087 Beyond Japanese-Language Education:
Stories from Both Sides of the Classroom
2025.11.14
Japanese-language education can be more than just the study of words─it can be a compass that guides learners through pivotal moments in their lives and open up a path toward their dreams. It's a meaningful journey of possibilities, hopes, and joys─leading to a future as yet unimagined. As that journey unfolds, what lies in store?
This special series highlights people whose lives have been touched by Japanese-language education─teachers, learners, and those who support them. Taken together, their individual stories shape and embellish the fabric of international exchange.
Why not open the door to your own story?
Top Stories
Laughter Meets Learning: Breakout Comedian Yiran on the Crossroads between Comedy and Study
Yiran, who began learning Japanese with the goal of becoming a comedian in Japan.
What new learning experiences and opportunities did he encounter along the way?
Behind the Scenes
How Japanese-Language Education in Malaysia Led Me to Community Co-Creation
Rin Miyakawa was dispatched to Malaysia as a " NIHONGO Partners " assisting in Japanese language classes and introducing Japanese culture as an assistant to local Japanese language teachers.
We spoke with her about the career she built after NIHONGO Partners.
Behind the Scenes
Professor Satoshi Miyazaki × Patrick Harlan: What Role Should Japanese-Language Education Need Now?
Waseda University professor Satoshi Miyazaki and television personality Patrick Harlan (Pakkun) discussed the topic with a sprinkle of humor while exploring hints for the future.
Web Magazine Wochi Kochi
Back Issues
- 086 Eighty Years On from the War: Memory and the Power of Culture
- 085 The 2024 Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship
- 084 The 51st Japan Foundation Awards Report on the 2024 Japan Foundation Awards Ceremony
- 083: Diversity and Inclusion through the Arts
- 082: My Life in Japan, Living and Working in Japanese
- 080: The 50th Japan Foundation Awards
―Culture Transcending Borders― - 081 People-to-People Exchanges and Empowerment in ASEAN
- 079: Movie Theaters around the World
- 078: The 49th Japan Foundation Awards
―Building Bridges Across Differences― - 077: Living Together with Japanese Language
- 076: Inner Diversity
- 075: The 48th Japan Foundation Awards―Linking the World through Culture amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
- 074: Beyond Disasters - Telling the Stories
- 073: Crossing Borders, Engaging in Exchanges and Harnessing the Power of Creation amid COVID-19
- 072: Japanese art blossoming in the United States
- 071: The 47th Japan Foundation Awards―the Bond between Japan and the World Nurtured by Culture, Language and Knowledge
- 070: Japan & Southeast Asia: Building Bonds through Sports
- 069: Contemporary Japanese literature spreading through the world
- 068: Success of Japonismes 2018
- 067: Literature and music that resonate across borders and Japanese culture handed down from the past: The Japan Foundation Awards 2018
- 066: A Passion for learning Japanese spreads worldwide
- 065: Contemporary Arts that Link Japan and Cuba
- 064: Japonismes 2018: Introducing the essence of Japanese arts and culture in France
- 063: Passion and Curiosity Open Doors to Cross-Cultural Communication - The Japan Foundation Awards 2017
- 062: ASEAN 50th Anniversary: Southeast Asia Now and into the Future, as Seen through Art
- 061: Regional Cultural Assets and International Exchange
- 060 CGP/Abe Fellowship Program 25th Anniversary
- 059 Evolving International Exhibitions and Their Future
- 058 The World Expanded by Japanese Language
- 057 Search for the Future of Media Art
- 056 Five Years after the Great East Japan Earthquake
- 055 Various Ways of International Friendship and Cultural Exchange: The Japan Foundation Awards 2015
- 054 Japanese Contemporary Art that Captivates Europe
- 053 Communicate, Convey――Reasons for Learning Languages
- 052 Chim↑Pom's Expedition to Bangladesh
- 051 Interaction on a Global Scale: The 2014 Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship
- 050 Thinking about the Future of Tohoku with People all over the World
- 049 Parisians were Mesmerized by Hokusai Once Again--The 200th Anniversary of the Hokusai Manga
- 048 Language and Laughter that Connect People -- The Japan Foundation Awards 2014
- 047 Discovering a New World through Japanese Language
- 046 Absorbing modernization: the Path that Japan followed
- 045 Seeking to understand human existence - Theatrical Performances Cut Across National Borders
- 044 Asian Writers Discuss Literature
- 043 Artists Expressing Their Own Times in Their Own Places
- 042 Scenery Created by Modern Architecture
- 041 Strengthen bonds among Asian Countries
- 040 Nurturing the Seeds of Friendship that Developed Out of the Disaster
- 039 Stage Productions Created by ASEAN and Japanese Artists
- 038 Traditional Japanese Art Meets the World: An Opportunity for Evolution
- 037 Communicating in Japanese
- 036 The 41st Japan Foundation Awards: Connecting the World, Connecting Generations
- 035 At the Cutting Edge of the Scene: Media Art and Architecture from Japan
- 034 An Unabridged Analysis--Koki Tanaka @ Venice Biennale
- 033 Pursuing Hope, Dreams and Love: Artists Exploring New Realms
- 032 Beyond Borders: Promoting Japanese Literature Abroad
- 031 Taking a Fresh Look on Postwar Japanese Art--Tokyo, Seoul, New York
- 030 Sharing with the World: Japan's Experiences and Recovery Efforts in the Disaster-Stricken Areas
- 029 Seeing the Future of Japan through a Prism of Colorful Light
- 028 At the Leading Edge: Robot, Android, and Vocaloid
- 027 Japanese Society through the Lens of Art
- 026 The Japan Foundation Awards 2012
- 025 Architecture. Possible here? Home-for-All
- 024 People in Japan- China Exchange
- 023 Open a Window through the Japanese-Language
- 022 Nature, the Environment, and Art
- 021 Feeling the Middle East closer
- 020 Thinking in India
- 019 Discovering Contemporary Japan at the JFIC
- 018 A Year from 3.11, Has Art Managed to Help Society?
- 017 Literature that transcends time and space
- 016 Japanese Pop Culture Now!
- 015 The Japan Foundation Awards Special Issue: Profiles of Pioneers
- 014 Encounter with Hokusai in Germany
- 013 Biennnale/Triennnale
- 012 Festival !
- 011 Designs that connect, locally and globally
- 010 After 3.11
- 009 Thinking of Korea
- 008 Bringing People Together with Nihongo
- 007 The world meets butoh
- 006 Spellbound by Japanese cinema
- 005 Cultural Heritage Lives on Today
- 004 表現としてのマンガ
- 003 音楽が紡ぐ出会い 日本×アフリカ
- 002 越境する文学
- 001 これからの国際文化交流