Fields of interest

Discourse analysis (Japanese), sociolinguistics, language pedagogy (Japanese).

CV

Education 
- Teacher’s pedagogical qualification (60 ECTS), Helia University of Applied Sciences and University of Jyväskylä Open University, Finland (2003)
- Teaching through English, University of Helsinki Language Centre, Finland (2003)
- Online pedagogy, Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland (2002)
- PhD (D. Lit.) in Comparative Cultural Studies, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (c/o National Museum of Ethnology), Japan (1998)
- Emil Aaltonen’s Foundation Young Researcher scholarship student, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (c/o National Museum of Ethnology), Japan (1997-1998)
- The College Women’s Association of Japan scholarship student, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (c/o National Museum of Ethnology), Japan (1997)
- Japanese Government Research Scholarship student, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (c/o National Museum of Ethnology), Japan (1992-1997)
- MA in Romance philology, University of Helsinki, Finland (1992)
- Japanese translation, Business Japanese, French economic texts, Helsinki School of Economics, Finland (1991-1992)
- 1ère épreuve de Licencié ès Lettres Romanes, Communauté franςaise de Belgique scholarship student, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium (1990-1991)
- Tellervo and Juuso Walden’s Foundation scholarship student, Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Japan (1990)
- Graduate Certificate of Vantaa Music Institute (violin, piano, music theory, orchestra), Finland (1986)

Employment 
- Lecturer in Japanese Studies, Leiden University (affiliation LIAS & LUCL) (since 2007)
- Principal Lecturer in Foreign Languages and Cultures, Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland (2001-2007)
- European Commission Leonardo da Vinci language competencies project manager (until parental leave) (2002-2004)
- Part-time lecturer in Japanese Studies and Asia-Pacific Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland (2000-2003)
- Lecturer/Center of Excellence Researcher, National Museum of Ethnology, Japan (1999-2000)
- Visiting researcher, National Museum of Ethnology, Japan (1999)
- Japanese as a Foreign Language instructor, Koshien University, Japan (1999)
- Japanese taiko drumming instructor, work shops & short-term courses (since 2000)
- Interpretation, translation & attachée work, e.g. ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, Japan; Figure Skating World Championships, Finland; Matsurishu taiko drumming tour, Portugal; Finnish Parliament Futures Committee, Japan; XVIII Olympic Winter Games, Nagano, Japan; The Finnish Foreign Trade Association, Japan (1996-2000)

Key publications

Selected book, journal and proceedings articles (Japanese discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, language policies, language pedagogy, etc.). See “Published work” for a full list.

Articles in refereed scientific journals 

You and I in Japanese: What do “personal pronouns” do in Japanese discourse. SKY Journal of Linguistics, 2001, 14: 121-150.

Fonctions pragmatiques des formes libres d'adresse (vocatifs) dans la conversation japonaise. Langues (Cahiers d'études et de recherches francophones), 1999, 2/1: 45-60.

Articles in refereed scientific edited volumes and conference proceedings 

Pääministerit toimijoina: 1. persoonan henkilö-tekijät japaninkielisessä poliittisessa diskurssissa (in Finnish, Prime ministers in action: Overt 1st person human agents in Japanese political discourse). Jalava, L. et al. (eds), Per Urales ad Orientem, Iter polyphonicum multilingue: Festskrift tillägnad Juha Janhunen på hans sextioårsdag den 12 februari 2012, Mémoires de la Société Finno-Ougrienne, 264: 185-198. Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura/Société Finno-Ougrienne.

West is English, East is “Exotic”: Exploring East Asian languages in European language policies. Tomimori, N. et al. (eds), International Symposium Report 2011: New Prospects for Foreign Language Teaching in Higher Education - Exploring the Possibilities of Application of CEFR. Tokyo: World Language and Society Education Centre (WoLSEC), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 2012, 65-82.

Paikkansa kullakin – Henkilöön viittaaminen japanin kielessä (in Finnish, Personal reference in Japanese). A. Idström & S. Sosa (eds), Kielissä kulttuurien ääni (Language: the voice of cultures), Tietolipas series 228. Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society, 2009: 184-205.

Teaching personal reference in Japanese. A. Lubotsky, J. Schaeken & J. Wiedenhof (eds), Evidence and Counter-evidence, Festschrift Frederik Kortlandt, Vol. 2 SSGL 33. Amsterdam - New York: Rodopi, 2008: 237-248.

Marked person terms and framing in Japanese film dialogue. Y. Ikegami, V. Eschbach-Szabo & A. Wlodarczyk (eds). Japanese Linguistics – European Chapter. Tokyo: Kurosio Publishers, 2007: 89-110.

With P. Matilainen & L. Selänne 「複言語主義のためのチーム作り： フィンランドにおけるオンライン日本語教育共同プロジェクト」 (in Japanese, Teaming for plurilingualism: Collaborative Japanese online teaching in Finland)『談話研究と　日本語教育の有機的統合のための基礎的研究とマルチメディア教材の試作』 (Integration of discourse studies and Japanese language education – Multimedia teaching material pilot project) 平成１５―１８年度科学研究費助金基盤研究Ｂ（２）　研究成果情報書 (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Grant B Report 2003-2006)  宇佐美まゆみ（編）(M. Usami, ed.) 東京外国語大学大学院地域文化　研究科言語教育講座 (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Graduate School of Area and Culture Studies, Language Education Studies), 2006: 140-146.

Overt reference and positive politeness in Japanese discourse. XVII International Congress of Linguists, Prague, July 24-29, 2003, Proceedings. Prague: Matfyzpress (cd-rom), 14 p.

Not halves, but doubles – Building blocks of Finnish-Japanese identities.
『国際移民の自存戦略とトランスナショナル・ネットワークの文化人類学的研究』(Cultural anthropological research project of international migrants’ survival strategies and transnational networks) 平成１２年度～平成１４年度科学研究費補助金研究成果報告 (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Grant Report 2000-2002)、国立民族学博物館民族社会研究部 (National Musem of Ethnology, Department of Social Research ), 2003: 155-174.

Teaching

A range of courses in Japanese linguistics and language acquisition, including
- Introduction to Japanese Linguistics
- Introduction to Japanese Sociolinguistics and Discourse
- Using Language in Context
- Samples of Linguistic Structure I: Analysis
- Japanese Grammar
- Japanese Texts
- Japanese Writing System

Grants and awards

- Asian Modernities and Traditions (AMT) project grant, 2011
- Kone Foundation book project grant, 2009 (EUR 10 000)
- Academy of Finland conference organization grant, 2006
- The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation grant, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011
- European Commission Leonardo da Vinci language competencies project grant, 2003-2006, project manager until parental leave (EUR 465 850)
- The Japanese-Finnish Association Chujo Watanabe grant, 2003
- The Daily Yomiuri “Save the Earth” Essay Contest Environment Agency Prize, 2000
- Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) SUPRA (Support Program for Asian Studies) Student, 1996–1999
- Emil Aaltonen’s Foundation Young Researcher’s grant, 1998
- Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level 1, Association of International Education and The Japan Foundation, Japan (1998)
- The College Women’s Association of Japan grant, 1997
- Japanese Government Research Student grant, 1992-1997
- European Parliament translators’ competition qualification (EUR/LA/90: French & English-Finnish), 1996
- Communauté franςaise de Belgique scholarship, 1990-1991
- Tellervo and Juuso Walden’s Foundation scholarship, 1990
- Japan Foundation Study Tour Award for Outstanding Foreign Students of Japanese, 1988

Administration and service to the profession

- Director, Japanese Language Section, Japanese Studies, Leiden University, since 2007
- Japanese Language Speech Contest judge, University of Jyväskylä, Finland, 2012
- Member, The Netherlands Association for Japanese Studies (NGJS), since 2008
- Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) organizing committee local Japanese language education expert & Japan researcher in Finland, 2006-2007
- Board member, Finnish National Polytechnic Network for East and Southeast Asian Studies (and Finnish National Network for East and Southeast Asian Studies), 2002-2007
- Member, Nordic Association for the Study of Contemporary Japanese Society (NAJS), Steering Committee member 2006–2011, since 2004
- Chair 2012-2013, Finnish Teachers’ Association of Japanese Language and Culture (JOY), member since 2001
- (Board) member/participant, The European Japanese Language Teaching Materials Project (Prof. Osamu Kamada); Finnish Language Education Policies Project & Network; Helsinki Metropolitan Area Higher Education Language Teaching Network; Online language teaching projects, 2001-2006
- Member, The Linguistic Association of Finland (SKY), since 2000
- Member, Nordic Association of Japanese and Korean Studies (NAJAKS), Board member 2002-2007, since 1999
- Member, Japanese Association of Sociolinguistic Sciences (JASS), since 1998
- Member, European Association for Japanese Studies (EAJS), since 1997
- Member, Nihon Uraru Gakkai (Japanese Association of Uralistics), 1993-1999