Chapter 1. Introduction: Why “Beyond Kikokushijo”?
Maki Yazaki
Abstract
This chapter presents the background and purpose of the book through the experiences of multilingual and transnational English teachers in Japan. It traces the origins of the TOMATO group and explains the dual meaning of the title “Beyond Kikokushijo,” which refers both to former kikokushijo (“returnee students” in Japanese) who have become educators and to teachers whose multilingual and transnational experiences fall outside conventional definitions and categories. Through two illustrative teacher stories, the chapter outlines the goals and organization of the volume and examines how it questions fixed labels and brings attention to diverse teacher identity.
About the author
Maki Yazaki 矢崎真紀 is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University. She is also a part-time lecturer at Sophia University, teaching a course called “Learning and Teaching in the CLIL Approach.” She has also experienced teaching junior and senior high school students in Japan. Born in Tokyo and raised in Hawaii and Kanagawa, she obtained a BA in foreign studies and an MA in TESOL from Sophia University. She has written several articles related to language learning and teaching and co-authored the MEXT-authorized textbook, FLEX English Communication (Zoshindo).
Citation
Yazaki, M. (2026). Introduction: Why “beyond kikokushijo”? In A. Minematsu, R. Ikeda, & M. Yazaki (Eds.), Beyond kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan after growing up between languages and cultures (pp. 17–26). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/47/1
This chapter presents the background and purpose of the book through the experiences of multilingual and transnational English teachers in Japan. It traces the origins of the TOMATO group and explains the dual meaning of the title “Beyond Kikokushijo,” which refers both to former kikokushijo (“returnee students” in Japanese) who have become educators and to teachers whose multilingual and transnational experiences fall outside conventional definitions and categories. Through two illustrative teacher stories, the chapter outlines the goals and organization of the volume and examines how it questions fixed labels and brings attention to diverse teacher identity.
About the author
Maki Yazaki 矢崎真紀 is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University. She is also a part-time lecturer at Sophia University, teaching a course called “Learning and Teaching in the CLIL Approach.” She has also experienced teaching junior and senior high school students in Japan. Born in Tokyo and raised in Hawaii and Kanagawa, she obtained a BA in foreign studies and an MA in TESOL from Sophia University. She has written several articles related to language learning and teaching and co-authored the MEXT-authorized textbook, FLEX English Communication (Zoshindo).
Citation
Yazaki, M. (2026). Introduction: Why “beyond kikokushijo”? In A. Minematsu, R. Ikeda, & M. Yazaki (Eds.), Beyond kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan after growing up between languages and cultures (pp. 17–26). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/47/1
Information About the Book
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Title: Beyond Kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan After Growing Up Between Languages and Cultures
Editors: Edited by Aiko Minematsu, Risa Ikeda, and Maki Yazaki Publication date: September 20th, 2026 Read more...Read more... |