September 27, 1998 For Immediate Release

The rebuilding of the Japanese economy will be the key topic in a conference that will examine how education should reflect current issues in Japan. The University of Northern British Columbia will be hosting the 11th annual conference of the Japan Studies Association of Canada on October 2nd and 3rd. The title of the conference will be Japan After the Economic Miracle: In Search of New Directions.

The keynote lunchtime address on Saturday will be presented by Leslie Hoy of Prince George, who recently earned a PhD from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.

About 50 delegates are expected to attend the conference, including educators from across Canada. Conference sessions will include discussions of the Japanese economy, business issues, and Japanese politics. UNBC professor Hiroe Wood will also chair a session on the use of technology to teach Japanese language, culture, and politics.

"It has become very clear to everybody over the past few months just how important the Japanese economy is to our own economy in BC, and more specifically, to northern BC," says UNBC Economics professor Paul Bowles, one of the organizers of the conference. "Our society needs people who are knowledgeable about international issues - especially those of the Asia-Pacific Region - and this conference will help to ensure that the education we provide students is meaningful and relevant."

On Friday, there will be presentations on social and cross-cultural issues, language instruction, and the challenges of Canadian companies operating in Japan. Saturday's session will include presentations on technology, Japanese politics, business issues, and the Japanese economy. All of the sections will be at UNBC's Prince George campus. The conference is sponsored by the Japan Foundation, Air BC, Pacific Western Brewing Company, Alcan, Northwood Inc, and UNBC.