Faculty/Staff Directory

Department

Japanese

Division

Language Arts & Ethnic Studies

Classes I Teach

2026 Spring

No scheduled classes found for 2026 Summer.

2026 Fall

2027 Winter

2027 Spring

Academic Information

Dear Prospective Students, If you have never taken Japanese courses at Foothill, please be aware that we have a computer blocking system in place. In order to enroll in JAPN 2 or higher, you need to satisfy the prerequisite first. In general, one year of high school language is equal to one quarter of College level Japanese.

For example: If you took Japanese 1 & 2 in high school, you can continue with Japanese 3 at Foothill. You still need to have your ID number unblocked for registration, so please send me e-mail (rakowikuko@foothill.edu) for clearance well before your registration period starts. Our courses tend to fill up quickly.

If you are a heritage student who grew up in a household where Japanese was spoken, or if you have studied Japanese using any other methods, please contact me (rakowikuko@foothill.edu) before your registration period starts. You need to be placed at a proper level and have your ID unblocked. You can find your registration start date on the Registration Dates & Deadlines on the Foothill Academic Calendar.

Here are our Japanese Program's typical course offerings: Fall Quarter: JAPN 1, JAPN 2, JAPN 4, JAPN 13A, JAPN 14B. (JAPN 4 & JAPN 13A are only offered once a year in Fall.) Winter Quarter: JAPN 1, JAPN 2, JAPN 3, JAPN 5, JAPN 13B, JAPN 14B. (JAPN 5 & JAPN 13B are only offered once a year in Winter.) Spring Quarter: JAPN 1, JAPN 2, JAPN 3, JAPN 6, JAPN 14A, JAPN 14B. (JAPN 6 & JAPN 14A are only offered once a year in Spring.) Summer Session: JAPN 1, JAPN 3. (Please be aware that our Summer JAPN 1 & JAPN 3 are 6-week intensive courses, instead of our regular 12-week sessions.)

Japanese Culture Center (JCC, Room 6601) Open Hours: Will be updated for Fall 2026.

Japan-Related Clubs at Foothill College:

Japanese Culture Club Anime Club

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About/Biography

Educational Background:

• PhD, Hispanic Languages and Literatures. University of California, Santa Barbara.
• MA, Romance Languages and Literatures. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tokyo, Japan.
• BA, Spanish Language and Literature. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tokyo, Japan.

Current Academic Employment: Japanese Program Chair, Language Arts Division, Foothill College

Former Academic Employment: Acting Director of the Language Program, Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California, San Diego. Lecturer of Japanese, Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California, San Diego.

Interests: Argentine Tango Rose gardening