Sachiko Tokai

About Sachiko Tokai

Posts by Sachiko Tokai:

Wyatt Howard, the second recipient of the Nelson Ranch Scholarship

Sachiko Tokai 2025, Nelson Ranch Scholarship, Scholarship recipient October 8, 2026

We interviewed Wyatt Howard, a Kentucky native who enrolled at ICU last September as a recipient of the 2025 Nelson-Ranch Scholarship. (All photos courtesy of Wyatt.) JICUF: When and what made you interested in Japan? Wyatt: I became interested in Japan at a very young age. From the beginning of my education, we were taught Japanese—presumably because of the presence of Japanese businesses and companies in Kentucky—so I believe that first sparked my interest in the language. I also had a few Japanese friends, and I really liked movies that showcased Japan or took place there. Two movies in particular, Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword and Teen Titans: Trouble in […]

Blog English

Introducing the 2026-2027 Media Interns

Sachiko Tokai 2026-2027, Media Intern, Photo Intern September 30, 2026

JICUF recently hired two new media interns, Hiyu Shiraki and Seidai Goto. These two ICU undergraduates, along with Kyoka Horiuchi—who has served as a photography intern since 2024—will regularly post promotional photos and short videos on JICUF’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. Please follow us on social media to check out their posts! Hiyu Shiraki Hi, I’m Hiyu Shiraki, ICU Class of 2028. Having grown up between Japan and the U.S., I’ve always loved connecting with people from various backgrounds. At JICUF, I hope to use photography and film to meet more people and share the stories of the students and supporters who carry forward JICUF’s founding spirit. More than just […]

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Othmer Research Fellowship Spotlight: Michiru Sasaoka

Sachiko Tokai 2026, Fieldwork, Mosquito, othmer research fellowship, Research project September 18, 2026

Project Title “The Effects of Environmental Stress on Mosquito Size Along the Urban–Suburban Gradient from Central Tokyo to the ICU Campus” The Othmer Research Fellowship (ORF) provides funding to ICU students to conduct independent research projects during the summer break. We spoke with Michiru Sasaoka, one of the 2025 Othmer Fellows, about her research project. At the time of her fellowship, Michiru was a fourth-year undergraduate student at ICU. JICUF: What inspired you to develop this project? Michiru: I have always been particularly prone to mosquito bites, so summers can be quite difficult for me. Not only do I get bitten easily, but I also have a strong reaction to […]

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2026 Global Citizen Fellowship: New York Program

Sachiko Tokai 2026, Aoyama Gakuin University, Common Good, Global Citizen fellowship, ICU, Kindai University, Kwansei Gakuin University, New York Program, social impact projects September 14, 2026

In mid-August, the second cohort of JICUF’s Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF) traveled to New York for an intensive two-week program. GCF is an eight-month program for ICU and other university students living in Japan. It is designed to help Fellows explore their values, deepen their understanding of the world and their place in it, and consider how they can contribute to the common good. Led by JICUF President Paul Hastings and Program Facilitator and ICU alumna Yuri Morikawa, GCF unfolds in three modules over eight months, each with a distinct theme. The first, Discovering Self and Authentic Leadership, focuses on values, mindset, and purpose. The second, Creating Meaningful Relationships and […]

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SDG Projects Spotlight: Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh

Sachiko Tokai 2025 Spring, Cameroon, children, environment, health education, Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh, SDG Projects July 30, 2026

JICUF SDG Project Spotlight: Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh “Clean Water and Good Health for a Brighter Future” -Project Reflection & Future Outlook Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh, a recipient of the Spring 2025 SDG Project Grant, is an international student from Cameroon. His project aims to improve the living conditions of children residing in two orphanages in his hometown of Yaoundé, Cameroon: Centre des Handicapés Etoug Ebe and Sainte Rita OP. Through initiatives such as installing water purification filters and providing education on environmental hygiene, Mohammed works to create a healthier and safer environment for the children. Last summer, Mohammed traveled to Cameroon to implement his project. We asked him to share his […]

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Faculty Grant Spotlight: Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi

Sachiko Tokai Centurion University of Technology and Management, faculty grant, India, Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi, Public Interest Technologies July 13, 2026

From left: Kae Takagi, Prof. Yamaguchi, Ai Kimura, and Asahi Igarashi Faculty Grant Spotlight: Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi Bridging Japan and India through Student-Led Fieldwork on Public Interest Technologies During the Fall 2025 faculty grant cycle, Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi of ICU’s Department of Society, Culture, and Media was awarded a JICUF Faculty Grant. The grant enabled Professor Yamaguchi to bring a group of students with her to India in March of this year to conduct collaborative field research. The project, titled “Bridging Japan and India through Student-Led Fieldwork on Public Interest Technologies,” explored the concept of Public Interest Technologies (PIT)—technologies that contribute to social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and ethical governance—and examined […]

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Faculty Grant Project Report “ICUHS School Farm to Table”

Sachiko Tokai Farm to Table, 農LIFE April 23, 2026

In addition to the “SDG Project” grants for students, JICUF also offers grants for faculty and staff. In fiscal year 2025, we provided a total of 9,485,960 yen in grants to 10 faculty and staff projects. One of these was the “ICUHS School Farm to Table” project led by Minako Kuhara, the International Programs Coordinator at International Christian University High School. In 2022, ICU High School launched “NO AGRI NO LIFE/ NO 農 NO LIFE” as part of its Global Learning Programs, offering students hands-on learning opportunities about agriculture and environmental issues. This is a voluntary group activity involving teachers from various subjects, such as science and home economics, and […]

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Student Ambassadors, the Passing of the Torch

Sachiko Tokai 2025, 2026, ICU community, student ambassadors March 26, 2026

JICUF’s Student Ambassadors, working under the guidance of Hideko Matsuyama, Program Manager of the JICUF Japan Office, play an active role in sharing information about JICUF’s programs, supporting events and projects, and contributing student-driven ideas that strengthen the ICU community. During the 2025 academic year, they planned and organized a range of initiatives, including International Day at the ICU Festival, Sports Night, and Cook & Connect. The five Student Ambassadors for 2025–26 will complete their terms in March, and four new ambassadors will begin in April. We extend our sincere appreciation to the 2025–26 Student Ambassadors for their dedication and contributions. In the photo: starting from the back row, left […]

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First Cohort of GCF Fellows Completes the Program

Sachiko Tokai 2025-2026, Global Citizen fellowship, JICUF Program for ICU Undergraduate, Program Completion March 26, 2026

Fellows holding their certificates, joined by GCF Program Facilitator Yuri Morikawa (back row, far left) and Hideko Matsuyama of the JICUF Japan Office (front row, far right). Photo: Yosuke Kobayashi Thirteen ICU students who participated in the Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF)—a program launched by JICUF last April—successfully completed the fellowship in March. GCF is designed to provide students with an opportunity to reflect on themselves, deepen their understanding of the world and their role within it, and explore ways to contribute to the common good. The inaugural year of GCF consisted of the following five components: Off-campus retreats Online discussion sessions Individual coaching A two and a half week summer […]

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JICUF Receives Grant from the United States-Japan Foundation to Support Afghan Youth

Sachiko Tokai Afghan youth, grant, higher education in Japan, Japanese language school, Pathways Japan, scholarships, US-Japan Foundation February 27, 2026

JICUF is pleased to share that we have received a generous grant from the United States-Japan Foundation to support our work to provide educational opportunities in Japan for Afghan youth. The $160,000 two-year grant will enable JICUF and Pathways Japan, our partner organization in Tokyo, to provide scholarships to primarily female students who have lost access to education under the Taliban regime. The students will receive two years of intensive Japanese language training at partner language school and we will also help to support their transition to higher education and/or employment. This grant was featured on the US-Japan Foundation’s web news. Read the article here.Photo: Orientation for the Japanese Language […]

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