Beyond Kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan After Growing Up Between Languages and Cultures

Beyond Kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan After Growing Up Between Languages and Cultures is written by English language teachers working in Japan whose lives and professional identities extend beyond familiar labels such as native speaker, non-native speaker, Japanese teachers of English, and kikokushijo (meaning "returnee student" in Japanese). Through a series of deeply personal narratives, the contributors explore the complexities of growing up across languages and cultures, navigating educational systems, and finding their place within the English language teaching profession in Japan. Their stories reveal not only the challenges of living between worlds, but also the unique strengths, insights, and pedagogical approaches that emerge from multilingual and transnational experiences. More than a collection of individual stories, this volume is the product of two years of collaborative reflection and dialogue within the TOMATO (Teachers Of Multilingual And Transnational Orientation) group. The authors' collective journey demonstrates the transformative power of sharing lived experiences, challenging entrenched assumptions, and building supportive professional communities. This book is relevant to teachers, teacher educators, researchers, school leaders, students, and anyone interested in language learning, teacher identity, transnationalism, and multilingualism in education. The narratives invite readers to reconsider who language teachers are, how professional knowledge is formed, and how multilingual and transnational experiences can enrich the understanding of language teaching and learning.