果冻影院

The JSPS Prize supports Japanese academics in various fields of natural sciences, humanities and social sciences who are under the age of 45, providing聽a platform for enhanced research abilities at an earlier聽stage in their careers. First established聽in 2004, the award consists of a certificate of merit, a medal, and a purse of JPY 1.1 million聽(approximately 拢6,000).聽

Upon receiving his award, Professor Saito will also have the honour of meeting Fumihito, the Crown Prince of Japan, at a ceremony in Tokyo in March 2024.聽

Professor Saito鈥檚 research is focused on second language (L2) learning and its聽positive impact on job prospects, cultural understanding聽and overall well-being in today鈥檚 interconnected world. Findings show that individuals with high聽proficiency聽in L2 speech聽generally have聽very聽accurate聽auditory processing skills, and that a lack of such precision in auditory processing can impede the speed of learning.聽

Furthermore, evidence suggests that combining training in both auditory and language skills can enhance L2 learning, particularly for those with weaker auditory processing abilities, a group often overlooked in both research and teaching methodologies.聽

To qualify for the JSPS Prize, an聽academic must have published papers or articles in scientific journals and other publications in Japan or abroad and聽obtained excellent scientific research achievements. Professor Saito received a nomination from Professor Motoaki Sugiura of Tohoku University and聽is one of聽just聽two prize winners to conduct their research outside of Japan.聽

Professor Saito said: 鈥淎s someone who has been away from Japan for some time, this prize holds special significance as it represents聽recognition of my research in my homeland. It聽will be a great honour聽to have the opportunity to meet and share my story with Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan.鈥澛�

The award also demonstrates聽the successful partnership fostered between 果冻影院 and Tohoku University, through聽which Professor Saito鈥檚 team within 果冻影院's Institute of Education won funding on two occasions.聽

The group has developed strong ties with the neuroscience team at the Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, at Tohoku University, which is one聽aspect of 果冻影院's聽160-year relationship with Japanese universities and businesses. 聽

Professor Saito continued: 鈥淲ithout the collaboration opportunities with Tohoku University, I would not have had this opportunity to reconnect and maximise the academic possibilities in Japan. With this recognition, I hope my story will inspire more young scholars to appreciate the value of international and interdisciplinary collaborations.鈥�

Links

• 果冻影院 academic recognised as future leader of Japanese research (果冻影院 News article)
• 160 years of 果冻影院-Japan friendship
• 果冻影院 and East Asia
• IOE, 果冻影院's Faculty of Education and Society

Image

• Professor Kazuya Saito (IOE, 果冻影院's Faculty of Education & Society)