Shoko Yoneyama wins Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation

Associate Professor Shoko Yoneyama, from the Department of Asian Studies has received an award from the Japanese Foreign Minister, for her work promoting Japanese culture and language education in Australia.

The Foreign Minister’s Commendation is awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields to acknowledge their contributions to promoting friendship between Japan and other countries. This year, nine Commendations were awarded in Australia.  

Associate Professor Yoneyama received her commendation for making significant contributions to promoting Japanese culture and language education in Australia. The award was presented by the Consul General of Japan, Shimada Shinji, at the Adelaide Intercontinental Hotel. 

“It came as a complete surprise. It is such an honour for my work to be recognised officially by the Japanese government. This award would not have been possible without the support of wonderful colleagues, students, and graduates that I have worked with over the years at the University of Adelaide and I am most grateful to them," said Associate Professor Yoneyama.

Professor Jodie Conduit, Interim Executive Dean of the Faculty of ABLE, congratulates Associate Professor Yoneyama.

"That is an amazing honour. It is wonderful to see that not only is Associate Professor Yoneyama able to enrich the education of Australian students, but also is recognised for honouring the Japanese culture in doing so. A well-deserved recognition," Professor Conduit says.

Associate Professor Yoneyama, a sociologist specialising in Japan, is a multiple award-winning teacher of Japanese and Asian Studies courses. She has authored monographs from Routledge on Japanese education and postmodern animism. She has just completed a DFAT/AJF project, “Tasmanian Tiger Meets Hokkaido Wolf”, and currently leads two research projects: one on eco-anxiety and a FAME sustainability project on reimagining higher education.