New Japanese Student Ambassador Program
This semester, we started a new Japanese Student Ambassador program! As ambassadors, these students promote the Japanese program, advise faculty on future events, and give useful tips on learning Japanese at Georgia Tech. Our Spring 2020 Japanese Student Ambassadors are Benjamin Bray, Yendi Neil, Edward Storey, and Rebecca Seippel. Please see the following link for more information.
Godzilla Expert Bill Tsutsui Lecture
On February 11, 2020, Godzilla expert and Hendrix College Professor Bill Tsutsui presented "Dreading and Dreaming Disaster: Japan’s Apocalyptic Imagination from Hiroshima to Fukushima" to students from both the Japanese program and the wider campus community at the Georgia Tech Library. This event was sponsored by the Association for Asian Studies and Georgia Tech Library with support from the School of Modern Languages, Sci-fi @Tech, and the Atlanta Global Studies Center.
Georgia Tech Hosts Japanese Speech Contest
On Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 Georgia Tech hosted the Georgia State Japanese Speech Contest and Academic Challenge for the second year in a row. There were 40 participants in the Speech Contest and 58 participants in the Academic Challenge. The event brings Japanese language learners from colleges and high schools in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to compete for a variety of prizes. There were over 240 people in attendance, which makes this the largest turnout in the contest's 28 year history.
Last year's winner and Georgia Tech student Joshua Baldwin emceed the event. Four Georgia Tech students from the Japanese program also took home top prizes. In Category II, Jiawen Ge won 1st Place and a round trip to Japan. Kipp Morris won 2nd Place and Jae Hee Kim won the Special Award. In Category III, Eun Chang Park won 1st Place. Congratulations to all students and faculty for a fantastic event!
Japanese Tea Ceremony Event
On Friday, November 2nd, 2018, the Japanese program hosted a tea ceremony demonstration for Georgia Tech students. Led by Lecturers Aki Matsushima (kneeling, far left) and Aya McDaniel (standing), the event explored the history and meaning of the Japanese tea ceremony. Tea ceremony is a ceremonial ritual with a history of more than 1000 years. Each aspect of the ceremony is carefully choreographed, including the preparation, pouring, and placement of the tea. Alongside flower arrangement and incense appreciation, it is considered one of the three classical arts of Japanese refinement.
Over fifty students attended the event, which was organized by Matsushima-sensei with the support of the Urasenke Tankokai Atlanta Association.
Japan in American Science Fiction Lecture
On Tuesday, November 13, 2018, the Japanese program sponsored a lecture by Visiting Assistant Professor Amanda Weiss. In the speech, "Mecha Suits, Postracial Skins: 'Becoming Japanese' in New American Science Fiction," Professor Weiss discussed changing American representation of Japan in films like Pacific Rim (2009) and TV shows like Altered Carbon (2018).
Over sixty students, faculty members, and staff attended this event.
Japan Foundation Presents Check to Modern Languages
(Left to right) Dean Jacqueline Jones Royster, Consul General Takashi Shinozuka, Modern Languages Chair Anna Westerstahl Stenport, Associate Professor of Japanese Masato Kikuchi
On Thursday, September 13, 2018, the Japan Foundation presented $30,000 in funding to the School of Modern Languages. The Consul General of Japan in Atlanta, Takashi Shinozuka, presented the check on behalf of the Foundation to Modern Languages Chair Anna Westerstahl Stenport in a special ceremony held on campus. These funds will be used to support online courses and other technology development at the School of Modern Languages.