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This paper examines the changes in clothing articles in the third volume of SUTAIRU, a magazine edited by Uno Chiyo, in the process of its transformation from a “fun and stylish magazine” that dealt with overseas fashion information and fashionable lifestyles to a magazine that was in line with national policy.

Using various historical materials from the late Middle Ages to the early modern period, we will reconstruct the state of Tsukiyama-tate in Yamaguchi, Suo Province, where the Ouchi clan established their base in the late Middle Ages, after the demise of the clan, and extract its characteristics by comparing it with similar examples (samurai residences) from the Middle Ages.

This paper is a compilation of information on prewar Japanese designer organizations, organized and documented using as a reference the book “Experiential Design History” by Ayao Yamana (David, Inc., 1976). Although “Experiential Design History” is a personal memoir, the author has been active as a designer since the 1920s and has been a driving force in the Japanese graphic design world. The book is an important resource for understanding the history of prewar Japanese design, as it describes in detail, from the perspective of those involved, the period during which those who were called “designers” were recognized by the public as designers. However, many of the introductions of design organizations are in the order recalled by the author, which is cumbersome, so they have been reorganized in chronological order for future use as research material.

In this study, we design digital teaching materials in the basic courses “Information Society Seminar” and “Introduction to Well-Being” in the Department of Information Society Studies. Using Moodle, this study not only focuses on the development of information technology but also presents one possibility for training humanitiesbased DX (Digital Transformation) personnel by solving social issues through technology to improve well-being. In the “Information Society Seminar,” in addition to the traditional study skills using paper and pencil, we decided to provide students with opportunities to learn basic skills using digital materials such as metaverse and smart pen as well as pictogram production, prototyping, and the use of maps, which are necessary for the information society. In the “Introduction to Well-Being,” we constructed lessons that use technology to address a variety of social issues such as medical care, food, disaster prevention politics and work styles.

This study examines the Japanese language as it emerged in Taiwan, using Yamaguchi Mamoru’s The Town on Papaya, Anthology of Japanese novels written in Colonial Taiwan, Koseisha,2024, as a reference. As part of project exercise, the author of this study led Yamaguchi Prefectural University students to Chia-Yi, Taiwan, to learn about the historical relationship between Yamaguchi and Taiwan. Chen Cheng-Po, a famous Taiwanese artist closely related to this exercise, wrote his will in Japanese before his execution. The findings demonstrate that although the Japanese language penetrated the Taiwanese people in Japan during the colonial era, it evolved in Taiwan after World War Ⅱ. Knowledge of the Japanese Language in Taiwan requires an understanding of the historical relationship between Taiwan and Japan among YPU students.

Practice of Initiatives Under the Regional Japanese Language Education Start-up Program (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Focusing on the Overview and Reflection of the 'Minnade Hyakoro! Japanese Language Classroom' in Yoshika Town, Shimane Prefecture This paper introduces the main activities of the "Minna de Hyakorou!" Japanese language class launch project in Yoshika Town, Shimane Prefecture, implemented in collaboration between the local government and Yamaguchi Prefectural University in FY2024, as well as the findings from the participants' feedback. Reflecting on the classroom activities, it is important to create opportunities for closer interaction between local residents and foreigners, increase opportunities for face-to-face interaction alongside online sessions, and strengthen information exchange and cooperation with local organizations. It also became clear that there is a need for flexible teaching materials tailored to participants' needs, and for Japanese language education that is more closely connected to real-life situations. To further develop the project in the future, the key will be for the government, universities, and local residents to work together to advance the initiative.

The “GIGA School Initiative,” announced in December 2019, is a Japanese government program to enhance the digital learning environment in schools. It focuses on providing each student with a personal device and improving internet connectivity to support modern, technology-driven education. Considering this initiative, we have initiated a research program focusing on training language professionals with high digital competency. Since FY2022, we have developed and validated an initial instruction curriculum for English and Japanese through collaboration with the municipal government and local communities. We aim to address educational challenges in a global and multicultural society. In FY2024, the project’s third year, we intend to concentrate on two primary areas: 1) enhancing students’ digital literacy and 2) fortifying regional collaboration. Through these endeavors, we aspire to promote further the training of language teachers with advanced digital competencies and contribute to addressing educational challenges in a global and multicultural context.

This short essay is a report of what I did during my research travel to Florida in the late September 2024. It is explained why the University of West Florida is good for YPU students who are willing to study abroad in America. It is also proposed how to take advantage of one’s study abroad experience to improve his/her language proficiency to the CEFR C1 level where they can enjoy leisure topics in a foreign language. My proposal is based on the findings from my pragmatic research on parody and cultural accommodation, and consists of three steps. First, express yourself poetically. Second, edit the words given by others. Third, tell your identity. These steps are designed to combine language proficiency with proactiveness, thereby contributing to nurturing Global Communicators, as stated in the new diploma policy of the Faculty of Intercultural Studies.

Reprinting Note of Ozu Hisatari's "Iwabashino Nikki". Ozu Hisatari was a merchant of the Edo period. "Iwabashino Nikki" is a travelogue of his visits to Kyoto and other places.

Felix P. Biestek published The Casework Relationship in 1957. Five years earlier, in 1952, Mary Overholt Peters, Field Representative of the Oklahoma State Department of Public Welfare, published “Notes from a Social Worker’s Journal” in an American journal of public welfare (April issue). This paper is an attempt to compare the two publications, which are still widely read by frontline social workers. The author was interested in the fact that they appeared in the same period. The result found that 10 of the 11 items in Peters’ article share common themes with Biestek’s Principles of Social Casework in The Casework Relationship. Second, none of the caseworker’s relationships with fellow caseworkers and supervisors in Peters’ article were applicable to Biestek’s Principles. The Principles of Casework represent the principles of the caseworker’s attitude toward their clients. Therefore, they understandably do not touch on the relationship with their colleagues. On the other hand, no section of“ Notes from a Social Worker’s Journal” mentions the principle of confidentiality. Regarding this issue, Mary Oberholt Peters, author of“ Notes from a Social Worker’ s Journal,” must have been naturally aware of the responsibility as a civil servant to protect the confidentiality of clients’ private information, as she was the liaison officer for the Public Welfare Department of the State of Oklahoma in the US. Finally, as for the connection between Peters’ article and Biestek’s Principles, it seems that practicing social work according the latter and reflecting on the practice based on the former will help improve the quality of social work as the reflection will lead to better practices.

In recent years, early support for preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been the focus of social attention. In this study, we report the results of an early support program, APPLE, for one preschooler with ASD. As a result of the implementation of this program, it was confirmed that the joint attention behavior and verbal behavior of the child who participated in the program became richer. In the future, it is necessary to verify the effectiveness of the APPLE program by increasing the number of children participated in this program.

Abstract: the “Act on Special Measures concerning Assistance in Self-Support of Homeless” was enacted in 2002, and the national and local governments began providing full-scale support for homeless people. The national survey on homelessness conducted in 2003 identified 25,296 homeless persons in 581 municipalities nationwide, while the January 2024 national survey confirmed 2,820 homeless persons in 217 municipalities. For more than a decade following the introduction of the Act on Special Measures, independence support centers have been the main providers of support. However, the enactment of the law to support the independence of people in need in 2013 has created a pathway for self-support, allowing homeless persons to make practical use of the welfare law. As support for homeless people became enhanced in this way, a new problem emerged: the free/low-cost lodging facilities were serving as a place, other than the temporary living support projects, to provide welfare coverage for homeless people based on independence support centers and the law to support the independence of people in need. However, their housing conditions were poor and facility usage fees were unreasonably high. One of the measures against this“ poverty business” is the newly established residential facilities for daily life support. This paper discusses the support those residential facilities provide to the residents who are experiencing homelessness toward in-home living based on a survey of visits to the facilities and interviews with the residents. The results showed that individuals experiencing homelessness have not only restored their health through the use of the facilities but also a sense of security and freedom thanks to the involvement of the staff. This stabilization of the body and mind allows them to imagine the transition from the use of the facilities to in-home living. When selecting a place for in-home living, it is also important to form a social support network for a life in the community after leaving the facilities. Therefore, it is necessary for the residential facilities to build good relationships with other facilities that assist people experiencing homelessness and with government agencies outside their jurisdiction, as well as to form networks among support personnel.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether university students' knowledge about blood donation is related to their willingness to donate blood and their behavior as part of efforts to promote blood donation behavior. The subjects were 79 female students at University A in Yamaguchi Prefecture, aged 20.367 ±1.312 years. Of the 79 subjects, 51 (approximately 65% of the total) had past lectures and self-study (learning experience) related to blood donation, and 28 (approximately 35% of the total) had no experience. Regarding the experience of actually donating blood (blood donation experience), of 79 people, 22 had experience (approximately 28% of the total) and 57 had no experience (approximately 72% of the total). Knowledge about blood donation was asked about 19 items, including “reasons why blood is needed,” “uses of blood,” and “types of blood donation. The results were as follows: (1) Those who had studied the subject had more knowledge about blood donation than those who had not studied the subject for all 19 items except for “Reasons why blood is needed” and “Uses of blood”. (2) For all items except “Uses of blood'' and “Information on blood donation buses in Yamaguchi Prefecture'', those who had experience of blood donation were more knowledgeable than those who had no experience of blood donation. (3) The reason for going to a blood donation for those who had experience donating blood was the availability of snacks and other small gifts, invitations from friends, etc. When thinking about going to donate blood, 60% of respondents said that it was because of their own convenience, such as having time, having a blood donation bus, being in good physical condition, and feeling well. In addition, 30% of the responders were due to factors from the blood center or others, such as a notification from the blood center that blood could be donated or an invitation from a friend. (4) More than 60% of the respondents who had never donated blood did so because of their physical condition, such as anemia or being underweight. In addition, lack of opportunity to go, image and impression of blood donation such as “painful” and “scary,” and lack of knowledge about blood and blood donation were also cited as reasons. (5) When we examined how gaining knowledge about blood donation was related to the willingness to take action for those who had never donated blood, we found that not only did gaining knowledge increase the willingness to take action, but also some did not change their willingness to take action and some decreased their willingness to take action after gaining knowledge. These findings suggest that it is important to make efforts to sustain interest in blood donation for those who have experienced blood donation behavior, and for those who have not donated blood, it is important to simultaneously provide knowledge about blood donation and opportunities to donate blood, and to devise approaches for those who lack weight or other factors to meet blood donation criteria.

本研究は、生活者理解を目的として導入したライフヒストリーインタビューを初学者に用いることの効果、すなわち基礎看護学実習Ⅰの目的の一つである「対象を生活者として理解」するという目標が達成できているかどうかを明らかにすることを目的に、令和5年度基礎看護学実習Ⅰ受講生57名が教育の一環として作成したレポート内容 を研究のために二次利用し、学生が理解した「生活者」を質的帰納的に分析した。その結果、【自宅での日常生活を送る人】、【楽しみを追究する】、【前向きな思いがある】、【その人らしさがある】、【病気や老いに向き合う】、【家族との関係】、【地域の人との関係がある】、【役割を持つ人】、【否定的な感情がある】、【自立して生活したい】、【困難感を感じる】、【今後のことを考える】の12カテゴリが抽出された。これらの内容および視点は先行研究で示されており、本研究の結果とも一致していたことから、学生は対象を生活者として理解することができていた。

The purpose of this study was to clarify what kind of support is needed for education and employment of childhood cancer survivors based on the current situation and issues. The research method was a literature review, and 12 articles were collected. The collected literature was divided into two categories: education and employment, and descriptions of the status and issues were reviewed. As a result, it was found that, with regard to education, it is necessary to provide learning support from the time of hospitalization with a view to returning to school, to cooperate with teachers at both the in-hospital school and the school of origin, and to promote understanding of the disease among classmates who will accept the students after discharge from the hospital. In addition, it is necessary for them to acquire the ability to explain and develop strategies for disclosing their disease so that employers will have a correct understanding of pediatric cancer when they are looking for a job. Furthermore, after employment, it is necessary for supporters to think together about strategies to continue employment in spite of physical condition and late-effects complications. In addition, it is necessary to support the patients to grow as a person and acquire social skills through education even while they are hospitalized.

In the late Middle Ages, the Ouchi clan made secondary use of the Kurumazuka Tomb and Dainichi Tomb in connection with Myoken faith (Hokuto faith) in order to strengthen their own political voice in Suo Province. They also unified and strengthened their ritual rights within the clan by moving the bases of Myoken faith that existed all over the country to Kouryuji Temple and Jofukuji Temple in the Ouchi Basin, where they were based.

This paper presents a field study in which the author conducted interviews with Japanese Americans affiliated with the Honolulu Yamaguchi Kenjinkai in Hawaii about their families’ stories. The author participated in the 2021 Aloha Project, a collaboration between Suo-Oshima Town, Suo-Oshima High School, and Yamaguchi Prefectural University, to design a set of Aloha shirts. During the foundational research for this project, the author visited the Japanese Hawaiian Emigration Museum operated by Suo-Oshima Town, developing a strong interest in the relationship between Suo-Oshima and Hawaii, particularly the history and current state of emigration. After retiring and becoming a professor emeritus, the author began researching Japanese immigration in 2023. The research began in September 2023 with a visit to Los Angeles, home to the Japanese American National Museum, to investigate Nikkei communities across the United States. Interviews were conducted with members of the Nanka Yamaguchi Kenjinkai. In mid-June 2024, the author traveled to Honolulu to interview members of the Honolulu Yamaguchi Kenjinkai about their family stories. At the same time, research was conducted at the Hawaii Japanese Cultural Center to better understand previously documented historical events. With these insights, the author decided to describe the individual family narratives collected through interviews. The study revealed the existence of historically significant Japanese immigrant communities in areas like Moiliili and McCully, which are comparable to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. These areas, being older, hold a key place in the history of Japanese immigration as centers of work, education, and daily life for Japanese Americans. Through interviews about the lives of immigrants and their ancestors, the study provides opportunities to reconstruct the history of immigration, life in Hawaii, and changes in values over time. This has underscored the importance of continuing this research. Additionally, interviews were conducted with residents of Suo-Oshima who have relatives who emigrated. The author plans to further investigate how Suo-Oshima’s history of immigration has influenced the awareness and lifestyles of its residents.

Japanese children naturally acquire many words in their daily lives, but foreign children do not have as many opportunities to do so, so it can be inferred that Japanese language ability affects problem solving in math problems. First, we text-mined commercially available problem books and extracted frequently used words. Next, we examined the standard difficulty level of the JLPT and its use in textbooks, and found that more than 70% of the vocabulary commonly used in arithmetic sentence problems were familiar words used in daily life, and even those not commonly used in arithmetic were often used in other subjects. In solving arithmetic sentence problems, not only some difficult words and words that are not frequently used in textbooks, but also the language environment can be a major hurdle for foreign children to learn, as they are required to have Japanese language skills in their daily lives.

This paper argues that there are several points that should be considered when building a chat server in a university. Three arguments are made to demonstrate the points. First,an overview of chat servers are given and pointed out some of the issues involved in deploying a chat server. Next, to solve these problems, the introduction of Matrix, an open source chat server is argued. Finally, it is described that some types of service that can be provided by introducing chat server.

基盤教育Ⅳ群の「やまぐち未来デザインプロジェクトⅠ・Ⅱ」は、2023年度から３年間の予定で、一般財団法人三菱みらい育成財団から、カテゴリー４「21世紀型教養教育」として助成を受けている。2024年9月28日、JPタワーホール（東京都千代田区）において、「みらい育成アワード2024～知見、実践、その想いを分かち合う～」が開催され、2023年度に採択された助成先の中から、カテゴリーごとに、優れた活動・成果に賞が贈られた。本稿は、グランプリの受賞スピーチを報告するものである。

The aim of this paper is to examine historical materials that show the political and military roles played by Buddhist priests during the civil war at the end of the Edo era, when the Tokugawa shogunate was opposed by various clans. They overthrew the old regime and ushered in the Meiji era, when the emperor reigned. During the Edo era when today’s Yamaguchi Prefecture was known as the Chōshū clan, Shin Buddhism priests belonging to temples in the clan’s territory set up a new school for monks to learn both liberal arts and French style martial arts to prevent Buddhism and temples, which were linked to the Tokugawa shogunate, from being destroyed. This study focuses on one of the priests involved in this movement, Kagawa Hōkō, and aims to clarify the reality of previously undocumented espionage activities using three historical documents. The third document is a transcript of an interview with the mother of a merchant in Osaka who was a supporter of the Chōshū clan’s espionage activities. It provides specific details about how the spies raised the funds they needed, how they communicated their information, and how they evaded the authorities by moving from one hiding place to another. There was also a monk, a spy mate of Hōkō, who abandoned his espionage duties and instead spent the money on sake and geisha. He ended up abducting a geisha and ran away, which led to Hōkō being imprisoned by both the shogunate’s Shinsengumi and the Chōshū clan on two separate occasions. After this, Hōkō and his comrades became responsible priests at the heart of the administration of the Shin Buddhism Hongwanji sect in the Meiji era, and he became the president of a university established by the sect, but in his twenties, he was involved in military activities like this. This is a new and interesting specific case that has previously been undocumented.

In this study, an interview survey was conducted to examine communication between foreign technical intern trainees and Japanese employees in the workplace, focusing on companies in Yamaguchi Prefecture that accept foreign technical intern trainees. The results revealed that the primary factors contributing to communication misunderstandings between foreign technical intern trainees and Japanese employees stemmed from cultural differences between low-context and high-context communication styles, as well as a lack of consideration in the Japanese expressions used by Japanese employees in the workplace. Furthermore, an additional survey of both technical intern trainees and Japanese employees highlighted that the most frequent misunderstandings arose not from complex expressions but from simple phrases like “I understand.” To facilitate smoother workplace communication, foreign technical intern trainees were provided with opportunities to learn the original meaning and proper usage of phrases such as “I understand” and were guided on the importance of asking for clarification when necessary. Additionally, feedback was given to Japanese employees to help them understand the reasons behind the linguistic behaviors of foreign technical intern trainees. These initiatives were found to significantly foster mutual understanding and proved highly effective for both parties.

For EFL learners to develop their interlanguage (IL) system efficiently, input, output, and interaction are indispensable. Advancements in ICT have made it possible to access high-quality input, such as TED and YouTube. Learners can also practice producing output by writing diaries, self-talk, giving a presentation, etc. However, interaction can only be done with an interlocutor. Recent remarkable technological advances have enabled natural interactions between generative AI and EFL learners, allowing learners to practice interactions at their own pace with less anxiety. This study aims to elucidate the effects of interaction opportunities with generative AI on the Willingness to Communicate (WTC), anxiety, and perceived competence of EFL learners. Sixty-six undergraduates were recruited as the participants. They had opportunities to interact with generative AI regularly. A questionnaire consisting of 24 items was employed to evaluate their WTC, anxiety, and perceived competence. The analysis of the collected data suggests that interaction opportunities with generative AI raise WTC and perceived competence and lower anxiety.

The Blue & Green Art Project (BGAP), launched in 2020, is unique in that it addresses regional environmental issues through the interconnected perspectives of sea and land. Over the past few years, BGAP has held symposiums and exhibitions to encourage discussions on environmental challenges while presenting solutions through art and culture. The 2024 exhibition focused on kimono upcycling and included works by environmental artist Mago Nagasaka. A key objective of BGAP 2024 was to explore Nagasaka’s concept of "Sustainable Capitalism," which aims to create a harmonious cycle among the environment, culture, and economy. This paper examines the theme of "Regional Revitalization and International Exchange through Clothing Design," primarily discussing the activities of BGAP 2024 in the realm of clothing design. Chapter I provides an overview of the research, while Chapter II traces the evolution of clothing design activities from BGAP’ s predecessor, the Agri-Art Festival, to its current endeavors, analyzing them through the lenses of regional revitalization and international exchange. BGAP has long facilitated international workshops that utilize Yamaguchi’s local resources. This year, an online workshop was held in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Maui College, focusing on kimono upcycling with participants from both Japan and Hawaii. Chapter III highlights the clothing pieces featured in the exhibition, including Mago Nagasaka’s art and their underlying concepts. The works of Yusaku Harada, utilizing factory waste, and Erina Kashihara, incorporating marine debris, were also featured. The process of kimono upcycling in this exhibition, framed as an international exchange activity, proved to be significant, offering insights into perspectives in both the creative phase and the exhibition and appreciation phase. In summary, BGAP continues to utilize clothing design as an art and cultural initiative aimed at regional revitalization and addressing local issues. Looking ahead, the project aims to expand these efforts, even on a modest scale, with the aspiration of contributing to the local economy through sustainable practices.