UH Mānoa Center for Japanese Studies

08/14/2026

As we get ready for the Academic Year 2026-27, we look back on our accomplishments and activities from Spring and Summer 2026 with our J-Current Vol. 35. You will find much in the report that we are excited to share, including the wonderful news of a transformative endowment gift from the estate of Ina Goodwin Tateuchi to support undergraduate student scholarships for years to come.

We appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy our newsletter.

🌟J-Current Vol. 35 [Spring / Summer 2026]: https://bit.ly/4wr0tgT

08/11/2026

We are delighted to pass on to you an announcement of a book discussion by CJS faculty and Professor of Sociology at UHM, Aya H. Kimura, on her new book, "Fermenting for the Future: Japanese Pickles and Microbial Foodways" at the Japanese Cultural Center for Hawaiʻi on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The discussion will be moderated by CJS affiliate faculty and Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Christine Yano.

The event will be free and open to the public.

🌸Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
🌸Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
🌸Venue: Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi (2454 S Beretania St., Honolulu, HI)
🌸Register: bit.ly/jcchpanel

08/10/2026

The UH Mānoa Center for Japanese Studies received a $3 million gift from the Ina Goodwin Tateuchi estate. The funding establishes an endowed scholarship covering full tuition for undergrads pursuing Japanese language and area studies. Read more: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/07/30/3m-tateuchi-gift-japanese-studies/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTnQOpwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUhOZ04xRDJiRDlKTmw3ZjFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedpI1qD7sEH1zu_L4lg-1_D-ZuWAt0hqF570qVFEL6y0E0s9-coXmNLLRBEg_aem_vAM3nGJTENVfoSo9x5pxbQ

07/31/2026

The UHM Center for Japanese Studies is thrilled to announce that we have received a $3 million gift from the estate of the late Ina Goodwin Tateuchi of Seattle, Washington. The gift establishes the Tateuchi Memorial Endowed Scholarship fund to provide full tuition and related expenses to select UH Mānoa undergraduate Japanese language majors, Asian Studies students with a focus on Japan, and students in other disciplines who demonstrate a strong interest in Japanese Studies within their major.

CJS Director Mark Levin, a Professor of Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law, comments, “Undergraduates represent the foundation of everything we do. This scholarship award will foster workforce development for the state and beyond and help populate the academic community across disciplinary boundaries into the future.”

Dean of the College of Arts, Languages, and Letters () Peter Arnade, added, “We are profoundly grateful to the estate of Ina Goodwin Tateuchi for providing this vital contribution, which will allow the Center to remain a vibrant hub for academic programming concerning Japan.”

07/28/2026

07/23/2026

Update from 2026 EPIC summer intern, Leilah Eusebio: During her one-week break, she visited themed parks and attractions, such as Ghibli Park and Sanrio Puroland.

07/09/2026

EPIC summer intern Taiga Ikeda recently took a one-week break to recharge and travel through Ehime Prefecture. Check out the photos from his trip!

06/26/2026

On Monday, June 22, 2026, CJS Director Mark Levin and Associate Director Joan Pan welcomed Ms. Kayoko Hirota, Manager of the International Affairs Department, Urasenke Tankokai Federation (Kyoto), to the UH Mānoa (UHM) campus.

We appreciate College of Arts, Languages, and Letter (CALL) Dean Peter Arnade and Urasenke Foundation of Hawaiʻi Vice Chief of Administration Hitoshi Murata for participating in the meeting and for their ongoing support of the Dr. Gensh*tsu Sen (Sōsh*tsu XV) International Way of Tea Center’s initiatives at UHM.

Most importantly, we are tremendously grateful for the decades-long relationship between UH, CJS, and Urasenke, fostering a deeper awareness of Japanese culture and international understanding. Our Center looks forward to continuing this treasured friendship and partnership.

06/19/2026

CJS is honored to have been invited to assist with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS / 日本学術振興会) — San Francisco Office’s election of one or two UHM Japanese Studies-focused Ph.D. candidates or post-doc fellows for their “Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan Short-term Program” award (which also allows for funding for current Ph.D. students).

Please note the detailed information provided on the JSPS page describing timing and eligibility particulars. [https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/]
If you have further questions, please contact Joan Pan, our CJS Associate Director, at [email protected].

06/03/2026

The 2026 Ehime Prefecture International Center (EPIC) Interns, Leilah Eusebio and Taiga Ikeda, are now in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, to begin their summer internship. The interns were warmly welcomed at the airport by several EPIC staff, including EPIC Director Shimizu, Section Chief Kono, Hamada-san, Iwai-san, Niiyama-san, and Yamash*ta-san.

We are very grateful to the Ehime Prefectural International Association, the EPIC Hawaiʻi Project Team Members (Director Koichi Shimizu, Deputy Section Chief Takehito Hamada, and the Hawaiʻi Summer Internship Program Coordinator Yua Yamash*ta) and all the EPIC staff for their friendship, unwavering support, and ongoing assistance in making this meaningful program possible.

Follow the UHM CJS Instagram and pages as well as EPIC Summer Internship page managed by EPIC.