Chaplin Memorial Award for Excellence in Japanese Language Teaching

The Hamako Ito Chaplin Memorial Award will again be conferred in 2020, administered through the Association for Asian Studies. In accordance with the wishes of the Chaplin family, each year a prize of $1000 will be awarded to either a current graduate student or a full-time instructor of Japanese for excellence in Japanese language teaching at the college-level. A full-time instructor who has completed graduate study within the last 3 years in an area that directly involves Japanese language teaching is eligible to apply. Possible academic fields of specialization are Japanese language pedagogy, linguistics, anthropology, or literature. Current graduate students must demonstrate their intention to enter the teaching field in a North American university. Professor Priya Ananth (Middle Tennessee State University) serves as Chair of the Selection Committee, Professor Joan Ericson (Colorado College) serves as representative of the Northeast Asia Council of AAS for the committee, and Professor George Chaplin serves ex-officio.

Individuals interested in applying (self-nomination) and faculty members interested in nominating an eligible graduate student or instructor (nomination) — should download an application form at the following link:

Hamako Ito Chaplin Award Application 2020

You may also request the application form via email by contacting Dr. Priya Ananth (Priya.Ananth@mtsu.edu).

Completed applications must be received by January 31, 2020 at the following address: Dr. Priya Ananth, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, MTSU P.O. Box 79, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA. The award will be announced in the AAS #AsiaNow Blog.

 Persons interested in contributing to the award fund should send their contributions to:

The Hamako Ito Chaplin Memorial Award, c/o Association for Asian Studies, 825 Victors Way, Suite 310, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108.  

2019 Award

The 2019 recipient of the Hamako Ito Chaplin Memorial Award is Dr. Kasumi Yamazaki (Assistant Professor, University of Toledo). Dr. Yamazaki has demonstrated excellence in all aspects of teaching, research, and service. Her efforts in curriculum development using innovative technology are especially commendable. After a thorough review of her work, the award selection committee members feel confident that Dr. Yamazaki will continue to make important contributions to the field of Japanese pedagogy.

Past Awards

2001: Misumi Sadler, Leo Shing-chi Yip

2002: Hiroaki Kawamura

2004: Matthew Burdelski

2005: Masako Inamoto

2006: Eiko Ushida

2007: Priya Ananth

2008: Miki Kashima

2009: Scott Alexander Lineberger

2010: Margaret Camp

2011: Wakana Maekawa

2012: Erika Hirano-Cook

2013: Stephen Luft, Kanako Yao

2014: Michiko Kaneyasu

2015: Karen Curtin

2016: Shinichi Shoji, Shinsuke Tsuchiya

2017: Junko Tokuda Simpson

2018: Jae Takeuchi, Yumiko Tashiro