Paper/Panel proposal submission deadline: 1 July 2023.
Email: nzasia2023@canterbury.ac.nz

Applications are now open for the Sunday 2 July Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)! For more information or to download an application please see the following website.
https://www.auckland.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/japanese_language.html
Applications close Friday 31 March!
The deadline is 1 July 2023, 5:00pm
Corporate membership is offered to businesses and organisations who wish to support the future of Japanese studies in New Zealand.
Fee: $100 per year.
Benefits of corporate membership:
To apply, contact JSANZ Treasurer Michiyo Mori:
m.mori@auckland.ac.nz
Alternatively you may wish to consider a donation. We are a charitable organisation.
JSANZ bank account details for direct credit are:
060729 0680389 00 (ANZ Cuba and Rangitikei Branch, Cnr Cuba and Rangitikei Streets, Palmerston North).
JSANZ is very proud to announce that Mrs Dallas Nesbitt, former Vice President of Japanese Studies Aotearoa New Zealand (JSANZ) and former Senior Lecturer in the School of Language and Culture, Auckland University of Technology, has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette for her contributions to promoting academic exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and New Zealand, in the 2022 Autumn Conferment of Decorations announced by the Japanese Government.
SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Mrs Dallas Nesbitt has been dedicated to Japanese language education in New Zealand for around 40 years.
Mrs Nesbitt was involved in establishing the Japanese course at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in 1984 and since then has played a central role in developing Japanese language education at AUT and has contributed to people to people exchange through educating students to become a bridge between Japan and New Zealand. She has also contributed to the development of Japanese language education through research activities into Japanese language education methodology, focusing on the study of Kanji and learner motivation, in addition to promoting the Japanese language across various networks, and writing a Japanese textbook
In addition, Mrs Nesbitt is active in furthering Japanese language education and Japan research in New Zealand. She was involved in the establishment of New Zealand’s first national network organization of tertiary level Japanese language educators and researchers, Japanese Studies Aotearoa New Zealand (JSANZ) and is currently engaged in promotional activities for Japanese culture and the achievements of this organization. https://www.auckland.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100414957.pdf
The full list of Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals is published at (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Webpage)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/protocol/jokun.html
(Japanese)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/info/conferment/index.html
(English)
Click here to view the winning speech (YouTube)
The prizegiving of the JSANZ Tertiary Japanese Language Speech Contest took place on Friday November 11, hosted by the School of Cultures, Languages and Linguistics of The University of Auckland.
Congratulatory addresses were given by Professor Martin East, Head, School of Cultures, Languages and Linguistics, The University of Auckland; Mr Hamada Shinichi, Consul-General of Japan; Mr Shimizu Yasumasa, Mitsubishi Corporation Auckland Branch and a director of Nisui-Kai (The Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Auckland Inc.) and Dr Penny Shino, JSANZ President.
Mr Shimizu presented the awards to the three prize winners: Rika Xiong (1st place, University of Auckland), Kitty Cheng (2nd place, University of Auckland) and Wen-Po Yeh (3rd place, IPU New Zealand, Palmerston North). Video recordings of the placeholders’ winning speeches were also played.
Warm congratulations again to the prizewinners for your superb effort and the sincerity, animation and exceptional skill of your presentations.
Sincere gratitude to the JSANZ Speech Contest Committee, Mori Michiyo (Chair), Minagawa Harumi and Naomi Collins. It is a complex event to organise, with many stages, and as usual you have done an exceptional job.
Finally JSANZ would like to acknowledge with thankful appreciation the hard work of the anonymous judges and the generosity of our sponsors, The Japan Foundation and Nisui-Kai (The Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Auckland Inc.).
Here is the link to the recording of the prizegiving: https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fauckland.au.panopto.com%2FPanopto%2FPages%2FViewer.aspx%3Fid%3Ddc5abe8b-d02d-4fdf-a32c-af4d000fc217&data=05%7C01%7Cp.a.shino%40massey.ac.nz%7C16a9db22f260483edeca08dac68df13a%7C388728e1bbd0437898dcf8682e644300%7C1%7C0%7C638040610207359738%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=fyAvkz6ymZuVv0MhC5wPYOJdV%2F25R%2Bkw6aSc9ui8Jww%3D&reserved=0
Congratulations to the winners of the JSANZ Japanese Firsts Awards 2022. There are 14 awards in all and there were many excellent nominations this year so if the person you nominated did not get chosen this time, please try again next year as we are keen to showcase all the amazing people working hard to make the language learning journey a great experience for everyone.
Most Dedicated Japanese Language Lecturer: Yoshiko Lowry, Ara Institute of Canterbury
Most Dedicated Japanese Language Lecturer (Highly Commended): Junko Yamamoto, IPU New Zealand
Most Dedicated Japanese Language Lecturer (Highly Commended): Katie Marr, Ara Institute of Canterbury
Most Engaged Third Year Student: Meg Koppen, University of Canterbury
Most Engaged Second Year Student: Carla Elliot, Massey University
Most Engaged First Year Student: Simon Zhang, Victoria University of Wellington https://www.dropbox.com/sh/unhs5hpiso85bpr/AACDTiij6ls2YUDnDhIJ1Gt-a/Posters/JSAN-Digital-v1%206.pdf?dl=0
Most Engaged First Year Student(Highly Commended): Jaelyn Clint, Auckland University of Technology
Most Valued Support Staff: Ayana Kuwabara, Teaching Assistant and Volunteer, Victoria University of Wellington
Most Valued Support Staff(Highly Commended): Tamami Ashizumi, Volunteer, Auckland University of Technology.
Awesome Again: Eri Kojima-Mathieson, University of Canterbury
Awesome Again: Masa Ogino, University of Canterbury
Awesome Again: David Wells, University of Canterbury
Awesome Again: Yoshie Nishikawa, Victoria University of Wellington
Awesome Again: Toshiaki Yamauchi, Massey University
On Thursday 30 June, Consul General Hamada awarded Dr Junji Kawai, Senior Lecturer of Auckland University of Technology, the Consul General’s Commendation in recognition of his distinguished service in contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and New Zealand.
Dr Kawai has been involved in Japanese teaching in universities in New Zealand for 30 years, and also been actively involved in promoting the Japanese language in the community in various ways such as organising the Auckland Regional Secondary School Japanese Speech Contest.
We offer our deepest thanks to Dr Kawai for all of his efforts and achievements and look forward to his continued success.