Dr. Tetsuo Yoshida (President of the Calgary Japanese Language School) to receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays

The Government of Japan has formally announced that Dr. Tetsuo Yoshida, President of the Calgary Japanese Language School, is a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays for the 2017 Fall Conferment of Decoration upon Foreign Nationals. Dr. Yoshida has for the past forty years continued to be involved in the management of the Calgary Japanese Language School, playing a major role in the dissemination of Japanese language in Calgary.

Achievements of Dr. Yoshida:

1. The promotion of Japanese language education in Calgary

In 1975 at the time the Calgary Japanese Language School was established, Dr. Yoshida enrolled in the school, in the initial stage of which he studied as a student of the Japanese language while employing trial and error in partnership with the teaching staff, striving to build upon the curriculum and school organization. Since his graduation from the CJLS he has carried on with the management of the school for over 40 years, and has made every effort toward fundraising, administration, and assembly of Japanese language teaching staff for the establishment.


2. The promotion of understanding of Japan through Japanese language education

At the Calgary Japanese Language School the emphasis is not simply on language education, but also focusses on the teaching of respective seasonal events which are rooted in Japanese culture, including New Year’s Celebration, the Doll Festival, and the Star Festival among others, while allowing the students to experience the customs of each event, thereby introducing and spreading the culture of Japan. In addition, by combining the teaching of greetings, honorific terms, and sayings unique to the Japanese language with cultural-based learning, the school is able to demonstrate origins of Japanese society, further contributing to the promotion of understanding of Japan on a multitude of levels.