Consul General Osumi Visits Salinas and Monterey Schools
2025/5/28
Consul General presents a Certificate of Appreciation for SUHSD to the Director of Educational Services Kim McCullick
Consul General presents a Certificate of Appreciation for MPUSD to Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh
On Monday, May 19, Consul General Yo Osumi visited Salinas Union High School District’s (SUHSD) North Salinas High School in Salinas, the office of Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) in Monterey, and California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) to learn more about their Japanese language programs.
Discussion with North Salinas High School Japanese students
At North Salinas High School, Consul General Osumi met with Japanese language students to hear about their experiences studying Japanese. He learned about SUHSD’s districtwide efforts to provide students with a rich language program that includes cultural immersion with activities like calligraphy projects, and capstone projects such as creating a compilation of students’ immigrant experiences written in Japanese.
Discussion with North Salinas High School Japanese students
(From L to R) Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew Lawson, President Vanya Quiñones, Consul General Osumi, Japanese Language Professor Yoshiko Saito-Abbott
Consul General presents a Certificate of Appreciation for CSUMB to President Vanya Quiñones
Consul General presented a Certificate of Appreciation to both SUHSD and MPUSD district staff for their dedication to provide their students within their respect school districts with quality Japanese language education.
Japanese language educators and members of the Japanese American community gather for dinner reception at the Monterey JACL Hall
Consul General gives remarks at the dinner reception
During his visit to California State University, Monterey Bay, Consul General Osumi was welcomed to the campus by President Vanya Quiñones, Provost Andrew Lawson, staff, faculty, and students. They discussed the university’s Japanese language program, study abroad in Japan and the students’ experiences learning Japanese. His visit concluded with a presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation for CSUMB’s for their dedication to provide their students with quality Japanese language education.
The visit to Monterey concluded with a dinner reception at the Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) of Monterey Peninsula’s Hall. Japanese language educators and members of the Japanese American community gathered from all around the greater Monterey area. The educators were explained their ties to Japan and how they came to teach Japanese. In response, the community members talked about services and experiences they had to offer that may enhance students’ Japanese language and cultural studies.
Consul General Osumi presents his commendation to CSUMB Professor Yoshiko Saito-Abbott
Finally, during the reception Consul General Osumi presented his commendation to Professor Yoshiko Saito-Abbott from California State University, Monterey Bay for her many roles in proliferating Japanese language education both at a local and national level. Professor Saito-Abbott is currently a Japanese Language Professor at California State University, Monterey Bay and is the Director & Founder of the Monterey World Language Project.
Consul General Osumi presents his commendation to CSUMB Professor Yoshiko Saito-Abbott