Japanese Consulate honors Asian Studies director

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Akiko Kawano Jones, director of the Asian Studies Program at Bowling Green State University, recently received a Consul General Award from the Japanese Consulate for Michigan and Ohio in Detroit.

The honor recognizes Jones’ leadership of the Asian Studies Program as well as her outreach in the local community. The Consul General, Tamotsu Shinotsuka, presented the award at his residence in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Jones, a lecturer of Japanese language in the Department of German, Russian and East Asian languages, has taught at Bowling Green since 1983. In April 2008, the Ohio Foreign Language Association named her as Ohio’s outstanding college language instructor.

Jones, a Bowling Green resident, is also director of a summer program for BGSU students in Japan and organizes cultural events on campus, including the Ohanami (Cherry Blossom) Festival.

In addition, she works with Japanese businesses and families and with business development in northwest Ohio.

# # #

(Posted June 23, 2009 )