KANSAI GAIDAI UNIVERSITY

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For more information on the bios of all our faculty members, please visit : http://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp/asp/03_academics/05.html Miki Motohashi has been teaching Japanese to international students, as well as Japanese linguistics including lexicography, phonetics, and phonology to local students at Kansai Gaidai for nearly 15 years. Her teaching is designed to not only enhance their Japanese language skills, but also make learning as enjoyable as possible by utilizing students’ interests (e.g., Japanese music, movies, literature.) As a researcher, she specializes in second language research in perception and production in spoken language processing. She actively publishes and presents her findings through her current project of developing and implementing research-based and classroom-oriented pedagogical methods to improve students’ pronunciation by utilizing orthographic effects on second language phonology.Miki Motohashi, Associate Professor(Japanese Language)M.A., University of Wisconsin-MadisonPh.D., Michigan State UniversityIchizo Takayama draws on his breadth of experience as a practicing attorney in a prominent international law firm as well as in-house corporate counsel to multi-national enterprises to offer rudimentary and advanced legal courses in the fields of interna-tional business and public relations. His ultimate objectives are to enhance student competencies in logical thinking and develop presentation skills through analysis, briefings and presentation of actual precedents adjudicated by U.S., Japan or other foreign court justices involving various legal and business issues. His courses will be highly beneficial to students considering careers with multi-national enterprises in relation to Japanese businesses.Hideki Saigo teaches Japanese to international students and instructs local students in Japanese linguistics. His research topic is Japanese sentence-final particles, and his current interest relates to how non-native speakers can be helped to more competently make small talk in Japanese. His style of teaching Japanese is unique, especially in terms of how he stimulates students’ imagina-tion and sense of humor in a relaxed atmosphere. His class activities include a speech, a presentation, a short movie project, and conversation practice in the casual and formal settings international students would encounter in Japan. His educational philosophy is “no enjoyment, no learning.”Hideki Saigo, Associate Professor(Japanese Language)M.A., University of Essex Ph.D., Durham UniversityThe koto is a Japanese traditional musical instrument with thirteen strings. Haruna Iguchi is known as an experienced koto and shamisen player, and conducts extensive research in the lyrics of traditional Japanese music. Students in her koto course will learn how to play some of the best known Japanese compositions. The culture of playing the koto involves more than mastering basic techniques; she emphasizes the importance of process-es such as setting up, tuning, and storing the instrument properly, all of which are integral to playing the koto. Students have an opportunity to learn and experience self-discipline known as one of the important virtues in Japanese society.Haruna Iguchi, Assistant Professor(Koto, Japanese Harp)M.Ed., Nara University of Education Ph.D., Kansai Gaidai UniversityYuki Matsuba, Assistant Professor(Ceramics)B.A., Kindai UniversityTraining Course, Kyoto Municipal Institute of Technology and Culture Ichizo Takayama, Professor(Japanese/Asian Law)LL.M., Duke UniversityBon-Won Koo teaches in her classes the art of creating Japanese comics, known as manga. Beginning with the basic skills like how to use professional tools, the students will be introduced to the techniques of storytelling and drawing manga. These classes are designed as PBL classes, and the final project will be creating a manga booklet with students' works. Manga is one of the most important parts of Japanese popular culture, and this class, creating manga on your own, will offer you an unforgettable experience for your semester in Japan.Bon-Won Koo, Assistant Professor(Manga Drawing)M.A., Kyoto Seika University Ph.D., Kyoto Seika UniversityYuki Matsuba is an experienced Kyoto-based Japanese potter, offering courses in Japanese-style ceramic art. Based on years of training as an apprentice to famous ceramics masters in Kyoto, he provides hands-on practice in the mastery of traditional techniques while develop-ing insight into Japanese culture, such as tea ceremony and flower arrange-ment. Illustrating both the theory and practice of Japanese ceramic culture, his students are offered unique and valuable cultural experiences. Students often create personalized tea cups and rice bowls, with a distinctive Japanese style_all of which make great gifts for friends and family.39