Recently, a group of nine students from Fudan University, one of China’s most prestigious universities, visited the Norwegian Consulate General in Shanghai. Though they study different subjects, these students are united by one shared love: An appreciation for the culture, society and values of Nordic countries.

The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program has been around since 1987. This program, the largest component of which places native English speakers in Japan’s junior and senior high schools for year-long tours of duty as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), has thousands of alumni from around the world – more than 20,000 from the United States alone.

When current participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program gather, the discussion often focuses on English teaching methods. When the program's U.S. alumni get together, however, talk often turns to a weightier subject: U.S. foreign policy towards Japan.