The Hamako Ito Chaplin Memorial Award will again be conferred in 2019, administered through the Association for Asian Studies. In accordance with the wishes of the Chaplin family, each year a prize of $1000 will be awarded to either a current graduate student or a full-time instructor of Japanese for excellence in Japanese language teaching at the college-level. A full-time instructor who has completed graduate study within the last 3 years in an area that directly involves Japanese language teaching is eligible to apply. Possible academic fields of specialization are Japanese language pedagogy, linguistics, anthropology, or literature. Current graduate students must demonstrate their intention to enter the teaching field in a North American university. Professor Priya Ananth (Middle Tennessee State University) serves as Chair of the Selection Committee, Professor Sarah Thal (University of Wisconsin) serves as representative of the Northeast Asia Council of AAS for the committee, and Professor George Chaplin serves ex-officio.

Individuals interested in applying (self-nomination) and faculty members interested in nominating an eligible graduate student or instructor (nomination) — should download an application form at the following site:  http://mtmedia.mtsu.edu:8888/pananth1/chaplinapplicationform2019.docx

You may also request the application form to be sent via email by contacting Dr. Priya Ananth (Priya.Ananth@mtsu.edu). Completed applications must be received by February 1, 2019 at the following address: Dr. Priya Ananth, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, MTSU P.O. Box 79, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA. The award will be announced in the AAS #AsiaNow Blog.