Abstract: Foreign educational aid is a crucial measure for Japan to reshape its national image, enhance its international standing, and expand its economic and geopolitical interests. The Global South holds numerous seats in the United Nations and serves as a primary market for Japanese products and a source of raw materials, exerting significant influence on Japan's political objectives and socio-economic development. Therefore, Japan implements educational aid for the Global South. In terms of strategy and objectives, Japan leverages its economic strengths and cultural characteristics as the foundation for conducting educational aid, serving as a basis to meet the demands of a politically influential nation. At the same time, it aims to stimulate domestic economic vitality, promote economic growth, and enhance Japan's soft power through such aid. In terms of aid methods, Japan emphasizes both material support and institutional and capacity-building aid. While providing essential material guarantees for aid projects, it continuously amplifies the impact of Japanese-style education on the educational development of the Global South. In terms of aid distribution, Japan delivers differentiated educational aid based on the diverse political, economic, and geopolitical values of Global South countries, addressing local economic and educational needs while empowering the structuring, stabilizing, and sustaining of Japan's relationship with the Global South. Japan has also encountered challenges related to linguistic and cultural differences and complexities across various regions of the Global South during its educational aid efforts.

Key words: Global South, educational aid, national interests