News & Topics

Greetings to all our Nanzan University alumni. My name is Junko Fujimoto, and I teach Japanese at the Center for Japanese Studies (CJS). CJS is currently running two Programs. One is the Intensive Japanese Program (IJP) , catering for students who wish to concentrate on learning Japanese, and the other is the Modern Japan Program (MJP) , for students who want to study basic Japanese while engaging in a research project in English with local Nanzan University students. I am in charge of the Japanese language course in the latter, the MJP.

There are many people among our alumni who are doing well in the fields of Japanese language education, Japan-related research or international education. I occasionally meet such alumni through our CJS partner schools including our eight NU-COIL partner universities in the United States, or through my teaching activities or at academic conferences. I always really enjoy meeting our alumni through my various CJS activities.

In the 2022 Fall Semester, after a gap of two and a half years, many (approximately 150) CJS students joined us on campus. While students are required to wear masks in order to counter the spread of Covid-19, in-person classes are being held. In the Japan Plaza and the Multi-cultural Exchange Lounge "Stella" local Nanzan students and international students enjoy meeting to interact in Japanese or other languages while being careful to avoid close contact with others. The Language Buddy system, which started under the restrictions imposed due to Covid, is now operating face-to-face, so it is common to see people engaged in enjoyable conversation all over campus.

While CJS students are occupied during the week with their course work, during the weekend they are busy with various other activities. In particular, from October on there are numerous events such as the Asuke Festival (group led by Professor Robert Croker), the Nagoya Festival and the field trip to Inuyama Castle. Many CJS students also enjoy going on their own trips to cities such as Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo.

This is possible only due to the efforts of students who applied themselves to online classes despite the time differences involved. In particular, the 2020 Spring Semester CJS students had their regular classes discontinued in March and had no choice but to return to their own countries and take online classes. Thinking of the difficulties they had, I am truly grateful to those students who worked so hard despite not being able to engage in actual study abroad.

One other thing that I would like to report is that the Janssen International Residence (JIR) opened in April 2022. At the moment there are about 70 local Nanzan students and 70 CJS students living in the JIR. A feature of this dormitory is the students' participation in the educational program called the "Skill Development Program for Diversity and Inclusion." Operation of the dormitory is student-driven. Since it was opened, the JIR student leaders and residents have always looked forward to welcoming in new CJS students and have created the foundation of the dormitory's operations. Now, groups of 8-10 students sharing a kitchen work hard in a multi-lingual and multi-cultural environment, creating rules and allocating roles so they can all co-exist in the same living environment. As can be expected in an international dormitory, the occasional little accident does occur, but the students collaborate to resolve problems among themselves, learning from that process and hopefully growing as individuals.

The CJS activities and events mentioned above are covered on Instagram at @nanzan_intl #nanzan_cjs. Please do take a look when you have time!

There is only about half a month left in 2022. I wonder how the year 2022 was for you? What sort of year do you want 2023 to be? Please do not hesitate to let us know if there is any news that you would like to let us know about yourself, and if you have the chance, please visit us on campus and tell us what you have been doing recently. The CJS teaching staff always look forward to hearing from former students.

I hope you all continue to do well and stay happy. Wishing you a Happy New Year for 2023.

Junko Fujimoto
Special Appointed Instructor, Center for International Affiars
CJS Modern Japan Program Language Coordinator
Resident Advisor of Jannsen International Residence