East-West Connector
Japanese businessman believes TWU education expands students’ worldview
It might seem unusual that a basketball coach in Japan would recommend a Christian university in Canada to students within his circle of influence. But Tatsuro Ida, a coach and businessman from the city of Fukuoka, is doing just that. Working alongside TWU’s affiliate institution, English as a Second Language International (ESLI), Ida has already encouraged 14 students—including daughter, Asako (’03)—to attend TWU.
The unlikely alliance began when Ida was helping Asako look for a university. His belief in the importance of a globally-minded education led him to ask an American friend for recommendations—TWU was one of three universities suggested. “Since Japan is an isolated island, we have fewer foreign residents compared to other countries,” says Ida. “By studying abroad, students get to meet people from all over the world and experience different cultures.”
Tatsuro Ida has already encouraged 14 students—including daughter, Asako (’03)—to attend TWU.
However, many international students require some English-language assistance to meet admission requirements. That’s why, for the last 20 years, ESLI has been the official English-language training provider on campus. Enrolment in the ESLI program allows international students to gain conditional admission to the University. “Like TWU, ESLI’s goal is to serve students and provide them with the highest quality of education possible,” says Sue Priebe, ESLI’s Assistant Director and Short Term Programs Coordinator. “Students feel welcome and cared for in our program. When they graduate from ESLI, we work closely with the TWU International Student Programs team to provide a smooth transition into regular university studies.”
The partnership between the two institutions has been a successful one. 
Through ESLI, some 1,500 students have gained admittance to TWU—including those Ida has sent.
So what is it about a TWU education that keeps Ida recommending the University? “My daughter found she enjoyed learning at TWU,” he says. “Discovering that joy is the reason she pursued her master’s degree.” After graduating from TWU, Asako married fellow alumnus Justin Kim (’05) and went on to earn her ma at the University of British Columbia. She now works for Microsoft in Tokyo.
Current student Emiko Kimoto, Ida’s niece, is among others he has encouraged to attend. A third-year communications major, Kimoto studied nutrition at a Japanese college for two years before enrolling; she immediately noticed how different things were at TWU. “I never had a casual conversation with my professors in Japan,” she says, “but at TWU, my professors know me and care about me. When the earthquake in Japan happened, they talked to me and asked how my family and I were doing. It’s a small thing, but it makes me feel I’m not alone in Canada.”
“I never had a casual conversation with my professors in Japan, but at TWU, my professors know me and care about me.”
During her first year in dorms, Kimoto formed lasting friendships with her dormmates. “I lived in the international dorm during my first year and made some great friends,” she says. “There were more than six different nationalities—including some North American students—living together.”
That’s exactly the kind of experience Ida—who himself studied English at the University of Arizona—believes will make a difference in the lives of these students, and ultimately, influence Japanese culture in a positive way.
For now, Ida is content to visit the students on campus every other year. This past spring, he attended the TWU commencement ceremonies to watch two more students graduate. “When I visit, and see how the students are being changed and gaining experience, I feel my greatest achievement,” he says. “My heart is filled with joy and excitement when I see them graduate. I believe the TWU experience has a greater impact on their lives than if they studied at a Japanese university. At TWU, they encounter different people and cultures, which gives them a wider view of the world.”
by Wendy Delamont Lees
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