[Introduction of New Faculty Member] OYAMADA, Mami, Research Associate [Joshu/助手]

Self-Introduction

Hello! I am Mami Oyamada, a Research Associate at the School of International Liberal Studies.

My academic journey has taken place in the United States and Japan, where I studied anthropology and educational linguistics in the former and now continue to build on that foundation here at Waseda University. Combining these disciplinary lenses, I explore issues related to the coexistence of Japanese nationals with diverse sociolinguistic experiences in Japan, with a particular interest in the role of ideologies of language in educational policies and practices.

Recent Research Interest

My recent research interest lies in examining how diverse youth of Japanese nationality navigate social relations, particularly a sense of membership (or lack thereof), in academic settings where either Japanese or English serves as the dominant medium. I am especially interested in the widespread recognition of the term kikoku(shijo) (often translated as “returnee,” pointing to an individual who has returned to Japan after living abroad during childhood), and how the individuals represented, as well as ensuing images and ideologies, may shape the sociolinguistic norms of educational spaces shared with those who were born and raised in Japan.

By investigating implicit workings of language and power in shaping social dynamics, I aim to contribute a more nuanced understanding of coexistence among Japanese nationals (and others) with varying sociolinguistic backgrounds. To further inform my research, I draw from sociohistorical and posthumanist perspectives as well, looking at relevant historical records (such as written accounts of transnationally mobile experiences in the Meiji era) and more recent scholarly developments that consider the role of non-human agents (such as generative AI) in education.

Profile

I graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology from DePauw University (a liberal arts college) in 2014 and a M.S.Ed. in Intercultural Communication from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021. Before my master’s, I worked full-time in the corporate sector (in forklift manufacturing and an education startup) in Japan for five years, and I continue working as an educator and mentor with diverse youth with ties to Japan in and outside of the university.