Vulcanus in Japan started in 1997. The programme consists of industrial placements for EU students (third or fourth year of university studies). It starts in September and ends in August of the following year in order to accommodate the academic year in EU Member States.

The students follow:
a one-week seminar on Japan,
a four-month intensive Japanese language course,
and then an eight-month traineeship in a Japanese company
http://www.eu-japan.eu/global/vulcanus-in-japan.html