Yujiro Shimogori is a bicultural educator and researcher who has immersed himself in both Japanese and American cultures, actively navigating between two cultural identities.

His life's purpose revolves around his personal motto of "Promoting peace through speaking two languages.” Currently serving as a lecturer at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, he specializes in teaching courses focused on academic English language development. 

With over 30 years in bicultural education and research in both Japan and the US, Shimogori has impacted the lives of more than 2000 students. His diverse experience includes serving as an elementary school homeroom teacher in both private and public schools in Tokyo and Southern California.

Particularly noteworthy was his role as the English program director at Koka Gakuen Elementary school, where he played a key role in shaping their innovative English curriculum. Transitioning into academia, Shimogori has shared his knowledge through lectures and research activities at universities in Southern California and Tokyo.

Upon his return to Japan in 2017, he embarked on his lifelong ambition of establishing an educational hub known as SevenSees - Cross-Cultural Center for Communication, Connection, Collaboration, Creation. This center aims to provide lectures and classes on English language acquisition and foster cross-cultural relationships.

Shimogori received an Ed.M. degree in education from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a Ph.D. in education from San Diego State University. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi.

In his leisure time, he finds solace in long walks and cycling along the Chigasaki Beach area in Kanagawa, Japan.

It is my mission to support individuals navigating through multiple cultures to achieve a high standard of academic and life strategies to become authentic, cross-cultural change agents of the world.  

Yujiro Shimogori
 

Educational Background

Ph.D. Education, San Diego State University (SDSU) & Claremont Graduate University (CGU), 2013
Focus in Bilingual Education

Ed.M. Education, Harvard University, 1996
Program concentration: Human Development and Psychology

B.A. Psychology, Pepperdine University

High School Diploma, American School in Japan (Tokyo)

First to eighth grade, Nishimachi International School (Tokyo)


 

Higher Education Teaching Experience

Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Part-Time Lecturer, 2017 - Present 

Temple University Lecturer, 2017 - Present 

Sophia University Part-Time Lecturer, 2018 - 2020 

2012 - 2016  Lectured, conducted research at California State University, Argosy University, Claremont Graduate University

K to 12 Teaching Experience

La Mesa Middle School, La Mesa, CA, 2010
Volunteer

Koka Gakuen Elementary School, Tokyo, JAPAN, 2005-2009
Director of English Program 

Nishimachi International School, Tokyo, JAPAN, 2001-2004
Japanese Language Arts Teacher & Third Grade Homeroom Teacher

El Marino Language School, Culver City, CA, 1997-2001
Public School Elementary Homeroom Teacher

Katoh Gakuen Elementary School, Numazu, JAPAN, 1996-1997, Substitute Teacher

Selected Presentations 

Shimogori, Y. (December 3, 2022). Neoterism: A new concept about co-existing with tradition and innovation. 20th Asia Pacific Conference, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Oita. 

Shimogori, Y. (August 4, 2022). Neoterism: A diverse mindset understands diversity. TEDx Tokyo International University, Saitama, Japan. 

Shimogori, Y. (March 5, 2022). Neoterism: Exploring bicultural identity transformation. Harvard University Alumni of Color Conference, Cambridge (Remote)

Shimogori, Y. (August, 2018). Emergence of global awareness through the conversion of two cultural identities. Annual Conference of The Society for Intercultural Education, Training, and Research, Tokyo

Shimogori, Y. (June, 2016). Defining global citizen for Japanese and dual-nationality students attending International school. Nishimachi International School, Tokyo

Shimogori, Y., & Crosthwaite, G. (December, 2015). Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and English Learners. California Education Research Association Annual Conference, Anaheim. 

Shimogori, Y. (April, 2014). Super bilinguals: Preserving one’s ethnicity as an agent for self-evolution. Annual California Association for Bilingual Education Conference, Anaheim 

Pang, V.O., Gay, G., Alvarado, J.L., Larke, P.J., Park, C.D., & Goodwin, A.L., & Shimogori, Y. (chair) (2013). The folklore of the achievement gap: The mythology of achievement data. Annual American Educational Research Association Conference, San Francisco

Shimogori, Y. (2011). Homogenizing the world and losing one’s ethnic identity. Annual California Association for Bilingual Education Conference, Long Beach

Shimogori, Y. (2010). Understanding the process and development of ethnic identity: Empowering children, youth, and … you! Annual National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, Las Vegas

Shimogori, Y. (2010). No gain without the brain. Los Angeles Regional California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Conference, Fullerton 

Shimogori, Y. (2010). Capturing the diversity of a middle school community – A solitary dialogue. Annual Action Research Conference at the University of San Diego’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences, San Diego 

Shimogori, Y. (2008). Am I Japanese or American? Second language acquisition as a means for becoming a peacemaker – A constructive-developmental perspective. Annual Conference of Peace as a Global Language, Tokyo, Japan 

Shimogori, Y. (2007). Am I Japanese or American? Second language acquisition as a 
means for becoming a peacemaker – A constructive-developmental perspective. Annual conference of Peace as a Global Language, Kyoto, Japan 

Shimogori, Y. (2005). Second language acquisition as a means to initiate transformation. Indianhead International School, Seoul, Korea

Shimogori, Y. (2002). Second language acquisition as a means to initiate transformation. Nishimachi International School Tomo no Kai (PTA), Tokyo, Japan. (English and Japanese)

Shimogori, Y. (2001). Second language acquisition as a means to initiate transformation. Japan Conference of International Schools, Tokyo, Japan

Selected Publications

Shimogori, Y. (2024). Am I deficient or balanced?  Cross-Cultural Concinnity Theory (AKA Neoterism): Exploring a new perspective on bicultural identity development. Multilingual Educator, 43-45.

Paik, S., Ganley, D., Luschei, T., Kula, S., Witenstein, M., Shimogori, Y., & Truong, K. (2015). Intercultural exchange among global educators: The case of the teaching excellence and achievement study abroad program. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 49,100-113.

Shimogori, Y. (2013). Cross-sectional, quantitative study on the Impact of Biculturalism 
on Self-Efficacy and Cognitive-Flexibility of Japanese Adults. (Doctoral Dissertation). San Diego, California: Montezuma Publishing.

Pang, V.O., Stein, R., Gomez, M., Matas, A., & Shimogori, Y. (2011). Cultural competencies: Essential elements of caring-centered multicultural education. Action in Teacher Education, 33(5-6), 560-574.

Pang, V.O., Shimogori, Y., Stein, R., Garcia, F., Gomez, M., & Matas, A. (2011). Chapter: “Multicultural Education: An Analysis from the 1970s to the Present.” In S. Totten and J. Pedersen (Eds.), Educating About Social Issues in the 20th and 21st Centuries: A Critical Annotated Bibliography (pp. 321-350). Charlotte, North Carolina: Information Age Publishing.

Shimogori, Y. (2010). Realization of a dual language society in 2030: Evolution of bicultural education through the eyes of the Ochoa paradigm. Real Worlds Journal, winter issue, 4-10.