Akiko Kawano Jones has dedicated her career to helping her students not only learn the Japanese
language, but also appreciate its culture.Recently, Jones traveled to Florida to accept the 2013 Teacher of
the Year Award in the post-secondary category from the American Association of Teachers of Japanese.Jones
was chosen to receive the award because of her "quality and innovative teaching, service to the
profession and to the community, participation in professional development activities, and advocacy for your
program and Japanese language education as a whole," according to the association.Jones, who joined
Bowling Green State University in 1984, said the award has given her renewed energy in the classroom when
most people her age are considering retirement. She said she is both honored and humbled to receive the
recognition and acknowledged her family, friends, administrators, colleagues and students with making it
possible.Teaching is a labor of love for Jones, and it is reflected both inside and outside of the
classroom. She teaches her students not just the Japanese language, but also exposes them to Japanese film,
art, philosophy food, and culture because she believes language and culture are inseparable.Jones is the
founder of the Japanese Club, an official university organization that hosts events that expose members to
aspects of Japanese culture. Jones regularly invites students from the Japanese Club into her home, where
she prepares a traditional Japanese meal for them. Club members also have the chance to accompany Jones on a
month-long trip to Japan in the summer.She helps current students and graduates find internships and jobs in
Japan and serves as a mentor to them. She also works closely with the JET program at the Consulate General’s
Office in Detroit, which helps students who want to travel to Japan to teach English.Jones has sent her
students to local elementary schools to help tutor Japanese students in English and works with BGSU alumni
in the U.S. and Japan every spring to make the Cherry Blossom Festival a reality. The upcoming festival will
mark the 13th year of its existence."I’m proud of the relationship I have with my students and I love
teaching, I just love teaching," she said.Students aren’t the only people Jones works with; she also
collaborates with area education and business members. Over the years she has helped Japanese companies
looking to open a business in the Bowling Green area and she helps organize the Nakama no Kai, a yearly
conference that brings Japanese and American businessmen together to share ideas. The most recent conference
was held last week at the Toledo Museum of Art.