Dr. Yoshiko Mori Receives the Foreign Minister’s Commendation

We are delighted to share that Dr. Yoshiko Mori has been awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation (外務大臣表彰) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Japanese language and cultural education in the United States and her long-standing dedication to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and the United States.

The award ceremony was held at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., on October 31, where Ambassador Shigeo Yamada presented the commendations to this year’s recipients. Dr. Mori was joined by her family, colleagues, and teaching assistants, all of whom were proud to celebrate this well-deserved honor.

In addition to Dr. Mori, the Foreign Minister’s Commendation was also presented to Mr. Gerald H. Yamada (Former President, Japanese American Veterans Association), Mr. Matthew P. Goodman (Distinguished Fellow and Director, Council on Foreign Relations), and the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Washington D.C. Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the Japanese tea ceremony and culture.

Dr. Mori is a Professor of Japanese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Georgetown University, where she has taught since 1997. Her research focuses on second language acquisition, language learning motivation, and cross-cultural communication. In addition to her numerous publications and conference presentations, Dr. Mori has served as President of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ). She is currently the Chief Reader for AP Japanese and has been a leader in Japanese language education in the United States, mentoring countless teachers and students throughout her distinguished career.

Congratulations once again to Dr. Mori on this remarkable recognition of her lifelong commitment to advancing Japanese education and cross-cultural understanding.