The Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC), the premier North American program for teaching Japanese, is pleased to welcome Kiyoteru Tsutsui as its new Executive Director. Tsutsui is the Henri H. and Tomoye Takahashi Professor and Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) at Stanford University, where he is also Director of the Japan Program, a Senior Fellow of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and a Professor of Sociology. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s in Sociology from Kyoto University, as well
as an additional master’s and PhD in Sociology from Stanford University.

“I am very excited to join the IUC community and deeply honored to serve as its Executive Director,” said Tsutsui. “It’s such an essential part of the ecosystem of Japanese studies in North America, and thanks to the fantastic leadership of Indra Levy, it is thriving as it enters the sixth decade of its existence, serving as the key bridge between aspiring Japanese studies students and their dissertation work, between ambitious professionals and their success in Japan-related fields, and between Japan and North America more broadly.”

Tsutsui’s research interests include political and comparative sociology, social movements, globalization, human rights, and Japanese society, and he has authored numerous papers and several books, including Rights Make Might: Global Human Rights and Minority Social Movements in Japan (Oxford University Press 2018), and two co-edited volumes Corporate Social Responsibility in a Globalizing World (with Alwyn Lim, Cambridge University Press 2015) and The Courteous Power: Japan and Southeast Asia in the Indo-Pacific Era (with John Ciorciari, University of Michigan Press, 2021).

Throughout his career, Tsutsui has worked to build links between Japan and North America in the domains of education, business, technology, and politics, and he has been a stalwart supporter of Japanese studies in North America.

“Kiyo is a passionate advocate for Japanese Studies,” said Indra Levy, Stanford Associate Professor of Japanese Literature and outgoing IUC Executive Director. “His enthusiasm and dynamism will be major assets as the IUC moves into the next chapter of its illustrious history.”

IUC recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and looked back on the impact of six decades of training Japan experts. Alumni of the program have gone on to influence nearly every area of Japanese studies, garnering numerous awards and achievements in higher education, diplomacy, business, art, and philanthropy, including 21 Orders of the Rising Sun and over 1,500 published books. Looking forward, Tsutsui sees a bright future ahead.

“The IUC, with its demonstrated capacity to nurture leaders of Japanese studies, is a critical component of Japan-North America relations,” said Tsutsui. “As Executive Director, I will strive to enhance this important role and ensure we serve the needs of the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the IUC. I believe the IUC can have an even greater impact on Japanese language education and Japan-North America relations, and I look forward to learning from and working with the entire community to realize that mission.”

About IUC

The Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC) is the premier North American program for the teaching of advanced Japanese and has provided language training to more than 3,000 individuals. First established in Tokyo in 1963, the Center now resides in Yokohama, Japan with space, services, and various amenities provided by the municipal government. The program is run by a consortium of 14 North American universities with strong, established graduate programs in Japanese studies.