Wahyu Utami, Head of Pusbinter, stated that this inaugural training program was introduced in response to the growing need for government translators to continuously improve their foreign language skills amid the increasingly close cooperation between Indonesia and Japan.

"Indonesia and Japan continue to strengthen their partnership across various sectors, including the economy, technology, education, and culture. This growing collaboration requires translators who not only possess strong linguistic competence but are also capable of understanding cultural contexts and conveying messages accurately and effectively," she said.

She further emphasized that translators play a strategic role as communication bridges, facilitators of cross-cultural understanding, and enablers of knowledge exchange. Therefore, strengthening proficiency in Japanese particularly given the language’s distinctive characteristics and its complex system of honorific expressions (keigo) is essential for ensuring high quality translation in government settings.

The 2026 Japanese Language Proficiency Training is organized in collaboration with the Center for Japanese Studies, Universitas Indonesia, and will run over a four month period. Through this program, participants are expected to further develop their Japanese language proficiency, deepen their understanding of both linguistic and cultural aspects, and enhance the quality of their translations in carrying out official duties.

On the occasion, the Head of Pusbinter encouraged all participants to make the most of the training by actively engaging in discussions, asking questions, and applying the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program. Participants were also urged to remain committed to completing the entire training series.

Concluding her remarks, Sri Wahyu Utami officially declared the 2026 Japanese Language Proficiency Training open and expressed her hope that the program would make a meaningful contribution to strengthening the competencies of Government Functional Translators while further enhancing the quality of translation services across government institutions.  (PUSBINTER) (HYP)