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Position

Professor, International Institute of Japanese Studies

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Field

Japanese language and literature

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Develop the ability to communicate your ideas

My major at university and graduate school was Japanese linguistics, but I am now working in three areas: classical literature education and research, learning support for CLD (culturally and linguistically diverse) children, and career development support for international students. In the area of literature research, the first thing I do is to read the texts properly. While there is a strong social demand for learning support for CLD students, there is still a lack of adequate support. I would like to increase the number of my colleagues who are involved in supporting CLD children so that they can overcome the barriers of culture and language and live happily together. The career development support for international students started with an interview survey of international students who studied at the Japanese Language Center for International Students at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. I believe that the learning experiences gained through studying in Japan will be a valuable guide for both junior international students and Japanese students who will be studying abroad in the future.

Since 1998, I have been teaching Japanese language, culture, and literature to international students. As I listened to the exchange of opinions among the multinational international students, I always felt that it was a pity that there were no Japanese students here, so I am glad that the School of Japan Studies and the Graduate School of Japan Studies have been established so that Japanese and international students can study together. The exchange of ideas with classmates from different cultural backgrounds is a valuable opportunity to relativize your own culture, which you had unconsciously assumed to be only one. I think it is a unique learning experience at TUFS to be able to interact with students from various countries, and to be able to recognize that "Japanese culture is one of many cultures ". I hope that students will acquire the ability to obtain and transmit information in multiple languages. I believe that this university is an ideal place to hone these skills.

In the Master's Program in Japan Studies, I am taking a class called Comparative Literature of Haiku, in which we are trying to understand the way haiku is received overseas. Haiku is the shortest poetic form in the world, and there is a great deal of learning about language and culture hidden in it. Please come and experience it for yourself.