WILAYAH: The International Journal of East Asian Studies

Learning in Online Case-Based Learning between Japanese and Malaysian University Students: Fostering Intercultural Communicative Competence in Workplace Contexts

Hyogyung Kim — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study investigates online case-based learning for Japanese business communication between universities in Japan and Malaysia. By engaging with authentic cases of workplace conflict in Japanese-speaking contexts, the practice aims to strengthen students’ problem-solving skills, interpersonal communication, and intercultural competence. Through qualitative content analysis of student reflections, the study explores how participants interpreted workplace scenarios and how their perspectives shifted through intercultural dialogue. The findings demonstrate students' enhanced understanding of workplace interactions, encompassing language practices, cultural conventions, and relationship dynamics. For example: (1) Students exchanged sociocultural backgrounds and knowledge, identifying potential workplace communication challenges. (2) While exploring solutions, they referenced their own cultures and viewpoints and interpreted situations by integrating multiple perspectives. (3) When recommending solutions, students posed new questions and generated ideas based on insights from the discussion. Finally, the study discusses the educational significance and potential of this pedagogical approach in preparing students for diverse professional contexts.

Japan Studies and Beginner Motivation in Language Learning: Exploring Authentic Materials and Pedagogical Approaches

Kaori Kimura — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This paper aims to examine the potential of Japan Studies courses to enhance the learning motivation of beginner-level Japanese language learners by identifying the characteristics of authentic materials that foster such motivation. Drawing on the Content-Based Instruction approach, the study investigates the Culture and Society of Japan course offered at a Malaysian university, which integrates cultural content without formal Japanese language instruction. Surveys and interviews conducted in 2023 and 2024 revealed that over 70% of students felt more motivated to learn Japanese after completing the course. Analysis of classroom activities, including a media-based task, peer presentations, and an online exchange session, demonstrated that exposure to real-world Japanese in meaningful contexts stimulated curiosity and engagement. Three key factors contributing to this motivation were: the presentation of Japanese in authentic sociocultural contexts, the use of unmodified language without grammatical simplification, and the setting of task difficulty above learner proficiency. These findings have implications for identifying the characteristics of authentic materials in Japan Studies courses that can themselves serve as Japanese learning materials, despite the absence of modified language textbooks for novice learners. Provided that a psychologically safe learning environment is ensured, it has been demonstrated that, being at the university level, they are able to learn Japanese, even with beginner-level proficiency, by drawing on their prior knowledge of Japan Studies as a scaffold.

Reinterpreting Intercultural Language Learning: Japanese Language Education and Japanese Studies in an Era of Multi/Pluriculturalism

Koji Matsumoto — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800

In this paper, the author first gives an overview of ILL, which has been strongly advocated in Australian language education and language learning since the 1990s, and prove that the “third place” that was the goal at that time has now become a reality, using the relationship between Indonesia and Japan as an example. However, the author also criticizes the fact that traditional ILL viewed culture as static and fixed and point out that culture in modern society is inherently more dynamic and complex. As a result, the author proposes a new model for ILL incorporating the concepts of multi/plurilingualism and multi/pluriculturalism, not as a flat, two-dimensional framework, which was used before but as a more three-dimensional, holistic approach. The author also emphasizes that to realize this vision, it is essential to integrate language and culture in education, as ILL has consistently advocated. Specifically, the need for Japanese language education and Japanese cultural studies to advance in tandem.

Japanese Popular Culture in the Formation of Malaysian Youth Identity and Aspirations

Nunuk Endah Srimulyani, Rohayati Paidi — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study explores how Japanese popular culture shapes the identities, relationships, and aspirations of Malaysian youth. While Japanese popular culture is widely consumed, prior research has often been descriptive, with limited focus on how fandom is enacted, recognised, and projected into the future. Using a qualitative approach, twenty university students were interviewed via WhatsApp, and their experiences analysed through thematic coding and quadrant mapping of engagement and future alignment. The analysis was guided by an integrated framework combining Identity Theory, Self-Verification Theory, Narrative Identity Theory, and Future Self-Continuity Theory. Findings show that fandom identities are fluid, socially endorsed, narratively constructed, and future-oriented. The High engagement–High future quadrant dominated, with participants translating practice and recognition into concrete pathways such as creative portfolios, animation degrees, or Japanese language study. Conversely, private leisure characterised the Low engagement–Low future group. The absence of High engagement–Low future participants indicates that sustained engagement rarely exists without future projection.

Tingkah Laku Pengguna terhadap Pembelian Cardfight!! Vanguard: Tumpuan kepada Komuniti Pemain di Malaysia

Muhammad Hadzran Md Anuar, Asmadi Hassan — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Trading Card Games (TCGs) like Cardfight!! Vanguard have transcended mere entertainment, evolving into a significant medium for social and economic interaction, particularly within the context of influential Japanese popular culture in Malaysia. This study investigates the consumer purchasing behavior of Cardfight!! Vanguard cards based on five user selection values: functional, social, epistemic, conditional, and emotional. Utilizing a quantitative approach with an online questionnaire administered to 115 members of the Malaysian Cardfight!! Vanguard community, the research identifies platform preferences, purchase rationales, and player motivations. Findings indicate that functional (competitive deck building) and emotional (collection completion) values are the primary purchase drivers. Social value, influenced by community and peers, is also significant. Epistemic value reflects an interest in exploring new strategies, while conditional value is prominent during promotions or tournaments. Overall, purchasing behavior is a blend of rational and emotional motivations. This research offers actionable insights for stakeholders, including distributors, marketers, and producers to design more focused and effective business strategies aligned with these five user selection values.

Malaysians’ Continued Consumption of Japanese Tokusatsu without Official Distribution

Ahmad Mahmood Azman — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The Japanese brand of special effects otherwise known as 'Tokusatsu' encompasses a genre of filmworks characterized by the usage of special effects techniques. Tokusatsu is associated with consumerism, with most productions being vehicles for the sale of children’s toys. Officially distributed from the 1970s, the official distribution of Tokusatsu in Malaysia came to an abrupt halt in the mid-2010s. Even still, Malaysia’s community of Tokusatsu fans curiously persists to this day in spite of the lack of official distribution. Through qualitative interviews carried out with self-proclaimed Malaysian fans of Tokusatsu, the reasons behind the continued consumption of Tokusatsu in Malaysia were identified; their level of engagement to Tokusatsu, their attitudes toward Tokusatsu, and their perceived control over the means they utilized for accessing Tokusatsu. Additionally, these fans were found to not be affected by the lack of official distribution and in fact viewed the industry as too passive.

Editorial Note

Asmadi Hassan, Geetha Govindasamy — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800