BOONE, N.C. — Funded by Appalachian State University's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, the W2A Project: 2026 North Carolina Japanese Language Student Conference was successfully held on Saturday, Sept. 26, at App State's Plemmons Student Union.
The W2A Project is a collaborative initiative among the Japanese programs at Wake Forest University, Western Carolina University, and App State. Since 2022, the three universities have jointly organized an annual conference that provides Japanese language learners with opportunities to showcase their coursework and original projects entirely in Japanese. Students are encouraged to express their creativity through a variety of formats, including academic presentations, skits, video projects, and other forms of performance.
App State students and faculty gather during the W2A Project: 2026 NC Japanese Language Student Conference, held Sept. 26 at Plemmons Student Union.
This year, App State hosted the conference and welcomed an enthusiastic group of participants. In addition to Dr. Paul Worley, the newly appointed associate dean of CAS, the conference welcomed representatives from the Japan-America Society of North Carolina and the North Carolina Japan Center as guest speakers. A total of 29 students from App State, Wake Forest University, Western Carolina University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte presented their work at the conference.
App State's Conference Steering Committee consisted of Moeno Hashiguchi, lecturer of Japanese; Dr. Kinji Ito, associate professor of Japanese; and Misa Yamamoto, senior lecturer of Japanese. The committee organized the conference around the message of the importance of embracing resilience and perseverance in language learning.
Through the students' diverse presentations and performances, the event highlighted not only their Japanese language abilities but also their creativity, dedication, and willingness to challenge themselves.
Attendees of the W2A Project: 2026 NC Japanese Language Student Conference gather at App State’s Plemmons Student Union on Sept. 26. The conference brought together Japanese language students, faculty, and guests from App State, Wake Forest University, Western Carolina University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
###
About the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures offers courses that enhance students' understanding of other cultures and languages as well as their own, making them prepared for lifelong learning in a multicultural world. Learn more about the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers, and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical, and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions, and locations. The college's values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating, and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State's general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more about CAS
Appalachian State University College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures logo in black, gold and white.
The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Appalachian State University