contributors 1

Hiroko Noro

Hiroko Noro, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Japanese and Japanese sociolinguistics in the Department of Pacific and Asian Studies. Her research interests include sociolinguistics, sociology of language, Japanese linguistics, intercultural communication and second-language pedagogy. She has taught a wide variety of courses from beginner’s level Japanese language to advanced Japanese linguistics, demonstrating the complexity of the Japanese language in a way that is readily understood by her students. She presents language not as an isolated entity but in terms of how it is influenced by culture, society, and history. She has served on many committees within the University as well as academic associations, such as Canadian Association for Japanese Language Education (Director and President) and International Association of Performing Language (Executive Director).

Matsuo Soga

Professor Emeritus (University of British Columbia) Matsuo Soga came to North America to pursue his graduate studies in Linguistics in the ’50s and taught in the department of Asian Studies, University of British Columbia from 1971 to 1992. During his time at UBC the Japanese language program grew substantially, thanks to his tireless work. He was also the mentor and advisor for the local Japanese heritage school teachers, and helped them establish the Japanese Language Teachers Association (JALTA) which to this date still organizes annual teachers’ workshops. At the provincial, national and international level, he was also active in promoting Japanese language education, including becoming one of the founders in the ’70s of the prestigious Middlebury College Summer Japanese Language Program, where language learning is combined with immersion in the culture. After leaving UBC, Professor Soga was invited to established new undergraduate and graduate programs in Japanese language teaching and Japanese Linguistics at Nanzan University and Nagoya University of Foreign Studies in Japan. Numerous former students of Professor Soga now work as language teachers on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, all contributing greatly not only to the field of Japanese language teaching, but also to the promotion of intercultural communication and understanding.

Naoko Takei

Naoko Takei received her PhD in Education from Simon Fraser University, where she currently holds a senior lecturer position in the Department of Humanities. She also has an MA in Curriculum Studies from the University of British Columbia. Her teaching career started in the United Kingdom after she obtained a teaching Japanese certificate. Before moving to Canada she joined the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers governed by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency to teach the Japanese language to university students in China. Her current academic interest is Japanese as a second language, including heritage language learners in post-secondary education, and cross-cultural communication. She is also engaged in developing an online course for university students, using multimedia tools such as animation software to increase interactions among students in online courses.

Shigeru Kojima

Shigeru Kojima was born in Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture. As a student at Sophia University, he went to study in Brazil, and earned a Master’s degree in Social History at the Graduate School, Federal University of Paraná. Returning to Japan, he worked at some universities and helped establish Japanese Overseas Migration Museum, where currently works as a researcher and curator.

Tadanobu (Tad) Suzuki

Tadanobu (Tad) Suzuki is Learning & Research Librarian for fine arts and Hispanic & Italian studies at the University of Victoria Libraries. His current research interests include biographical studies of Inazo Nitobe and fine arts librarianship. Born in Tokyo, Tad holds bachelor’s degree in anthropology and linguistics from Trent University in Ontario; a master’s degree in theological studies from St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and master’s degrees in library science and biblical studies from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.