The Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese (MAATJ) is a AATJ regional affiliate with approximately 100 members and is growing. The MAATJ members are administered by the AATJ. Our mission is to promote Japanese language and culture in this region through rigorous engagement with the world language community and other sectors of education, business, and government. The MAATJ is committed to provide support and resources for the teachers, their students, and the organizations in the MAATJ region in order for enriching the Japan or Japanese education in the region.

In recent years, with the importance of Japan in the world economy and the worldwide influence of its media and popular culture, the importance of study of Japanese language, literature, and culture has been increasingly recognized. As more schools, colleges, and universities offer programs of study in these areas, the AATJ has assumed an increasingly important role through its conventions, its services and activities in public affairs, its involvement in policy decisions, and its advocacy at the national, state, and local level. It is important for the MAATJ that the Japanese education will continue to flourish in the region.