In this study, a qualitative analysis of 276 first-year Japanese university science major responses to plagiarism to deconstruct prevailing generalizations regarding the incidence of plagiarism by Japanese university students. These students were enrolled in a compulsory yearlong English academic writing course. While utilizing a contextualized incident, rather than generalized statements, to gain a more thorough understanding of students' perceptions of plagiarism, this study also seeks to address the current imbalances in English-language analyses on plagiarism in Japan which fail to incorporate Japanese-language sources and studies. In contrast to previous research based on hypotheses of cultural conditioning which assume students are ambivalent towards plagiarism, the students surveyed displayed a complex awareness of the educational and societal issues that frame occurrences of plagiarism and a desire to receive effective training in academic writing techniques, similar to their native English-speaking counterparts. Finally, the paper makes suggestions for pedagogy that empowers students with tools to critically navigate the dominant academic world.

Abstract:The scarcity of opportunities to communicate in English in Japan proves a challenge for learners, as significant improvements in English as a Foreign Language) (EFL) listening and speaking will not materialize without consistent practice and a motivation to study. Furthermore, analysis of standardized test scores shows that university students' scores tend to decrease after their first year of study (Sumida 2015; Mikada 2016). In order to overcome these difficulties, a team of teachers at a university in Japan introduced a mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) shadowing application where students can train their ears while also practicing speaking with shadowing, a technique recognized as effective for improving speaking and listening (Kadota 2014;Hamada 2016). This paper describes the introduction of this application in general education English classes. It then considers its impact on the motivation, attitudes towards communicating orally in English, and perception of English ability of 1001 first-year university students, the majority science and engineering majors, who used it over one semester. Preliminary results of a pre-and post-intervention Likert questionnaire indicate that through this system, linguistic self-confidence, interest in English, ideal L2 self, attitudes towards communicating in the L2, and perceptions of English ability were potentially enhanced.

Conventional shipping is increasingly unable to address the social and economic needs of remote and underprivileged coastal and island communities. Barriers include rising fuel costs affecting the viability of on-water activities, which are compounded by the challenges presented by a lack of deepwater ports and related infrastructure that prevent docking by larger more fuel-efficient vessels. The environmental externalities of shipping-related fossil-fuel consumption, which harbour both local pollution and anthropogenic climate change impacts, adversely affect these communities. Amid limited research on strategies to address the challenges presented by conventional shipping methods to small island developing States (SIDS), this paper proposes the adoption of policy initiatives for the adoption of small, modern non-fuel vessels that could assist these important yet underserved niches. One of several initiatives developing renewable-energy based shipping solutions is the Greenheart Project, an international non-profit organization in the process of developing an open-source hybrid solar-sail cargo vessel conforming to the conditions faced in coastal and island communities. This paper discusses the socio-economic and environmental challenges presented by conventional shipping with reference to SIDS and the potential of non-fuel shipping. Policy proposals to facilitate the beneficial adoption of such vessels in developing communities will also be offered.

The main objective of the current global shipping system is based on the container ship model emphasizing speed and efficiency. While enabling convenience for those with access to this hub-and-spoke system, this model is effectively wreaking havoc on the global environment while leaving a world of people out of shipping networks. One solution is indigenous knowledge-based, small-scaled, durable, affordable, energy-efficient, renewable-energy powered wind ships built to fit the needs, means, and context of the communities that use them. The incorporation of indigenous knowledge is a key factor that significantly contributes to the efficiency, effectiveness, and development process by empowering communities to take the lead in developing sustainable programs, rather than imposing. This chapter documents the past, present, and future contributions of the wind-shipping sector, then specifically turns to the Greenheart Project. Greenheart Project aims to create a network of vessels powered by solar and wind technologies for transportation purposes, while developing a means for further regional and international cooperation, sustainability, and ethical business that prioritizes the unique and differing needs of communities. This chapter evaluates the Greenheart Project model of small-scaled cargo, measuring its tangible benefits and discussing potential applications in the South Pacific for regional trade and transport networks.

Ainu is the heritage language of the indigenous people of present-day southern Sakhalin, the Kurile Islands, present-day Hokkaidō, and northeastern Honshū (mainland Japan). The UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger (2009) considered the Ainu language critically endangered with only 15 speakers remaining. This article scrutinizes UNESCO’s assessment and analyzes the historical and current situation of the Ainu language and its transmission, particularly evaluating government policies related to the transmission of the Ainu language. Analysis in this article will draw upon our field observations and interviews conducted in Hokkaidō. Numerous formal and informal discussions were conducted with Ainu teachers, politicians, community members, and activists. Our findings indicate that the grassroots language revitalization efforts have been made and a growing number of youth speak Ainu, although their proficiency levels vary. While policymakers recognize the government’s responsibility in reversing language shift, they have yet to articulate adequate policies. The authors conclude with a discussion of the state’s positive responsibility to realize the rights ensured by the United Nations of Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This realization will facilitate the transmission of Ainu language and culture, and ensure its vitality in the future.