{"id":60280,"date":"2025-09-25T11:32:30","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T02:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/?p=60280"},"modified":"2025-09-25T14:23:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T05:23:36","slug":"24-associate-professor-sakurais-co-authored-article-is-published-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/2025\/09\/24-associate-professor-sakurais-co-authored-article-is-published-en\/","title":{"rendered":"Associate Professor Sakurai\u2019s co-authored article is published"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Associate Professor Yusuke Sakurai\u2019s co-authored paper with RIHE\u2019s student, Shizuki Saruta, is published on Research in Comparative and International Education. The theme is \u201cInternational academics\u2019 institutional integration and social adaptation among different local language competence groups in Japan\u201d.<\/p>\n

For details, please visit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Authors:<\/strong> Yusuke Sakurai, Shizuki Saruta, and Shannon Mason
Title:<\/strong> \u201cInternational academics\u2019 institutional integration and social adaptation among different local language competence groups in Japan\u201d
Journal:<\/strong> Research in Comparative and International Education
DOI:<\/strong> https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/17454999251379390<\/a>
Preprint:<\/strong> https:\/\/osf.io\/preprints\/edarxiv\/qshga_v1<\/a>
First published online:<\/strong> September 24, 2025

outline:
<\/strong>International Academics in Japan: Language, Integration, and the Unexpected Reality

Key Research Findings<\/strong><\/span>
This study challenges conventional understanding of international academics’ experiences in Japan. Contrary to widespread assumptions, the study reveals that Japanese language competence does not consistently explain the degrees of institutional integration success and social adaptation beyond academia among international early career academics.
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The Study
<\/strong><\/span>The study surveyed 305 international academics across various Japanese universities and research institutes. It examined their experiences across different Japanese language proficiency levels\u2014from beginners to native-equivalent speakers. The results were unexpected:
Institutional Integration: No significant pattern was found between Japanese language ability and workplace integration measures including collegiality, sense of belonging, and intention to stay. Academics with varying language skills showed similar levels of institutional integration.
Social Adaptation: While some association was found between language competence and social adaptation beyond academia, particularly in interpersonal interactions, the effect was minimal. The study suggests that the practical impact of language proficiency on daily life adaptation was surprisingly limited.
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The Complex Reality<\/strong><\/span>
The study illuminates the multifaceted nature of international academic experiences in Japan. Rather than language barriers being the primary obstacle, the study suggests that other factors play more significant roles in determining success:
For example, workplace culture and collegiality appear more influential than language skills Institutional support systems, and strategic inclusive initiatives may matter more than individual language competence The “stranger paradox”\u2014being physically present but psychologically distant\u2014affects the relationships of international and local academics regardless of international academics\u2019 Japanese ability. It remains still unclear which factors best explain the degree of institutional integration and social adaptation among foreign researchers in Japan.

Implications for Higher Education Policy
<\/strong><\/span>These findings have important implications for Japanese universities seeking to further internationalise. The 45% increase in international academics during the 2010s, driven by initiatives like the Top Global University Project, requires more nuanced support strategies than simply providing language training.
The study suggests that institutions should focus on creating inclusive environments, improving collegial relationships, and developing strategic initiatives rather than placing primary emphasis on Japanese language acquisition. While language training remains valuable, particularly for quality of life and specific administrative tasks, it should not be viewed as the sole solution to integration challenges in workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Broader Context<\/strong><\/span>
This research contributes to our understanding of academic mobility in an increasingly globalised higher education landscape. As universities worldwide compete for international talent, the Japanese experience offers valuable insights into the complex factors that determine not only whether international academics can thrive in their new environments, but also how local researchers and staff members can collaboratively build a sound research community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Associate Professor Yusuke Sakurai\u2019s co-authored paper with RIHE\u2019s student, Shizuki Saruta, is published on Research in Comparative and International Education. The theme is \u201cInternational academics\u2019 institutional integration and social adaptation among different local language competence groups in Japan\u201d. For details, please visit here. Authors: Yusuke Sakurai, Shizuki Saruta, and Shannon MasonTitle: \u201cInternational academics\u2019 institutional integration and social adaptation among different local language competence groups in Japan\u201dJournal: Research in Comparative and International EducationDOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/17454999251379390Preprint: https:\/\/osf.io\/preprints\/edarxiv\/qshga_v1First published online: September 24, 2025 outline:International Academics in Japan: Language, Integration, and the Unexpected Reality Key Research FindingsThis study challenges conventional understanding of international academics’ experiences in Japan. Contrary to widespread assumptions, the study reveals that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","vk-ltc-link":"","vk-ltc-target":"0"},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-center-news-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60280"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60335,"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60280\/revisions\/60335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}