Japanese culture in Indonesia has significantly developed this recent decade. Being interested in Japanese culture leads people to study Japanese language, history, politics, and economics. The idea underlay Department of Japanese Language Education (PBJ) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) to collaborate with Indonesia Japanese Study Association (ASJI) to conduct a seminar on ‘A Decade of Japanese Studies in DIY’ on Saturday (11/5).

Head of ASJI of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (UMY) Drs. Eman Suherman, M.Hum. stated that public interest in learning the Japanese language rapidly escalates. A lot of job vacancies offered in Japan for foreigners are a reason for people to learn Japanese. “Interest in learning the language can be noticed from the number of people studying it in either formal and non-formal educational institutions. Some universities provide a language center for everyone who are eager to learn Japanese or to work in Japan. Regardless of their background, they will get the training,” he declared.

Additionally, eight researchers from various educational institutions presented their research on Japanese culture, language studies, literature, and history.

Eman Suherman expected that the presented research findings can yield a book chapter and can be published on an accredited international journal. Besides, the seminar was a warm-up to organized the next international ASJI in the last year of 2019 in Makassar.

Meanwhile, Chief of the seminar as well as a lecturer of Department of Japanese Education Language of UMY Sonda Sanjaya, S.S., M.Pd. conveyed that the department commits to actively participate in the Japanese language education development in both provincial and national levels. “We cooperate with ASJI in order that UMY can actively take roles in the development,” he maintained.