A growing number of Japanese are heading overseas on working holiday visas--a scheme enabling people aged 18 to 30 to stay and work in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea based on mutual bilateral agreements with those countries.

The program began in December 1980 with Australia, in 1985 with New Zealand, and in 1986 with Canada. The number of Japanese who visited these countries on such visas rose from 7,020 in 1988 to about 16,000 in 1998.

The number of countries with which Japan has such an agreement has also grown. An accord was reached with South Korea in April 1999, and Britain, France, and Germany are expected to join the list as well.

Miho Nagao, 30, took advantage of the visa to stay and work in Australia in 1993 and in New Zealand in 1996--both times for a period of a year. "I wanted to go abroad and spend time in a country I like," she said. "I decided to use the system since signing up for a formal exchange program would have been too costly, and I didn't want to ask to my parents for help."

She first attended a local language school and later worked at a restaurant and also as a tour guide. She said she made many friends through this experience and learned to overcome her shyness in front of others.

Some people who spent time in Canada on the program said that time spent abroad enabled them to strengthen their sense of independence, since visitors have to look after themselves.

Foreign Ministry officials say Japan is now forging working holiday agreements with more countries, as the program has produced very positive results. Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi is a strong advocate of the program and has encouraged its expansion. The rise in the number of people who are going on working holidays is thanks to the fact that the system help them to broaden their horizons, supporters say.

Photos: (From top) Meetings explaining how to get the visas always attract crowds; Miho Nagao and her coworkers at a New Zealand restaurant. (Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers)