The Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays
Professor Sue Atsuko Kawashima旭日単光章
川島 敦子・ス－氏
Summary of Achievements
Associate Head, Japanese Program of the Department of Classical and Oriental Studies, CUNY Hunter College
Decoration: The Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays
For her outstanding contribution in the diffusion of Japanese language and Japanese culture
功績概要
ニューヨーク市立大学ハンター校 日本語・日本文化科名誉科長
勲章名： 旭日単光章
功績：日本語普及功労及び日本文化普及功労
Professor Sue Atsuko Kawashima has served as a Japanese educator at Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY) since 1988. Because of her continuous efforts, the numbers of Japanese classes and students have gradually increased; for instance, she established Japanese culture classes there in 2001, and in 2003, she successfully founded the Japanese Studies Division at Hunter College as a regular program. The creation of this division, which she had served as the Head until 2017, boosted the number of Japanese classes offered at Hunter College and has enabled students throughout the CUNY system to obtain degrees with Japanese Studies as a major by combining Hunter College credits with those obtained at other CUNY colleges. At present, there are approximately 500 students pursuing Japan-related courses at CUNY's Hunter College. With these achievements, and by creating a dictionary of Japanese particles in English, she has contributed to the growth of supporters of Japan in the U.S. and to the promotion of Japanese studies in the U.S.
Furthermore, Professor Kawashima has interviewed candidates for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET Program) at the Consulate General of Japan in New York for 21 years. The JET Program offers Americans opportunities to work as English-teaching assistants in Japan. In this regard, she has not only contributed to the development of Japanese studies in the United States but has also served as an important cross-cultural bridge between the people of Japan and the United States.
同人は，昭和６３年から現在まで，ニューヨーク市立大学ハンター校に日本語講師として勤務し，平成１３年に日本文化講座を創設し日本関係の提供講座数を拡大させた。平成１５年に同人は同校ではそれまで正式な科ではなかった日本研究プログラムを，組織上正規の科に格上げすることに成功した。同人はこの日本語・日本文化科創設と同時に初代科長に就任した。
これらの日本研究プログラムの規模拡大によって，同科提供の日本関連講座と他のニューヨーク市立大学各校にて提供される関連講座を合わせて受講することで，日本研究を主専攻とする学士号の取得が可能になり，今では各学期に同科全体で約５００名の学生が受講するまでになった。
このように，同人は，日本語・日本文化の裾野拡大及び親日層・知日層の拡大に多大な貢献をしているほか，日本語学習者のための辞典等を執筆することでも，英語圏における日本語普及に貢献している。
さらに，平成５年から平成２５年までの２１年間，語学指導等を行う外国青年招致事業（ＪＥＴプログラム）の面接委員を務め，それ以降も事業広報等を通じて本プログラム実施に大きく寄与し，もって日米相互理解促進に大きく貢献している。