Weiwei Zhang

PhD, Philosophy, Waseda University
MA, Japanese Applied Linguistics, Waseda University
BA, Japanese language and culture, Dalian University of Foreign Languages (China)

I was born in Ningbo, China, and first encountered the Japanese language in middle school. Drawn to its charm through entertainment, I pursued Japanese studies systematically at university. Later, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Japan, where I refined my language skills while deepening my interest in how Japanese is used in conversation.

After completing my undergraduate studies, I pursued graduate research in Japan, specializing in discourse analysis, while also gaining experience teaching international students. In 2023, I joined the Center for Global Education, where I continue to engage in Japanese language education.

My research focuses on the narratives woven into conversations—their structure, development, and linguistic characteristics. I am particularly interested in how people incorporate, reconstruct and retell others’ words in speech, which has led me to study the act of quotation in spoken Japanese. By examining the characteristics and functions of quotation, I aim to uncover the expanding layers of meaning that emerge in conversation.

I believe that any expression must be understood within its broader context to fully grasp its function and meaning. With this perspective in mind, I hope to explore the richness of the Japanese language together with learners from diverse backgrounds, sharing insights and deepening our understanding along the way.

No matter what language it is, communicating in a language different from your own can be a deeply moving experience. As these moments accumulate, you may find yourself discovering new aspects of who you are. This, I believe, is one of the true joys of learning a foreign language.

And that language is Japanese. Even if your grammar is correct, what you say may not always be understood as you intended. The way you express yourself changes depending on the person you’re talking to and the situation you’re in. Because of this, you might find yourself wondering, “Why do people say it this way?” or “Why does a single word change the entire meaning?”

As a former learner who has spent over a decade in Japan, I have come to realize that there are as many ways to speak Japanese as there are people who speak it. Sometimes, what I say is received in an unexpected way. Other times, I unintentionally influence how someone feels. Each of these moments has deepened my appreciation for the richness of the Japanese language.

But that’s exactly why learning Japanese is more than just exploring a new language—it’s also an opportunity to reflect on how we communicate with others. Shall we step into the vast and profound world of Japanese together?