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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.

In advance care planning (ACP), there are cases where it is difficult for patients to express their intentions for various reasons. In this study, we discussed the difficulties and countermeasures for the implementation of ACP in the cases of children and the elderly, involuntary hospitalization for psychiatric care, and the choice of end-of-life nutrition, as cases in which it is difficult for the patients to express their intentions. Internal difficulties caused by the individual, external difficulties such as non-provision of appropriate information and social difficulties such as the absence of significant others were considered to be the factors that make ACP implementation difficult. It is important for supporters to understand these difficulties and to implement ACP according to the individual patients. It is hoped that discussions on the promotion of ACP will be further enhanced in the future.

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.

Excessive use of social networking services (SNS) is known to have a significant negative impact on mental health in university students. In this study, we conducted an online questionnaire survey of university students and analyzed 146 responses in order to clarify the relation between SNS addiction and self-compassion among university students. As a result, it was found that there was a significant negative relationship between SNS addiction and self-compassion in the university students. In addition, the subscales of "self-judgment," "isolation," and "over-identification" were significantly associated with SNS addiction. These results suggest that selfcompassion education may help reduce the deterioration of mental health caused by SNS addiction.

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.

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.

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.