Greetings from the President

SHIBUYA Maki (Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing)

I was appointed as the president for a period of two years from FY 2021. Thinking back, it was a quarter of a century ago that I joined this Society. I changed my research topic and field, prompted by a chance meeting with kikokushijo [returnee students] while studying overseas, and was somewhat of a rolling stone when I returned to Japan, but it was this Society which gave me a place and helped me to develop. I will work earnestly in this role, hoping to repay even a little of this debt.

During my tenure, my aims are, firstly, to exploit the distinctive characteristics of this Society, which brings together diversity in terms of academic fields and research histories, to maintain and develop an inclusive environment suited to the exploration of intercultural education. In order to do so, I have set up a new Networking Committee where members of the Society can interact with each other across fields and generations. The Research Committee is introducing an open recruitment system for research into specific issues, creating a forum for visionary members to play active roles on the frontiers of research. The PR & ICT Committee, meanwhile, is working vigorously to disseminate information more proactively both internally and externally.

Secondly, we will continue to be proactive about tackling the urgent issues for contemporary society, as well as original topics, carrying on this Society’s frontier spirit. The need for people with various cultural backgrounds to live together is becoming ever more acute these days. The Planning Committee is creating an archive in order to hand down the intellectual assets of this Society, which has been quick to work on such issues, as well as holding a book club to deliver new research results more vividly, among other endeavors.

Thirdly, I aim to expand the Society’s activities more globally. The newly-established Global Engagement Committee is considering measures to allow us to interact more dynamically across national borders with researchers and academic societies who have a shared awareness of issues or research topics. For example, we will promote the provision of information from overseas academic societies and others, and the dissemination of research results in English. We have already started work on disseminating information in English, with the collaboration of the PR & ICT Committee, and will publish this in stages.

We have been given permission to locate the Secretariat within Meiji University. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at the Secretariat, who cheerfully and positively take on such an enormous job. In addition, I have intentionally put together an Executive Board with members of the younger generation at its heart, in order to create an environment which facilitates participation irrespective of one’s record within this Society and to enhance our vitality. Such decisions are possible precisely because I have confidence that the members who have been involved with the Society for many years will continue to drive us forward. I am grateful for your cooperation.

Let us develop meaningful activities together. Thank you very much.

Former Presidents

FY 2023 – 2024 SHIBUYA Maki
FY 2021 – 2022 SHIBUYA Maki
FY 2019 – 2020 SATO Gunei
FY 2017 – 2018 SATO Gunei
FY 2015 – 2016 KAGAMI Tomiyo
FY 2013 – 2014 KAGAMI Tomiyo
FY 2011 – 2012 YOKOTA Masahiro
FY 2009 – 2010 YOKOTA Masahiro
FY 2007 – 2008 YAMADA Reiko
FY 2003 – 2006 KOJIMA Masaru
FY 2001 – 2002 SATO Gunei
FY 1999 – 2000 KATO Yukitsugu
FY 1993 – 1998 EBUCHI Kazuhiro
FY 1990 – 1992 HOSHINO Akira
FY 1981 – 1992 KOBAYASHI Tetsuya