The Thai Students' Association in Japan under the Royal Patronage (TSAJ) is an association of Thai students pursuing education abroad in Japan. It was established to promote unity and organize beneficial activities for Thai students in Japan, foster relationships among students, government officials, and Thais residing in Japan, and serve as a bridge for cultural exchange between Thailand and Japan.
Early Thai Students in Japan
The history of Thai students in Japan can be traced back to the reign of King Chulalongkorn. In 1895, a Thai student named Mr. Uam traveled to Japan to study the Japanese language under the patronage of Prince Jayanta Mongkol. Later, Mr. Uam worked as an interpreter at the Siamese consulate in Japan before returning to Bangkok in 1901. The next group of students consisted of eight Thai students—four boys and four girls—selected by Queen Saovabha Phongsri to study painting, weaving, silk farming, and silk production in 1903. In addition, there was another group of students who went to study in Japan, including army and navy cadets and other private students, but this number was small, less than twenty people. During this period, there is no record of student associations being formed.
Later, after the Siamese Revolution of 1932, the number of Thai students increased significantly due to the policies of the People's Party government, which began to pursue a more friendly foreign policy with Japan. Delegations of both civil and military officials were sent to Japan for study trips. This was partly due to the Japanese side's eagerness, both the government and civilian sectors, to expand their influence into other territories in Asia. On the Thai side, they saw the benefit that sending personnel to study in Japan was more cost-effective than sending them to study in Europe and America, as well as the view that Japan was a fellow Asian nation. This led to a significant increase in the number of Thai students in Japan. From only 28 Thai students in Japan in 1935, the number grew to 70 the following year. Among these students were both those receiving Thai government scholarships and those receiving private scholarships. The educational institutions also became more diverse.
The Birth of the Association of Thai Students in Japan
It was during this period that the Association of Thai Students in Japan was founded. Phra Mitrakam Raksa, the Ambassador to Tokyo, was concerned that the increasing number of students, if their behavior was not properly controlled, could negatively impact their education and the country's reputation. Therefore, he initiated the formation of a Thai Student Association in Japan on June 24, 1934. The association organized weekly gatherings for students to enjoy Thai meals together. As the association became more organized, it was officially named the "Association of Thai Students in Japan," with the official English name being "The Association of the Siamese Students in Japan," after the country at that time. The office was located at 53 Nichome Onden, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
Subsequently, the association's activities grew steadily. Therefore, in 1937, Mr. Prasit Nilayon, the then president of the association, requested to the Royal Thai Consulate for royal patronage. The Consulate reviewed documents, such as the association's regulations, and processed the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Finally, the association officially received royal patronage on April 4, 1939. At that time, Mr. Waree Pongvech was the president of the association. Therefore, the association's steering committee batch number is counted from the date of receiving royal patronage.
Since its founding in 1934, the Association of Thai Students in Japan under Royal Patronage (TSAJ) has operated in a solid and continuously growing manner. Initially operating only in Tokyo and the Kanto region, the association now has working committees covering all regions of Japan, at all levels of education, and receives strong support from both Japanese government and private sector organizations, especially the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka, and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka.
The activities of the Thai Student Association (TSA) have included ongoing beneficial projects in various areas, including academics (such as organizing academic seminars, providing educational guidance, and collecting research abstracts), social (such as Thai student sports competitions, Thai student skiing activities, and volunteer activities), and culture (such as Thai exhibitions, Songkran festival, and Loy Krathong festival, etc.), in order to make the association a true Thai student association, for Thai students, and by Thai students.
