Maria Shiguemi Ichiyama was born to Japanese parents in rural São Paulo state in Brazil. Growing up in Brazil, she was keenly interested in languages and intercultural exchange from an early age. She studied for her Bachelor of Arts degree in Letters, Translation and Interpretation at the Faculdade Ibérico Americana in São Paulo. Following this, she received two TESOL Certificates from the University of California Riverside (UCR). She graduated with a Master’s degree from the School of Education while working in the homestay office of UCR Extension.
In 1992, she was invited to join the Faculty of Information Management at the newly founded Josai International University in Japan and was asked to help develop the international programs there. Over the years, she has held several positions of responsibility at JIU, including Director of the Center for Language Education for 15 years, Chair of the Department of International Exchange Studies and Dean of the Faculty of International Humanities. She has also worked tirelessly to develop courses and programs that foster a spirit of internalization and cross-cultural communication and understanding. In her current position as Deputy Director of the Organization for the Promotion of International Collaboration, she is working closely with President Kurabayashi to further deepen international ties and relationship with universities and colleges worldwide. JIU currently has agreements in place with 237 institutions globally.
She has established the Alegria Brasil weekly club at JIU and has conducted annual research projects with students to increase understanding of the Nikkei population in South America. Appointed as a panel member of symposia sponsored by the Consulate of Brazil in Japan, she and her students participate in volunteer programs and events and lead research activities to highlight the ethnic Japanese diaspora living both outside Japan in South America and the situation of those who have returned to Japan.
