AATJ - American Association of Teachers of Japanese

09/26/2026

09/26/2026

Congratulations to Mr. Stephen Potter, Chairman of the Japan America Society of Chicago (JASC); Mr. Tetsuro Mitani, Executive Director of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Chicago-JCCC; and the Illinois Association of Teachers of Japanese (IATJ) on receiving the 2026 Foreign Minister’s Commendation. Mr. Potter was recognized for his longstanding contributions to advancing mutual understanding between Japan and the United States; Mr. Mitani for his leadership in fostering bilateral economic cooperation; and IATJ for its meaningful work advancing Japanese-language education in Illinois. We sincerely appreciate their respective efforts to strengthen the enduring friendship and ties between Japan and the United States.

To view the full announcement: https://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_01656.html

09/24/2026

There are only *two weeks left* to apply for a NEAC-Japan Studies grant, so don't delay—prepare your application for submission today! Grad students, don't forget that your applications need a Letter of Recommendation 📜

bit.ly/NEACgrants

09/24/2026

AATJ Job Board: Featured Listing

Position: Japanese Language Education Director
Institution: Aozora Community, NY

https://aatj.org/job_opportunity/japanese-language-education-director/

Did you know that the most qualified Japanese language educators use the AATJ Job Board to search for their next career move? Institutions and businesses can find high-quality candidates for their Japanese language education positions through the AATJ website. AATJ posts K-12 teaching positions for free, all other listings are $100. Contact us for more information!

Position: Japanese Language Education Director Job Type: Full-time Salary: $90,000 ~ $105,000 Reports To : Executive Director Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; 3 weeks paid time off; and free lunch on school days (approximately 180 days during the school year), 401K, Life Insurance

09/12/2026

Do you know someone who is thinking about applying to the JET Program? Or maybe that person is YOU?

USJETAA is hosting a free virtual JET Info Session on Sept 24, 2026 which will include:
Application Tips: A JET Program Coordinator will discuss the application process and what makes a strong application.

Firsthand Experiences: Hear from a panel of JET alumni who will share their personal experiences living and working in Japan on JET.

Q&A Session: Ask your questions and get real-time answers.
All registrants will receive a link to the recording, so please register even if you can't join us for the live event!

Register here:

We are hosting a virtual JET Info Session on Thursday evening, September 24, 2026 . Join us to learn more about this life-changing opportunity or spread the word to anyone you know considering JET!

09/11/2026

AATJ Webinar

Expanding the Visibility and Support for Japanese Language Programs: Ideas for Advocacy Using the Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS)

In this webinar, we will introduce concrete ideas and practical examples for strengthening the presence of Japanese language programs and expanding understanding and support from schools and local communities. Through case studies from both high schools and universities, we will present approaches that help enhance program visibility and learner engagement.

As one such approach, we will highlight the Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS), which has played an important role in motivating learners. We will classify JNHS chapter activities into three major practical models—from basic models that can be implemented without requiring much time, to models that actively utilize JNHS activities as opportunities for learner growth and advocacy.

Date: October 3, 2026 (Saturday)
Pacific Time (PT): 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Mountain Time (MT): 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Central Time (CT): 3:00–4:30 p.m.
Eastern Time (ET): 4:00–5:30 p.m.

Please use the link below for more information and to register, or log into your AATJ member account and access Events.

日本語プログラムの存在感とサポートを広げよう： 全米日本語優等生協会（JNHS）を活かしたAdvocacyのアイデア集 このウェビナーでは、日本語プログラムの存在感を高め、学校や地域からの理解と支援を広げるための具体的....

09/11/2026

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: 2027 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF JAPANESE (AATJ) ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE

The 2027 AATJ Annual Spring Conference will be held on Thursday, March 18, 2027, in Boston, Massachusetts, in conjunction with the 2027 Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference. (Zenyasai takes place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 17).

We are delighted to announce our keynote speaker:

• Yoshiko Matsumoto, Stanford University

The Call for Proposals will open on Sunday, September 6, 2026, and the submission deadline is Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

We invite proposals for individual papers, organized panels, and poster sessions.

For more information and to submit a proposal, please visit our website:

The 2027 AATJ Spring Conference will be held in Boston, MA, on Thursday, March 18, 2027, in conjunction with the Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference. Please be sure to attend the upcoming webinar: From AATJ Conference Proposals to JLL Publication: Guidelines for Proposal Writing and Acad...

09/10/2026

AATJ Job Board: Featured Listing

Position: Adjunct Instructor in World Languages and Cultures
Institution: Old Dominion University (Virginia)

https://aatj.org/job_opportunity/part-time-japanese-instructor/

Did you know that the most qualified Japanese language educators use the AATJ Job Board to search for their next career move? Institutions and businesses can find high-quality candidates for their Japanese language education positions through the AATJ website. AATJ posts K-12 teaching positions for free, all other listings are $100. Contact us for more information!

Job Description The Department of World Languages and Cultures at Old Dominion University seeks part-time instructors in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and World Cultural Studies. Selected candidates will be hired as part of an adjunct pool and assigned courses as needed. Our gr...

09/03/2026

AATJ Job Board: Featured Listing

Position: Japanese-Speaking Elementary School Teacher
Institution: Japanese Academy of San Diego (JASD)

https://aatj.org/job_opportunity/japanese-speaking-elementary-school-teacher/

Did you know that the most qualified Japanese language educators use the AATJ Job Board to search for their next career move? Institutions and businesses can find high-quality candidates for their Japanese language education positions through the AATJ website. AATJ posts K-12 teaching positions for free, all other listings are $100. Contact us for more information!

Position: Full-Time or Part-Time Grade Levels: Kindergarten–5th Grade Subjects: Japanese Language Arts & Mathematics About Japanese Academy of San Diego Japanese Academy of San Diego (JASD) is a private bilingual Japanese-English elementary school serving students from Kindergarten through 5th gra...

08/21/2026

AATJ Webinar: From AATJ Conference Proposals to JLL Publications: Guidelines for Proposal Writing and Academic Publishing
September 5 @ 4:00 pm EDT
AATJ学会発表からJLL掲載へ：プロポーザル作成および学術出版の指針

From AATJ Conference Proposals to JLL Publications: Guidelines for Proposal Writing and Academic Publishing

Speakers:

Mariko M. Wei, Ph.D., Purdue University, Co-director of AATJ Spring Conference
Suwako Watanabe, Ph.D., Portland State University, AATJ Coordinating Editor, Journal of Japanese Language and Literature

Facilitators: AATJ, PD Co-Directors:

Yoshiko Saito-Abbott, Ph, D. California State University Monterey Bay
Kazue Masuyama, Ph.D. California State University, Sacramento

Date: 9/5 (Sat): PDT: 1:00 PM; MDT: 2:00 PM; CDT: 3:00 PM; EDT: 4:00 PM

Registration link can be found on the AATJ website: https://aatj.org/event/aatj-webinar-from-aatj-conference-proposals-to-jll-publications-guidelines-for-proposal-writing-and-academic-publishing/

要旨：本ウェビナーは、学会発表のプロポーザル作成および学術論文の出版力を高めたい方を対象とする。前半では、AATJ Spring Conferenceの共同ディレクターとしての経験をもとに、採択につながる効果的な発表プロポーザルの作成方法について実践的なアドバイスを行う。特に、評価の基準やよく見られる問題点、そして明確で説得力のあるプロポーザルを作成するための実践的な戦略を紹介する。後半では、AATJのJournal of Japanese Language and Literature（JLL）の編集統括者が、同誌の対象分野と視点を説明し、投稿から採択までの出版プロセスを概説するとともに、掲載を目指すための実践的なヒントを紹介する。

Abstract： Are you looking to strengthen your conference proposals and academic publications? Join us for this engaging webinar! The first part focuses on effective strategies for developing strong and compelling conference proposals, drawing on experience as a co-director of the AATJ Spring Conference. This section highlights key evaluation criteria, common pitfalls, and practical strategies for writing clear and persuasive proposals. The second part provides valuable insights from the perspective of the AATJ’s Coordinating Editor of the Journal of Japanese Language and Literature (JLL). It explains the journal’s scope and perspectives, outlines the publication process from submission to acceptance, and offers practical tips for successful publication.

AATJ学会発表からJLL掲載へ：プロポーザル作成および学術出版の指針 From AATJ Conference Proposals to JLL Publications: Guidelines for Proposal Writing and Academic Publishing Speakers: Mariko M. Wei, Ph.D., Purdue University, Co-director of AATJ Spring Conference Suwako Wata...