In our increasingly globalized world, intercultural communication has never been more important for success in society. Professor Eriko Katsumata’s seminar focuses on intercultural communication in multicultural societies, providing an educational experience that integrates theoretical foundations with practical learning. Within a diverse and open learning environment, students explore how people from different cultural backgrounds communicate, understand each other, and overcome barriers.

Q.What kind of research environment do you foster in your seminar?

This seminar offers hands-on learning opportunities through workshops, guest speakers, and fieldwork.
Past guest speakers have included intercultural trainers and both domestic and international experts in the field of communication.
As part of my fieldwork activities, students have visited the Ainu Museum in Hokkaido and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, gaining valuable opportunities to engage directly with diverse cultures and communities.
In addition, the seminar is conducted entirely in English, and students are required to write their graduation theses in English as well.
I also provide opportunities for students to present their research at academic conferences on intercultural communication, allowing them to gain practical experience that connects directly to graduate studies and international careers.
Through research and presentations in English, my goal as a professor is to cultivate individuals who can thrive in a global society.

Q.What teaching methods do you employ to develop students’ intercultural competence?

This seminar is designed as a space for students, where the focus is not on one-way teaching but on supporting students as they take initiative in their own learning and research.
I place great importance on open dialogue among students, and over the course of the two years students and I spend together, we work to create a comfortable and trusting environment. This helps foster a sense of security and encourages students to share their honest thoughts and personal experiences freely.

I incorporate active learning methods that encourage students not to passively receive knowledge, but to think independently and engage in self-directed learning.
Through group discussions, debates, and simulation games, students develop their problem-solving and communication skills. A key feature of this seminar is that students tackle questions without single correct answers, deepening their understanding by exchanging perspectives with others.

Each semester, I invite a variety of guest speakers from both Japan and abroad. This semester, I plan to welcome professors from Ukraine and Germany, who will speak about their respective cultures and communication styles. In the past, I have hosted workshops with a professional coach and an intercultural trainer from France. These interactions with guest speakers provide students with real-world insights and diverse perspectives that cannot be obtained from classroom learning alone.

I also actively promote international exchange among students. In face-to-face sessions, our seminar members have participated in simulation games with visiting students from countries such as the Netherlands and Indonesia.
In virtual settings, students and I have engaged in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) with students in Taiwan and Germany. COIL is an educational approach in which students collaborate with peers from universities both in Japan and overseas, engaging in shared learning experiences both during and outside of class through online platforms.
By combining in-person and online opportunities, the seminar offers students practical experiences to develop a global outlook and essential skills for international collaboration.

Q.What are your expectations for students, and what career paths do they typically pursue after graduation?

Through this seminar, I aim to cultivate a proactive attitude toward learning and independent thinking, as well as curiosity about other cultures and the practical skills needed to thrive in diverse environments.

My graduates go on to work in global fields such as the airline industry and IT-related companies, with some assigned to overseas posts just a few years after joining.
What is particularly notable is that they choose their career paths based on their personal values. For example, one student turned down an offer from a major corporation to join a startup, drawn by the opportunity to work in an international team.
Many graduates also pursue advanced degrees, both in Japan and abroad. What they all share is the ability to apply the intercultural communication skills they developed in this seminar—whether leading international projects, designing training programs in HR departments, or continuing academic research at the graduate level.

This seminar provides a practical environment where students can develop intercultural communication skills through meaningful international exchange.
By engaging in real-world experiences beyond the classroom and taking ownership of their learning, students are empowered to become individuals who are trusted and respected both in the global arena and in Japanese society.
If you are interested in deepening your understanding of different cultures and expanding your perspective through diverse values, I invite you to join us in this journey of learning.