For my final interview, I decided to reach out to Professor Toshi Sasao. Professor Sasao teaches a wide variety of courses at International Christian University (ICU), including those related to Psychology, Education, and Peace studies. This wonderful opportunity was brought about by an education class I took with Professor Sasao that focused on both the theoretical and practical aspects of implementing a peace education program. It was quite a transformative course for me, and has encouraged me to implement researched strategies in the future to generate further positive-peace whenever possible.
When I asked what first sparked his interest in his current fields of expertise, Professor Sasao recalled a trip he took as a student to South Korea in 1974. The journey kindled his interest in international perspectives, which later took him to the United States to study, work, and teach primarily within the field of Psychology. Moreover, his research and curious nature led him not only to return to Japan, but also go on to accept professorships in Poland and South Korea. Not to mention, Professor Sasao’s research interests include: evidence-based social and community interventions in ethnic and cultural communities and schools with a focus on social justice, social capital and psychosocial resources; pedagogical strategies and issues in multicultural contexts; and the list goes on!
In the past few years, Professor Sasao has been continuing his career as an agent of social change through advancing the liberal arts model of interdisciplinary education, specifically in Asia. He co-edited the book, Doing Liberal Arts Education: Global Case Studies, and is currently on a board overseeing a university-level international liberal arts program in Tokyo, Japan. He sites the powerful effect liberal arts education has on students’ thinking and writing skills, and the amazing opportunities it provides to meet new people and engage in academically challenging, and unconventional, conversations with other academics.
Finally, Professor Sasao generously shared some advice he has for those looking to enter a similar career. He emphasizes the importance of one’s connections in the field and to academics at other universities, because when looking for new opportunities these sometimes overlooked relationships may turn out to be more powerful ties than originally thought! In his own experience, Professor Sasao pointed to many individuals and relationships that he feels have brought him to where and when he needed to be at every turn in his career, and expressed his gratitude for them. Particularly, his mentor from back in the States, who gave him the inspiring advice to always “walk in the light”.
As a professor and researcher passionate about bringing people together through interdisciplinary studies of peace, it seems that Professor Sasao has succeeded in making a true difference. And the narrative of his path within academia also seems to highlight how naturally one’s career can converge to include many areas of interest and expertise over time. I look forward to reading the next iterations of his research, and again, am exceedingly thankful to him for taking the time!
To those of you interested in his book, I’ve linked it here!
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-13-2877-0