Friends of AMI Nippon

In March 2012, Friends of AMI NIPPON (FAN) was established in Kanagawa, Japan as a General Incorporated Association and in April 2013, it became an official Affiliated Society of AMI. Their purpose is to maintain and promote the educational philosophy and practice developed by Dr. Maria Montessori throughout Japan.

In order to reach these goals, their work includes recruiting more members of FAN and providing them with information through their bi-monthly newsletter. The Association also supports AMI Training courses and AMI Assistants courses, and FAN sends out lecturer(s) to PTA meetings, schools and local communities on request.

Translation services are provided by FAN, as they translate most digital publications from AMI. FAN has gained their permission to translate 11 books (10 booklets and "1946 London Lectures") written by Dr. Montessori and Mario Montessori and aim to finish all 11 books by the end of 2018. The first book “The Human Tendencies and Montessori Education” written by Mario Montessori was recently published and is now on sale in Japan.

Other translation services include providing translators for the Courses (if it is given in English), as well as for the International Montessori Conferences, such as Portland 2013, and there are plans to recruit more translators for the upcoming Prague Congress in 2017 as well.

FAN also provides a monthly “One-coin workshop” (500 Yen) and anyone interested in Montessori can join. This workshop has activities that include: making mobiles and toys for the home and NIDO. Visiting schools as well as Matsumoto Manufactures in Osaka. Lectures on Religion and DVD showing.