The Japanese Education Center (JEC) is conducting research about  how Japanese youths adjust to living in the United States and would value your participation. 

Adolescence is a period in which individuals go through a challenging task of identity formation, group affiliation and achieving autonomy. Growing up in a very different culture can be particularly difficult due to a large cultural gap. At times, Japanese and Japanese-descended adolescents living in U.S. experience acculturative stress and cultural maladjustment. It is important that parents, teachers and school counselors have a good understanding of their experience to better help them. Such knowledge will assist them in improving ways they help and guide their students and in designing better programs to serve them.The purpose of this research is to better understand the experience of Japanese and Japanese-descended adolescents. It examines how their acculturative experience and other factors may be related to their psychological well-being and good functioning.

Since 1993, the JEC has served Japanese children and families in the Tri-State area.  Their main services include educational and psychological counseling to Japanese-speaking children/family and consultation to American educators who help Japanese students.

Over the years, the JEC has conducted pilot studies examining psychological well-being and adjustment among Japanese children, with the intention of collecting more information to help us provide evidence-based interventions. This year, with a JMSA Community Outreach Program grant, they are conducting a larger-scale research project.  The purpose of this study is to examine Japanese youths' experiences living in the U.S. to identify factors related to their psychological health and adaptive functioning. 

Please download the flyer with information on participating here: JEC Research Flyer

If you have any questions about the project, please contact the JEC either by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone (203) 629-5922 ext. 1