J-SLA Vision Statement

We hereby establish the Japan Second Language Association (abbreviated: J-SLA) for the express purpose of promoting within Japan the advancement of research into second language development that seeks to elucidate the process of second language acquisition through theoretically grounded analyses of empirical data.

Our approach sees second language acquisition research as a scientific field of study on par with cognitive science, first language acquisition research, and linguistics, one that does not, therefore, depend on whether the findings have a direct application to foreign language education per se. Ascertaining the mechanisms of second language acquisition through a rigorous scientific method will contribute, along with other areas of cognitive science, to our understanding of human cognition.

(English translation of the text adopted at the inaugural conference)

Greetings from the President

In 2001, researchers interested in second language acquisition research gathered in Shizuoka to establish the Japan Second Language Association (J-SLA). Since then, second language acquisition research has developed greatly. The number of researchers has increased to an incomparable degree. Theories and research methods have changed a lot, but the philosophy that has been important to us as the direction in which our society should proceed has not changed. That is, to conduct serious research on second language acquisition from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, and to freely discuss each other's information and knowledge, overcoming the barriers of age, occupation, nationality, and so on. Thanks to the tireless efforts and cooperation of the members, we have been able to uphold this philosophy firmly, and we will continue to do our best to carry out this policy. The Executive Committee and Steering Committee members will continue to do their utmost to make our association an enjoyable place that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of our members, and I look forward to your continued support and cooperation.

Yuichi Tomita

President, Japan Second Language Association

Professor, Gakushuin University

Advisory Board

• Shuji Chiba (Tsuda University)

• Kevin R. Gregg (Momoyama Gakuin University)

• Roger Hawkins (University of Essex)

• William O’Grady (University of Hawai’i at Manoa)

• Yukio Otsu (Keio University)

• Bonnie D. Schwartz (University of Hawai’i at Manoa)

• Roumyana Slabakova (University of Southampton)

• Antonella Sorace (University of Edinburgh)

• Margaret Thomas (Boston College)

• Lydia White (McGill University)

• John N. Williams (University of Cambridge)

• Noriko Yoshimura (University of Shizuoka)

• Boping Yuan (Cambridge University)

• Noriaki Yusa (Miyagi Gakuin Women’s College)

• Michael Harrington (University of Queensland)

• Alan Juffs (University of Pittsburgh)

Steering Committee

Updated on April 1, 2024

President: TOMITA, Yuichi (Gakushuin University)

Vice-President: OKUWAKI, Natsumi (Tsuda University)

Vice-President: URANO, Ken (Hokkai-Gakuen University)

Secretariat: SHITE, Kazuyuki (Tokyo University of Social Welfare)

Accountant: HOKARI, Tomohiro (Atomi University)

Chief Editor: FUKUTA, Junya (Chuo University)

Chairperson of a publicity committee：OJIMA, Shiro (Waseda University)

Steering Committee Members:

• AKIMOTO, Takayuki (Kogakuin University)

• FUJIMORI, Atsushi (University of Shizuoka)

• FUKUTA, Junya (Chuo University)

• GOSS, Seth (Emory University)

• HASHIMOTO, Kenichi (Osaka Kyoiku University)

• HIRAKAWA, Makiko (Chuo University)

• HIRANO, Yohei (Kobe City College of Technology)

• HOKARI, Tomohiro (Atomi University)

• KADOTA, Shuhei (Kwansei Gakuin University)

• KANO, Akihiro (Kwassui Women’s University)

• KIMURA, Takayuki (Utsunomiya University)

• KONDO, Takako (Hosei University)

• MIKI, Kohei (Kindai University)

• MIYAO, Mari (Ritsumeikan University)

• NAKAGAWA, Yuya (Mie University)

• NAKANISHI, Hiroshi (Seinan Gakuin University)

• NAKANO, Yoko (Kwansei Gakuin University)

• NAKAYAMA, Mineharu (The Ohio State University)

• NISHIKAWA, Tomomi (Ochanomizu University)

• NOMURA, Jun (Kwansei Gakuin University)

• OGAWA, Mutsumi (Nihon University)

• OJIMA, Shiro (Waseda University)

• OKUWAKI, Natsumi (Tsuda University)

• OTAKI, Ayano (Shizuoka University)

• SHIRAHATA, Tomohiko (Shizuoka University)

• SHITE, Kazuyuki (Tokyo University of Social Welfare)

• SNAPE, Neal (Gunma Prefectural Women’s University)

• SUDA, Koji (University of Shizuoka)

• SUGIURA, Kaori (Ritsumeikan University)

• TOMITA, Yuichi (Gakushuin University)

• URANO, Ken (Hokkai-Gakuen University)

• WAKABAYASHI, Shigenori (Chuo University)

• YAMADA, Toshiyuki (Gunma University)

• YAMAGUCHI, Yumiko (Tokai University)

• YAMAZAKI, Tae (Komazawa University)

• YOKOTA, Hideki (Shizuoka University of Art and Culture)

Audit Committee Members:

• MINEMI, Itsuki (Ritsumeikan University)

• SHIMODA, Manami (Usec International School)