- The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan (for Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France, Germany and the United Kingdom) Japan initiated its Working Holiday Programmes, first with Australia in December 1980, then with New Zealand in July 1985, and with Canada in March 1986 respectively. In April 1999, the Republic of Korea joined the three preceding countries to start the ...www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html