JSANZ award for most caring lecturer

Thursday 30 September 2021
Mr Toshiaki Yamauchi was recently given an important award by Japanese Studies Aotearoa New Zealand, an association of tertiary-level Japanese academics and other stakeholders.
Toshiaki Yamauchi

Mr Toshiaki Yamauchi

Last updated: Monday 21 March 2022

Mr Toshiaki Yamauchi, a senior tutor in Japanese at the School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication, was recently given an important award by Japanese Studies Aotearoa New Zealand (JSANZ), an association of tertiary-level Japanese academics and other stakeholders.

Mr Yamauchi received one of seven inaugural ‘Japan Firsts Award’ which recognise outstanding lecturers and students in five different categories. He received a Most Caring Lecturer award, which is awarded to a teacher based on how well they teach and support their students.

“I have been trying to communicate with students who needed support in Japanese language courses as much as I could,” Mr Yamauchi says. “Since the coronavirus crisis happened, more students have been needing support, so I regularly include targeted support in the Massey support systems, as well as offering personal learning support for some students who are struggling with their study during this very difficult time.”

Anyone can nominate a candidate and Mr Yamauchi believes most nominators are students who are studying Japanese Language at tertiary institutions.

“There are many capable lecturers in the Japanese studies area and I am very honoured and humbled to receive this award,” Mr Yamauchi says. “I have been very fortunate to have met and taught many great students and staff at Massey University and this experience has helped me grow as a teacher. And I couldn’t be happier that students nominated me for the prize.

“I believe it is very important for students to feel supported by the university and I think this award shows that Massey University’s support system is highly valued by our students. I would like to share this achievement with my colleagues at Massey.”

JSANZ works on projects and activities that promote and strengthen Japanese language education and Japanese studies in New Zealand. Its members are teachers and researchers of Japanese language and Japanese studies at New Zealand’s tertiary institutions and other individuals and entities committed to JSANZ’s goals.

Find out more about the awards.