Nanzan University International Students Alumni Network

【Alumni Network Message from Alumni Association】

Hello to all of our international student alumni.

My name is Hiroko Takeuchi, and I teach Japanese to international students in the Faculty of Policy Studies.

In the Japanese language courses offered by the Faculty of Policy Studies, we support our international students, who come with a wide range of Japanese proficiency levels, so that they become able to write academic reports and complete their graduation research in Japanese. Even if students have reached a good level of everyday spoken Japanese, the academic language used for writing reports and conducting research follows certain conventions. This means they must pay attention to word choice, accuracy of expression, logical structure, and overall coherence. This is truly challenging, and the students work very hard to learn Japanese.

At the same time, in recent years, smartphone apps have made translation extremely easy. Their development has been remarkable, and some applications can instantly translate words and sentences from your native language into Japanese. With such convenient tools available, it is only natural to wonder whether one really needs to go to the trouble of learning a foreign language - or whether learning it is necessary at all.

One of my research areas involves supporting communication and improving the environment between Japanese staff and foreign caregivers working in Japanese eldercare facilities. When accepting caregivers from abroad, we often hear concerns about communication. Even now, nearly 20 years after foreign caregivers first began being accepted, communication is still cited as a challenge during the onboarding process. It is not easy to ease that tension when people expect communication with others to be difficult.

For this reason, we have conducted workshops with facility staff to create opportunities to enjoy communication through various communicative activities. When communication spaces are safe and comfortable, people naturally feel encouraged to speak proactively and want to share their opinions and feelings. After these workshops, foreign caregivers became more motivated to study Japanese so they could express what they needed to say to Japanese staff. Japanese staff, in turn, began making efforts to communicate in ways that were easier for the foreign caregivers to understand.

Earlier I mentioned that, thanks to translation apps and AI, one might feel that it is no longer necessary to "struggle" to learn Japanese on one's own. It is true that accuracy of vocabulary and expressions may improve. But even if someone can use language "like a native speaker," can we really say that communication problems will disappear entirely? Think about your own experience - haven't you sometimes found it difficult to communicate even with people who share your native language?

Communication that is safe and reassuring allows both parties to deepen their understanding of each other's "intended meaning" through interaction. Although this process includes both the joys and difficulties of communication, I hope that you do not feel discouraged and instead try to enjoy it.

I hope that today, somewhere in the world, all of you alumni who once studied at Nanzan University will have many stimulating experiences using Japanese!

Hiroko Takeuchi
Faculty of Policy Studies
Nanzan University

Recent visits to Nanzan campus by former CJS students🎄
Thank you all so much for coming to Nanzan!

We hope your holiday season is full of peace, joy and happiness!

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"This is the first time I have been back to Nanzan in over 12 years. A lot has changed since then, both on and off campus - but the feelings of studying here all flooded back the second I walked on campus. Even though my profession isn't directly tied to the Japanese language, the cultural impact that Nanzan made on me had helped me in my career immensely. I will never forget my time here, and it was so wonderful to come back after such a long time."

― Chelsea, in Fall 2013 from Oakland University

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"I feel happy returning to CJS and seeing the CJS program still working. My heartfelt gratitude to all the staff and teachers who supported me during my time at CJS."

― Dumas, in AY 2011-2013 from University of Ghana

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"It was a real pleasure for me to visit Nanzan again after such a long time. I even unexpectedly ran into Fujimoto-sensei, which brought me great joy. Eight years have passed since my exchange there, and many things have changed. I now work in public relations at the Japanese Embassy in and I’m happy to be able to use Japanese every day. I truly feel that I wouldn’t be where I am today if I had never come to Nanzan. Studying at Nanzan gave me a passion for the Japanese language and culture, as well as the motivation to always do my best. During my time there, I also made lifelong friendships. Some of those friends and I even reunited today to visit Nanzan, so I wasn’t alone!
From now on, I hope we will all continue doing our best in life. I also want to keep improving my Japanese and maybe move to Japan someday — who knows?
I hope that all exchange students at Nanzan will be able to thrive and develop a passion for the Japanese language as I did. I have no doubt that they, too, will have a memorable experience!"

― Laura, in AY 2017-2018 from University of Orléans

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"Hello everyone, My name is Nathan Yamaguchi and I attended Nanzan University in the Spring of 2019. I came to Nanzan University through an exchange program with my university, the University of Southern California. I am a fourth generation Japanese American so I wanted to study the language and culture of my past relatives.
Through that program, I was able to join the host family program where I got to live with my host parents. I enjoyed spending lots of time with my host family, eating lots of delicious food together that my host mom prepared, traveling together, and celebrating hanami in the park with the whole family.
During that time, I spent lots of time producing music, I was inspired by the lively lifestyle of Nagoya and the beautiful landscape surrounding me. I used those skills to become a sound designer for films, television shows, and commercials.
Through CJS, I was also able to meet my wife, she was studying Japanese as well. After a couple years of long-distance because of Covid-19, we attended a master’s program together in the states and eventually got married shortly afterwards.
Keeping in touch with my host family has been wonderful and I am so glad to stay with them again. They treat me like their own family.
Nanzan University has a special place in my heart and returning here brought back so many good memories.
Thank you CJS and Nanzan for the amazing experience, it truly transformed my life."

― Nathan, in Spring 2019 from University of Southern California

【Alumni Network Message from Alumni Association】

Hello to everyone in the Nanzan International Students Alumni Network. My name is Masanori Kitamura, and my field of specialty is Japanese and Cross-Cultural Communication.

While the Center for Japanese Studies (CJS) and the Faculty of Global Liberal Studies are both part of Nanzan University, they operate as separate entities.

Therefore, the curricula are different, and students do not normally take the same classes. However, there is a system called the "Open Course," which allows CJS students to attend some of the classes offered by the Faculty of Global Liberal Studies. Under this system, CJS students have been participating in my seminar classes for the past two years, and international students and seminar students have been learning what is called "Easy Japanese (Yasashii Nihongo)" together.

In recent years, the number of foreigners living in Japan has increased and as a result there have been language barrier-related problems when disasters occur.

It would be ideal if everyone could use English as a universal language, but in reality, English is not understood everywhere in Japan, and not all foreigners are English speakers. For this reason, "Easy Japanese" is gaining attention as a common language that Japanese people and foreigners can use within Japanese society.

International students study Japanese diligently, but Japanese is broader than the language found in textbooks or learned in classrooms. The way words are used also differs depending on age, region, and situation so you will probably have had experiences in which you didn't understand the meaning of what native Japanese speakers have said. There is nothing unusual about that.

On the other hand, for native Japanese speakers, the idea of "Japanese that isn't easily understood" is not something they normally think about. As a result, it is often only when they converse with international students that they experience their words not being understood or their intended meaning being difficult to convey. Through this experience, they are able to reflect on which expressions are easier to understand.

In this respect, the presence of international students serves as a kind of "teacher" for seminar students, providing them with valuable learning opportunities.

Furthermore, for international students themselves, using Japanese as a foreign language can feel challenging - such as not knowing how to express something or not understanding what was said. In such situations, if the other person speaks in "Easy Japanese," it helps to ease tension and anxiety, leading to smoother communication. By learning together with seminar students, international students can not only improve their Japanese language skills but also think about ways of communicating that help to achieve mutual understanding.

The second meaning of the word "Yasashii", (the first is "easy"), is "kind".

I sincerely look forward to seeing you - whether you have already graduated or are currently studying (or will study in the future) - thrive around the world thanks to easy and kind communication.

Masanori Kitamura
Faculty of Global Liberal Studies
Nanzan University

https://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/English/news/2025/251121_alumni.html

Recent visits to Nanzan campus by former CJS students🎃
Thank you all so much for coming to Nanzan! It was so great to see you again!

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"I came to Nanzan on a scholarship from Nagoya Lions Club. My brief stay at the university and my interaction with the other foreign students of CJS provided me for corporate career in various multinational companies. The experience also taught me invaluable lessons about the Japanese culture and enabled me to have a deeper understanding of international relations."
― Cresciente, in AY 1985-1986 from Ateneo de Manila University

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"I'm so happy to be back at Nanzan University after my exchange program 8 years ago. Even though I was here for just 2 semesters, this campus has left me with such wonderful memories. From Japan Plaza to library and the wide serene gardens, every corner of Nanzan University truly inspires learning. I hope that one day I can bring my children here to experience it too."
― Septiyaningrum, in AY 2016-2017 from University of Indonesia

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"I enjoyed my year and Nanzan and explored the Japanese culture. I have great memories of studying Japanese with Ban-sensei. It was very enjoyable to visit Nanzan and see Ban-sensei again."
― David, in AY 1975-1976 from University of Nebraska

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"After meeting a group of Nanzan Students at my local University, I embarked on the adventure of a foreign exchange to Japan, enrolling in the CJS at Nanzan. It was the best decision to make. Studying in Japan gave an awareness of life that nothing else could have given me. It changed my perspective on life, work and foreign countries. I met awesome friends with whom I still talk to this day. It has been several years since my experience but I still think of it very often. Studying Japanese with new friends, eating at Lien Cafe, talking with Nanzan students at stella Lounge, carving wood in class and going on daytrips... It was all very exciting and entertaining. It made me realize things about myself and my relationship with others. Also, it significantly improved my Japanese level like no other course I had taken before and it looks great on my resume. I felt at home in Nanzan, I encourage anyone reading this to try it! I know you will feel at home too."
― Nestor, in Spring 2019 from Pontifical Xavier University (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana)

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"I came to Nanzan University hoping to deepen my understanding of the Japanese language and immerse myself in Japanese culture. What I didn’t expect was how deeply this experience would impact my person. I found lifelong friends and a host family who gave me a true home during a time of transition, supporting me with kindness and warmth as I focused everything into my studies. My teachers were patient, encouraging, and made every lesson interesting. They opened my eyes to new ways of thinking and helped me appreciate the complex beauty of Japanese language and culture in a way I never could have imagined. Nanzan made me stronger, braver, and more open to the world around me. I will forever be grateful to my teachers, friends, and host family for the love, support, and unforgettable memories they’ve given me. I can never thank them enough for the incredible impact they’ve had on my life."
― Zoe, in Spring 2019 from University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Recent visits to Nanzan campus by former CJS students🌻
Thank you all so much for coming to Nanzan! It was so great to see you again!

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"It's so good to be able to come back to Japan, and have a home to return to at CJS! After so long, it's good to see the buildings and the warmth of everyone stay the same. My time at Nanzan helped pop me out of my shy shell, and even now I continue to explore the world. Thank you!"
― Natalia, in Spring 2014 from Queens University of Charlotte

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"My time at Nanzan was the most important period of my life. It opened my eyes to a bigger world and gave me the confidence to pursue an international career. Most importantly, the friends I made here have been the closest and longest friendships in my life"
― Tony, in AY 1985-1986 from Saint Louis University

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"My husband and I came to Nanzan University to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We were both foreign exchange students in 1982 and found each other while studying here. We loved our time at Nanzan. We learned a lot, met a lot of wonderful people and have very many fond memories."
― Cheryl, in AY 1982-1984 from Illinois State University

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"I made unforgettable memories and lifelong connections thanks to my semester at Nanzan in 2013. I hope many students continue to enjoy their education and experience what Nanzan has to offer."
― Bradly, in Fall 2013 from University of Missouri

Former CJS students are now making meaningful contributions to Expo 2025 in Osaka (Expo2025 大阪・関西万博) as interns. They shared their experiences in Japanese!

🇧🇪David Vandenberghe (CJS Fall 2023 – Spring 2024) from Belgium
「ベルギー館では、医療分野におけるベルギーの取り組みを紹介しています。パビリオンガイドとして来館者の皆様にベルギーの魅力を伝えることができ、とても貴重な経験となっています！」
Redwan Bedon Younes (CJS Fall 2023) also interns at the Belgian Pavillion with David.

🇺🇸Ethan Gastmeier (CJS Fall 2023 – Spring 2024) from the United States
「現在、10月まで大阪万博にあるアメリカ館で働いています。日本で仕事をしたことない私にとってこれはとても貴重な経験だと思っています。そしてまた日本で暮らすことができてとても嬉しいです。1年半前ぐらいに初めて日本語の「敬語」を南山大学で勉強し始めました。その経験を通じて、万博で働き始めた頃から既に敬語を使えるようになりました。もちろん敬語はまだ完璧に扱えないですが、この5ヶ月間を通して更に使えるようになったと思います。卒業してから日本で就職活動する予定なのでこれからも日本語の敬語の勉強を続けたいと思います。最後に、万博で働くことで色々な国々から来た人々と接する機会があり、様々な国際的な知識や経験を得られました。そのための準備ができたのは南山大学で体験したことだと思います。ほぼ毎日このような国際的な出会いや体験ができてとても感謝しています。この影響で大規模のイベントに興味を持つようになり、またいつかイベント業界に関する仕事をしたいと思います。」

🇮🇹Dorotea Mencarelli (CJS Fall 2022 – Spring 2023) from Italy
「この数か月の間に、本当に多くの方々とお話しする機会に恵まれました。時には子供から、大人からと、思いがけず贈り物をいただくこともありました。これは万博での活動の中で私が最も嬉しく感じることの一つであり、温かく受け入れられているように思えて、とても幸せでした。これらの経験やいただいた贈り物は、私にとって大切な思い出として一生大事にしていきたいと思っております。」

🍁✨ CJS Fall 2025 classes have started! ✨🍁

CJS students kicked off their study abroad journey with a warm welcome party following the Entrance Ceremony. This fall, 166 students will explore Japanese language, Japan studies, and the arts. Students also have the opportunity to take undergraduate courses alongside Nanzan University students, fostering cross-cultural learning and connection. Here’s to new friendships, bold adventures, and encounters filled with the ichigo ichie (一期一会) spirit—one moment, one meeting. 🌟

The CJS Summer Program 2025 has ended.
We hope you made many good memories studying Japanese, meeting friends, and exploring Japan.
Good luck, and we hope to see you again sometime!🍀

Marnie's book talk was fun! She discussed human relationships, drawing from her experiences as a CJS student with Nanzan instructors and her host family, and as a novelist with her family, friends, and agents. She also offered tips for writing a novel!

What keeps Marnie from getting writer's block? She said, "Simple. If I get stuck, I go back to the beginning and add details. I’m never picky about whether the writing is interesting. I wait for something to emerge.”

The dialogue between Marnie and the participants was genuine and warm. Thank you very much to Marnie for visiting Nanzan!

💖About Marnie💖
Born in Minnesota, USA. Started to learn Japanese at Carleton College. Studied abroad at Nanzan University in 1990. PhD in Japanese Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently teaches Japanese at the University of Minnesota while writing novels in Japanese.

📢Student Voice

I have been swimming since elementary school, but for various reasons, I decided to quit several years ago. However, once I arrived in Japan, I decided to join the university swimming club and picked up the sport again after a long time—not only to make new friends, but also to experience firsthand an essential part of university life in Japan: club activities.

From the very first day, I was warmly welcomed. The members patiently explained how the club and the training sessions were organized.

One of the things that struck me most from the beginning was how the club is run entirely by its members. Each student has their own role, which they carry out with seriousness and a strong sense of responsibility. Over time, I also took on a more active role: for example, I had the chance to write a couple of blog posts and helped during the university festival, where we all worked together to prepare and sell udon noodles. This trust made me feel a stronger sense of belonging to the group.

However, it was the experiences outside of training that truly allowed me to bond with other club members. For example, I took part in the 名南戦 (Meinansen), a competition where we competed against Nagoya University. After the event, we all went out to eat and drink together, and I got to meet and talk with students from that university as well. During spring holiday we had a 部旅行, where we spent two days visiting Kobe and the surrounding area. I also had the opportunity to meet and talk with former club members, which made me realize just how strong the bonds created between members of club are. Finally, one of the most exciting experiences was being able to participate in an official swimming competition in Japan.

It’s undeniable that joining a club requires a significant time commitment and that it can be tiring, especially when combined with classes. However, the exhaustion from training fades, and what remains are unforgettable experiences—and, most importantly, amazing friends.

Samuele Visentin
CJS Fall 2024-Spring 2025
Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy

Congratulations, CJS students in AY 2024-2025!

The CJS Closing Ceremony took place on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Students from each Japanese course received a Certificate of Completion from President Kisala.

Darwin Cruz, a student from the United States, delivered a speech of gratitude in Japanese.

The following is a quote from his speech:

"これまでになく世界が簡単に繋がる時代を生きているのに、ともすれば我々アメリカ人は、この世界が私たちを中心に回っているかのように思い、世界がどれほど多様性に溢れているかということをつい忘れてしまいがちです。そもそも多様な国であるアメリカで育った私に、多様性の本質を、南山大学生と留学生が教えてくれました。それは、多様な人が近くに住んでいるという多様性ではなくて、様々な価値観にふれた上で理解し、異なる意見や考え方を受け入れるということです。

私たち一人ひとりの間には、驚くほどたくさんの違いがあります。そのような多様な学生のいるクラスで失業、宗教、男女平等など、時には話しにくい話題についてディスカッションを重ねる中で、寛容さを持ちながら相手を尊重して話すことが重要だと気がつきました。それと同時に、私たちには数多くの共通点を見出すこともできるのだと知りました。日本の問題や世界共通の問題について話し、さらに様々な社会問題について勉強し、皆が異なる国からきているのに同じ問題を抱えていることもわかりました。"