BEYOND
BORDERS
2012 JANUARY 30
After a year in the making, former CSUS Japanese Language Program students and Prof. Masuyama recently assisted with the reunion of two brothers who have not met in almost 60 years. This story has been covered by news sources internationally. For more on this amazing reunion story, please visit this Yahoo news article , and the Eskaton news page.
2012 JANUARY 18
Welcome to the new site layout! I hope everyone had a wonderful time at the CSUS Japan Language Program student/Japan Club reunion during New Years in Shibuya Japan.
2011 SEPTEMBER 30
Congratulations to CSUS Japanese Language Program student and former CSUS Japan Club President Cesar Chavez for winning the CSUS Dean's Award for 2011! For more information please visit the CSUS website link at http://www.csus.edu/pa/video/20110426_003_DeansAwards_CesarChavez.html
Thank you Cesar for showing again, what a student of the CSUS Japanese Language Department and a president of the CSUS Japan Club can accomplish!
2011 MARCH 21
On March 11th, a massive earthquake of 9.0 magnitude occurred near the northeastern coast of Japan, which consequently causeed tsunami waves to hit shortly after. J-Alumni in Japan are all right, but there is absolute devastation in the Tohoku region of Japan. Furthermore, there were explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and there are concerns that the situation may get worse. Here is a visual of the disaster: Before and After
Here are a few useful links for the situation:
- How You Can Help
J-Alumni Beyond Borders is a subsection of the Sacramento State Japan Club specifically created for former members and former students of the Japanese Language Program. Founded in 2008, our purpose is to provide previously active American and Japanese students with special services and opportunities such as career networking, club reunions, notification of job or graduate study opportunities, informational and training seminars, and much more. Additionally, articles written by alumni and ambassadors will be posted for the benefit and entertainment of currently active Japan Club members.
Our goals as an alumni organization are as follows:
1: To provide a venue for professional networking and support between current CSUS Japanese Language Program/CSUS Japan Club students
2: To provide a venue for events, reunions, and opportunities for continued interaction between CSUS Japanese Language Program students/CSUS Japan Club members
3: To provide continued support from graduated CSUS Japanese Language Program students/CSUS Japan Club members for the CSUS Japanese Language Program and faculty
Current Board Members:
Brian David Berry
Christofer Lamb
Sachiko Kobayashi
Cesar Chavez
J-Alumni: Facebook Official Group Page
CSUS Japanese Language Program Page
CSUS Japan Club Official Home Page
JET Program Official Home Page
This section of the website is dedicated to personal testimonies and stories of individual students' experiences during and after their time at CSUS as well as their involvement with the CSUS Japanese Language Program and the CSUS Japan Club.
If you too are an alumni and wish to express your own message and story, please contact us via the CONTACT tab, we are always interested in hearing your story!
Please click on the names of the students to the left to view each story.
The amount that the CSUS Japanese Language Program has impacted my life is simply immeasurable. I transferred to CSUS almost 7 years ago and graduated with a major in Asian Studies with a focus on Japan, and a special major in Japanese language. It was the Japanese language special major and the support of Prof. Kazue Masuyama that allowed me to successfully complete two separate study abroad programs in Japan prior to graduating, and win the Phi Beta Delta Domestic International Student award in 2008. Im currently a PhD student at the University of Tokyo in Japan writing my dissertation on some of the same study abroad programs that I took part in during my undergraduate education at CSUS.
The Japanese Language Program was far more than just classes in a curriculum at CSUS, it is an entire community. It is a community that supported each other, assisted each other with the construction of Japan Club and related events both on-campus and within the community around Sacramento. What set the Japanese language classes apart from other language courses was the extremely strong and exceptionally active community of students. I still meet monthly with the dozens of students who were my classmates in the Japanese Language Program classes back at CSUS, some of which were exchange students from all around the world who joined the Japanese Language Program classes at CSUS. A large majority of these students were successful in finding careers related to, or in, Japan.
As alumni of CSUS, I and other students hope to help guide and assist students in gaining the same opportunities and rewards we have found through our education and activities in CSUS, the Japanese Language Program, and Japan Club.
The CSUS Japanese Language Program changed my life. I came into CSUS straight out of high school with a vague idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I liked Japanese animation and music, so I decided to take one of Prof. Masuyama's Japanese language courses. It was the best choice I have ever made; for my interests have been transformed into a career in Japan and lifelong relationships with people around the world.
Through the Japanese Language Program, I was able to learn not only Japanese language, but Japanese business etiquette, as well as unique sociological differences that one might not notice unless taught. This enabled me to go Japan for the summer of 2007 and work at one of Japan's largest food distributors. By the time I graduated in 2008, I had accomplished more than I had ever imagined; I became proficient in Japanese language, successfully completed an internship in Japan, led the CSUS Japan Club in its first Japanese Culture Night, and made countless friends.
I am currently a participant in the Japan Exchange Teacher (JET) Program living my dream. This would not be possible without the support and guidance I was given by the CSUS Japanese Language Program. As a CSUS Alumni, I want to provide the same support and guidance, and opportunities that I was provided when I was at CSUS.
During my time in America, my active involvement in CSUS Japan Club and Japanese Language Program allowed me to discover my lifelong mission; to pursue a career that will allow me to spread my enthusiasm for intercultural communication and education. International students often encounter with a marathon of culture shock and difficulty adjusting to a different environment, language barriers, homesickness, and so forth. However, the CSUS Japan Club, Masuyama-sensei, and the Japanese Language Program provided me a comfortable place to interact with international communities on campus. My academic life in America was fulfilling because of the existence of these amazing organizations and people.
I transferred to CSU Sacramento in Fall of 2007, and during that time I served as an official Japan Club officer. We achieved remarkable growth and progress that semester. By serving as an officer in an international organization, I learned effective coordination skills, leadership, different values, responsibility, and integrity.
As a Japanese Language tutor, I volunteered far more hours than any other tutor in the department. I feel energized by other peoples interest in my culture and mother tongue, and I have done everything possible to share it with everyone.
My time as an international student in America, and especially as an officer of the Japan Club at CSUS has been my window into the diversity that makes the United States of America so strong. Despite our differences, we found ourselves bound together by common interests. Occasionally, we encountered difficulties and disagreements, but through hard work, communication, and understanding, I have striven to make those conflicts productive, and used those experiences to learn more about the way that others perceive the world. I can't count the number of times Ive felt thankful for having the opportunity to study in America; had I gone to a Japanese university, I definitely would not have had the experiences afforded to me at Sac State. As I cherish all my precious memory and friends I made in the US, I want to continue to help the Japan Club thrive and make sure that all the future international students will enjoy their experience to their fullest. CSUS Japan Club and Japanese Language Program are the best place on campus to gain intercultural competency and mutual understandings of each other.
My aspiration to work for Nintendo of Japan as a game programmer led me to learn Japanese. I did not expect, however, that Japanese would become my greatest enjoyment in college. My involvement in the Japanese Language Program at Sac State has allowed me great opportunities beyond language courses: from leading CSUSs Japan Club as president, participating in a culture immersion internship for Co-op Tokyo, working as a tutor for Japanese courses, and currently working at a junior high school in Nagano, Japan, as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme.
I discovered a great enjoyment in teaching and promoting culture by being responsible for many events as Japan Club's president. We hosted events such as Origami-a-ton and Japanese Language Conversation Days , but my proudest moment was hosting the 2010 CSUS Japan Culture Night. Showcasing performances from Japanese language students and groups like the Sacramento Taiko Dan and Rancho Cordova Kendo, the events created an opportunity for people to experience Japanese culture.
I learned about Japanese culture in Japan Club and my Japanese courses, but it was my internship at Co-op Tokyo where I first experienced living in Japan. For two months, through my experience working together with Japanese people in University Co-ops in Tokyo, I learned that I want to work in Japan because I find the language and the interactions with the people intellectually stimulating. Thanks to Masuyama-senseis guidance and encouragement, I was able to participate in an incredible internship that allowed me to learn about the daily life and professional working environments of Japan.
I became a Japanese tutor at CSUS after working at Co-op Tokyo because I wanted to encourage others to continue studying the language and aim for unique cultural experiences like my internship. As a tutor I assisted classes by grading quizzes and performing skits with the Japanese professors.By allowing me to be a tutor, the Japanese Language Program gave me an opportunity to learn how to assist instructors and students inside and outside the classroom, skills that are invaluable in my current job.
My professional aspiration to work for Nintendo of Japan mirrors Masuyama-sensei, Japan Club and the Japanese Language Programs goals to promote international exchange between Japan and other cultures. My studies have not only taught me the Japanese language, but have also given me opportunities to learn, promote and live Japanese culture. I owe an incredible amount of gratitude to Japan Club, the Japanese Language Program, and especially Masuyama-sensei for helping me discover these skills.
David graduated from CSUS with a major in Graphic Design and special major in Japanese, and has one of the most interesting stories to tell about his life after graduation. During his college career he often participated in Japan Club events and could be found almost daily in the Japanese tutor room. He studied at Waseda University for one academic year and has since taken that experience to a whole new level. Be sure to take a look at the articles on his blog at griddable.
After completing classes in Japanese language in the Japanese Language Department at CSUS, David benefited greatly from his time studying abroad at Waseda University, which lead to connections for his career in graphic design.
Maria was an exchange student to CSUS way back, and would often participate with Japan Club as well as in the Japanese tutor room. She continued her Japanese Language study after her study at CSUS and took part in an internship in Japan shortly afterward. After graduation from her home university she was selected for a highly specialized group which was selected to bring H&M to Japan successfully.
H&M is now currently one of the most succesful fashion retail stores in Japan and continues to grow and open more shops each year.
After receiving his Bachelors Degree at CSUS, Michael Chen took part in events at the beginning stages of Japan Club's life, along with leading the Martial Arts Club while completing his Masters in Recreational Science. He still maintains connections with the Martial Arts Club which has performed at various Japan Club events, martial arts competitions, and several other performance events. He has stared in various commercials as well as held various roles in a few movies. The most recent being a film titled Grandma Takedown, where he plays the role of a ninja.
If you have any questions or wish to contact, or if you are requesting to join CSUS Japan Club: Beyond Borders as an alumni of the CSUS Japan Club at CSU: Sacramento, please feel free to contact us.
©2009 CSUS Japan Club: Beyond Borders. Webmaster Brian Berry
