Hofu City Subsidy for Japanese Language Learning Support for Foreign Human Resources

1. Overview: This Hofu City subsidy supports Japanese-language education provided by local small and medium-sized businesses to foreign workers they employ. Its purpose is to help foreign human resources settle in the workplace and adapt smoothly to the local community. The education must be appropriate to the learner's language level, must start after project certification, and must be completed by February 28, 2027. 2. Eligible applicants: Eligible applicants are corporations or individuals with an office in Hofu City. Corporations must have capital or total investment of 300 million yen or less, or 300 or fewer regular employees. Applicants must currently employ foreign workers and intend to continue employing them, have no city tax arrears, and not fall under the exclusion clauses related to organized crime or adult entertainment businesses. 3. Eligible costs and activities: The eligible activity is Japanese-language education for foreign workers directly employed by the applicant. Participants must hold one of the designated statuses of residence, be directly employed, have started employment within the past three years, and work at an office located in the city. Eligible costs include instructor honoraria, instructor travel, textbooks, venue rental, tuition, printing, outsourcing, selection fees, and admission fees. Costs paid before certification, costs covered by other subsidies, internal transactions, fees, and consumption tax are excluded. 4. Rate, cap, and schedule: The subsidy rate is one-half of eligible expenses, capped at 100,000 yen per business, rounded down below 1,000 yen. Applications are accepted from April 1, 2026 through January 29, 2027 and will close when the budget is exhausted. After completion, the applicant must submit the grant application and performance report within 30 days or by March 15, 2027, whichever comes first.