In early September 2025, UH Mānoa College of Education (COE) Dean Nathan Murata, along with COE faculty, staff, and students, traveled to Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, meeting with school of education colleagues and participating in numerous events. The college has established longstanding relationships and scholarly initiatives with universities throughout Japan.
Murata led a delegation through several engagements, including presentations at the Japan-U.S. Teacher Education Consortium (JUSTEC)* held at Mukogawa Women’s University, a visit to the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS) at Kobe University, as well as a 25th Anniversary Kickoff celebration of the COE’s partnership with Bukkyo University.
September 5
Meeting with Kobe University’s Executive Vice President Tamaki Hisashi, Dean of GSICS Yuichiro Uchida, and Department Chair and Professor Keiichi Ogawa to discuss our existing partnership and future expansion in faculty and student exchange, joint program and research, and other projects
September 6 & 7
- Large COE representation at the 34th Japan-U.S. Teacher Education Consortium (JUSTEC), showcasing our impactful research
- Faculty & Staff: Dean Murata, Director of International Programs Kaori Burkart, Educational Foundations Professor Di Xu, School of Teacher Education (STE) Department Chair Jon Yoshioka, STE Associate Chair Lori Fulton, Special Education (SPED) Associate Specialist Linda Ishita, STE Assistant Professor Stacy George, STE Assistant Specialist Aaron Levine, Center on Disability Studies Evaluation Specialist Manca Sustarsic, SPED Assistant Professor Shawna Ortogero, STE Instructor Patricia Massoth, Recruitment Specialist Janet Kim, STE Assistant Professor Waynele Yu, STE Associate Professor Vail Matsumoto
- Alumni: Chisato Nonaka and Aya Watanabe
- Doctoral Students: JD Parker, Davide Samulski, Jordan Antonio, and Adam Tanare Jr.
September 8–9
- 25th Anniversary Kickoff Events between Bukkyo University College of Education and UH Mānoa College of Education where both institutions celebrated a quarter-century of collaboration and a renewed vision for strengthening their relationship
- Visit to Kyoto Nishikamo Junior High School where a delegation (Murata, Yoshioka, Fulton, Massoth, Levine, and Burkart) observed an eighth grade physical education (track and field) class and learned from Principal Naohisa Uehata about how his school fosters communication and support to address challenges such as teacher shortages and retention
- Visit to Bukkyo University campus where delegation met with President Kazuyuki Sato, Dean Takashi Kobayashi, and College of Education faculty at Bukkyo University to plan the 25th formal anniversary celebration to be hosted at UH Mānoa in 2027 and to explore expanding study abroad opportunities beyond the current one-week reciprocal study tours
*One of the original founders of JUSTEC, the College of Education will host the next conference for the seventh time in October 2026. The college is continuously building its global connections to improve teacher training and provide quality education for all. JUSTEC is a forum for the world’s best scholarship and practice with our partners in Japan and the world.
