In 1979, an international cultural exchange program was established in Hakodate, Hokkaido, sixteen American students lived together with Japanese families. That homestay was the first of its kind, and sparked the development of cultural exchange between regional communities and international students in Japan.
Hokkaido International Foundation has grown steadily since then, and in 2008, the Hokkaido Cultural Exchange Program celebrated its 30th anniversary.
In July 1986, HIF launched an eight-week Japanese Language and Japanese Culture Program in Hakodate, Hokkaido. This program has developed into a reputable academic program for Japanese language and Japanese culture. In addition to the above programs, HIF, now a non-profit organization, holds various international exchange programs throughout the year.
| Aug.1979 | Hokkaido International Cultural Exchange Program founded |
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| May.1980 | Became known as Minami Hokkaido International Cultural Exchange Center |
| Apr.1982 | HIF Supporting Association established |
| Dec.1983 | South Asian Film Festival |
| Apr.1984 | Minami Hokkaido International Cultural Exchange Center non-profit status approved by the Hokkaido Education Committee |
| Mar.1985 | African Film Festival |
| Jul.1986 | Japanese Language and Culture Program began |
| Oct.1986 | Name changed to Hokkaido International Foundation |
| Aug.1990 | English Workshop for Children began |
| Mar.1991 | ASEAN Festival |
| Apr.1992 | Multi-Cultural Study Program began |
| Aug.1995 | Japanese Language and Culture Program 10th Anniversary Symposium "Japanese Pedagogy and Multi-Cultural Communication" |
| Jul.2000 | Japanese Language and Culture Program 15th Anniversary Symposium "Approaches Bridging Uchi and Soto of Japanese Pedagogy" |
| Jul.2005 | Japanese Language and Japanese Culture Program 20th Anniversary Symposium The 4th OPI International Symposium |
| Jun.1982 | Hokkaido Youth Science and Culture Promotion Prize |
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| Oct.1985 | The first Japan Foundation Prize for the Promotion of Community-Based Cultural Exchange |
| Jul.1991 | Minister of Foreign Affairs Commendation for 1991 |
| Feb.1994 | Hokkaido Regional Culture Prize |
| Jan. 1999 | Minister of Home Affairs Commendation for 1998 |