The WMU Board of Trustees in December 2005 approved the Center that will be housed in the Diether H.  Haenicke Institute for Global Education beginning July 1.  

Western Michigan University’s links with Japan date back more than fifty years to the first Japanese alumnus who earned a graduate degree in psychology in 1955.  WMU’s first academic linkage with a Japanese university began with Keio University, which sent a Summer Institute group of 66 students and 3 professors to Kalamazoo in 1961.    

The Center is named after Dr. Michitoshi Soga, WMU Emeritus Professor of Physics, who worked tirelessly for decades to build the University’s Japanese Studies offerings by setting up programs with Japanese universities, hosting Japanese students attending WMU, and helping to build a Japanese alumni network.  

“My fondest wish is that the founding of the Japan Center will lead, some day, to the establishment of a Japanese Studies major at Western,” Dr.  Soga said.  “The Japan Center will provide an umbrella for activities relating to Japan, including the interaction of Japanese and American students in the Japan Club.”

The Center’s mission is multi-faceted: to promote and disseminate research on Japan; to support students pursuing Japanese studies, as well as those interested in studying in Japan; to stimulate creative curricular development, as well as extra-curricular activities that enrich students’ understanding of Japan; to serve as the nexus between WMU and the Japan-related business community in western Michigan; to deepen ties with the Kalamazoo community by establishing relationships with area schools and community centers; and, to deepen ties with the Japanese communities in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas as well as partner institutions, relevant communities, and alumni groups in Japan.  

Soga Japan Center Director Dr. Stephen Covell, assistant professor of Comparative Religion, said WMU’s Department of Foreign Languages currently offers a minor in Japanese and about 80 students have declared a minor in the language.  An average of 200 students enroll each fall and spring semester in Japanese language and Japanese literature and translation theory courses.

“At WMU there is strong interest in Japanese Studies,” Covell said.  “The study of the language is second only to French, despite the program being understaffed.  We offer a language minor but not a major.  If we offered a major, I know 20 students who would enroll immediately.  To accommodate demand for a major, our students may now in consult with faculty design a self-driven major.  Our five core faculty are aware of all the coursework on campus related to Japan and we can help students make that happen.”

The center is also served by Assistant Director Dr. Jeffrey Angles, assistant professor of Japanese Literature and Language, and Dr. Takashi Yoshita, assistant professor of History specializing in Early Modern/Modern East Asia, Japan; War and Memory.

WMU offers numerous Japan-related courses in various disciplines and hosts several study abroad programs to enhance students’ learning of the language and culture.  Scholarships are available to help students cover the cost of overseas study.  More than 15 WMU students study in Japan each academic year, benefiting from the University’s close relationship with Keio University, one of Japan’s most prestigious universities, and exchange relations with 6 other Japanese universities: Daito Bunka University (Tokyo), Nihon University (Tokyo), Otaru University of Commerce (Hokkaido), and Rikkyo University (Tokyo), Nagoya Gakuin University (Nagoya), and soon Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto.   Additionally, Covell leads each June a 10-day Japan Religion and Culture study abroad program that offers advanced students a behind-the-scenes tour of Japanese religious life.

“The Japanese Religion and Culture program includes a dinner for our students with WMU Japanese alumni,” Covell said.  “The alumni really like it because they get to meet American students who are interested in Japan and they are impressed with WMU students’ investment of their time and financial resources to learn more about their country.”

Dr. Soga stays in touch with many of his former students, who have supported the founding of the Center to aid current and future students in their pursuit of knowledge and understanding about Japan.

“A former student, Marci Bird, who completed a bachelor's degree at WMU and a master's degree at Rikkyo University in Japan, recently called to say how excited she was with the growth of the Japanese program on Western's campus,” Soga said.  “Our friends in Japan and Southwest Michigan are excited about the many avenues for exchange that the Japan Center will offer as
our  Japanese Studies program develops.”

Covell said an advisory committee made up of several WMU faculty with research interests in Japan from a broad range of disciplines including Business, Aviation, and Health and Human Services also serves the Center.  The Center will provide a central place for disseminating information and bring the Japanese student community together with non-Japanese students interested in learning more about the island nation.  The Center will also foster increased integration of WMU faculty with scholarly interests in Japan for the benefit of all students.

“Japan is very important to Michigan’s economy and has been for a long time, especially in Western Michigan,” Covell said.  “Developing the University’s Japanese Studies opportunities is critical.  Part of our mission at the Center is to bring people from America and Japan on board to satisfy demand for increased international study and the recruiting of Japanese students to raise all students’ global awareness.  The Center is a natural fit for that.  Many of our Japanese graduates are now presidents and vice presidents in major Japanese corporations.”

Visit the Michitoshi Soga Japan Center on the Web at:
http://www.wmich.edu/sogajapancenter/

Information about WMU’s study abroad opportunities in Japan are accessible online at:
https://international.wmich.edu
(select Study Abroad from top menu; select Programs button from left menu; select WMU programs; select Japan to view list)

Information about WMU’s Japanese language program is accessible online at:
http://www.wmich.edu/languages/Index_Japanese1.html