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What is the Nihongo Communication Association (NiCA)？
NiCA ensures ONiT reliability
What is the Nihongo Communication Association (NiCA)?
◎We are non-profitthird-party evaluation authority independent from the testing organization (ICI).
◎We have the Test Evaluation Committee (TEC) is composed of experts in testing and Japanese language education.
◎We hold regular meetings to ensure the reliability of the test (ONiT).
Main 4 activities
We contribute to keeping the reliability of the test through the main 4 activities below.
【Activity①】Review ONiT Reliability
NiCA verifies the reliability of ONiT grading.
◎NiCA reviews the test reliability as a Non-profit third-party organization periodically.
◎We aim to maintain and improve the reliability of ONiT.
【Activity②】Certify the ONiT score report
NiCA reviews the fairness and accuracy of the ONiT score report.
◎We certify that there are no defects in the testing process.
◎Eliminate fraud and evaluation mistakes, and examine whether the test result is trusted.
【Activity③】Review ONiT test items
All of the test items would be judged based on our own guidelines.
◎NiCA reviews the quality of new and existing test items regularly.
◎We ensure that the test results are fair.
【Activity④】Review and certify ONiT graders
Thoroughly trained graders would be screened for the qualification.
◎NiCA reviews the quality of new and existing graders regularly.
◎It helps maintain and improve the reliability of the test.
※The answers of one testee are evaluated by multiple graders with thorough training based on our own evaluation criteria at ONiT.
NiCA conducts these 4 activities above regularly.
◎NiCA「Test Evaluation Committee （TEC)」 is composed of specialists in testing and Japanese language educations.
◎We regularly carry out four types of strict third-party evaluations through activities (1) to (4).
◎Based on the results of these evaluations, we recommend the ONiT testing organization, ICI to make improvements.
In order to assure the quality of the test, NiCA reccomends points to be improved to the testing organization (ICI) accordingly.
◎NiCA will continue to check whether improvements based on the recommendations are being implemented appropriately.
◎As a non-profit third party, NiCA's activities willl assure that ONiT will continue to be a test trusted by testees, society, and businesses.
◎Whenever amendment to the test is necessary, the Test Evaluation Committee (TEC) will discuss the impact of the change. Major amendments that influence the test results will be announced on this website accordingly. NiCA will also recommend the ONiT testing organization, ICI publish similar announcement on the ONiT Website.
What is ONiT Oral Business Japanese Test？
The ONiT Oral Business Japanese Test is a test (CBT) that measures the oral proficiency of Japanese in business situations, mainly for those who do not speak Japanese as their mother tongue. Test items are presented by voice and images.
Testee answers are evaluated by multiple graders who have undergone thorough training based on our own evaluation criteria. The test results will be sent to the testees in the form of a detailed score report after being examined closely by the Association.
ONiT is carried out by ICI , the testing organization. There is no fixed test date. Please contact ICI from the ONiT website for details.
Test Evaluation Committee （TEC）
The NiCA Test Evaluation Committee (TEC) is composed of specialists in testing and Japanese language education that regularly gather to assess the reliability of the ONiT Oral Business Japanese Test.
The result of the reliability evaluations are HERE
Sukero Ito / Committee chairman
Specially Appointed Professor, Chief of Japanese Language Teaching Practices Area,
Graduate School of Global Communication and Language of Akita International University
Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Former chief director, The Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language
Speciality：Japanese language education, Applied linguistics
Yoshihiro Sakoda / Committee member
Teacher, The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships [AOTS]
Speciality：Japanese language education, Test development
Hiroyuki Nishikawa / Committee member
Associate professor, Department of Japanese, Faculty of Languages and Cultures of Meikai University
Speciality：Japanese language education, Applied linguistics
Ikuo Doi / Committee member, Secretariat
Representative director, Nihongo Communication Association
Speciality：Japanese language education, Test development
（Apr 2023）
Overview of NiCA
Go to Disclosure
Name of organization
Nihongo Communication Association (NiCA)
Representative
Ikuo Doi
Representative Director
Address
#1414, 1-5-5, Honcho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, 164-0012 JAPAN
Establishment date
2nd July 2014
Mission Statement
As a Non-profit Third-party Evaluation and Certification Authority for ONiT Oral Business Japanese Test, the NiCA aims to contribute to improve and promote better communicaton among people from all over the world.
Operations
①ONiT evaluation and certification
②Investigation and research related to testing
③Advisory for the testing organizaiton
④Test development
⑤Dissemination and sales for ONiT
⑥Other operations necessary to achieve the mission of this asscciation.
Main banks
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Kojimachi Branch
Rakuten Bank, Second Sales Branch
Board members
Ikuo Doi / Representative director
Representative, Nihongo Assist
Katsuhiro Aoki / Director
Vice Chairman, NPO Kawaguchi Center For Living Together And Walking
Principal, Shintoshin International Japanese Language School
Representative, International Course of Kawaguchi Civil College
Former director, Japanese Language Training School of Labo International Exchange Foundation
Sukero Ito / Director
Specially Appointed Professor, Chief of Japanese Language Teaching Practices Area,
Graduate School of Global Communication and Language of Akita International University
Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Former chief director, The Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language
Yoshihiro Sakoda / Director
Teacher,
The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships [AOTS]
Ayako Doi / Director
Nihongo Assist
Hiroyuki Nishikawa / Director
Associate professor,
Department of Japanese, Faculty of Languages and Cultures of Meikai University
Kousei Hashimoto / Director
Chief secretariat, NPO Student Carrier Support Network
Chief secretariat, HR Growing Support Farm
Vice chairman, NPO Student Career Support Study Group
Coodinator, Intermediate Employment Study Group of Tokyo Entrepreneur Association
Yuka Urano / Inspector
Representative, Petau LLC.
（Apr 2023）
History
2009
ICI started it's challenge to create a "Computer based Japanese speaking test", the initial version of the current ONiT, funded by the Ministry of Economy, Kanto Economy and Industry Bureau.
2013
ICI started development of current ONiT.
2014
NiCA officially established.
Test Evaluation Committee (TEC) established.
ONiT 1st trial test conducted.
2015
ONiT 2nd and 3rd trial test conducted.
2016
ONiT 4th trial test conducted.
2017
ONiT 5th trial test conducted.
Ended ONiT development in collaboration with ICI.
2018
Started NiCA third-party test evaluation and certification process.
2019
ONiT was reported on the Agency for Cultural Affairs "2018 Comprehensive Survey of Japanese Language Education" -About the mechanism of Japanese language ability evaluation- (March 2019)
2021
Started offering ONiT online tests for companies.
ONiT was reported on the Agency for Cultural Affairs "Reference Frame for Japanese Language Education" Secondary Report (Draft) -Concept of Japanese Language Proficiency Evaluation- (February 2021).
Inquiry
Please feel free to contact us by email which including the information below.
●Name
●Department/Company
●Inquiry
①Inquiries about NiCA
②About ONiT and the Test Results
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