Japanese Language Education and Culture Studies Course
Overview
Building on a foundation of international relations and area studies, this curriculum is designed to deepen knowledge of the Japanese language, its teaching methodologies, and Japanese culture. It is tailored for both Japanese and foreign students with advanced Japanese proficiency, as well as working professionals with experience in Japanese language education. The program aims to cultivate skilled educators who can contribute to Japanese language teaching worldwide.
Research Field of the Academic Staff
| Name | Reasearch Fields | |
|---|---|---|
| ICHISHIMA Noriko | Japanese Language Education | ichishima@staff. |
| OTA Akira ★ | Contrastive Analysis, Japanese Language Education for Specific Purposes | akirao@staff. |
| SHIMIZU Kunihiko | Japanese Culture, Japanese Folklore, History of Japanese Thought | ojizo@staff. |
| BITTMANN Heiko | Sports Science, History of Thought | bittmann@staff. |
| FUKAGAWA Miho | Second Language Acquisition, Japanese Language Education | mihofk@staff. |
| MATSUKURA Kohei | Japanese Linguistics, dialectology | matsukura.k@staff. |
| YAMAMOTO Hiroshi | Modern Japanese Literature, Modern Japanese History, Education for International Students | yama@staff. |
| Raj Lakhi SEN | Modern & Contemporary Japanese Literature, Comparative & Interdisciplinary Literature, Gender Studies | sen-rl@staff. |
- Note:Those with ■ on the right of the name column will not be Senior Supervisors because they will transfer in March 2026, ☆ in March 2027, and ★ in March 2028.
- Note2: ※ to the right of the name indicates faculty members in charge of courses taught in English.
- Note3: Please add “kanazawa-u.ac.jp” after the “E-mail” field.
Introduction to the Laboratory
In our laboratory, we explore various aspects of Japanese language pedagogy. My own research is grounded in practical studies of Japanese language education, as well as life story analyses of Japanese language learners and teachers both in Japan and abroad. I am particularly interested in language awareness, citizenship, and identity studies among immigrants and refugees, examining the fundamental question of why people learn languages. Through the lens of Japanese language education, I seek to address the challenges faced by individuals of foreign nationality and explore the principles and methods needed to foster a truly multicultural society.
At the graduate level, we encourage students to select a research theme based on their own interests and concerns, not limited to the topics mentioned above. Through collaborative discussions in the laboratory, our goal is to support the development of original and insightful research leading to a compelling thesis.
Course / Program Name
Japanese Language Education and Culture Studies Course
Name of Instructor
Noriko ICHIJIMA
Research Project Title / Project Title and Research Supervisor
The Dynamics of Language Consciousness and Identity of Learners of Japanese / Noriko ICHIJIMA
Other research topics / issues
A study of the philosophy and methods of activity-based Japanese language education