Tokyo International University of America

Written by Sarah Samala, Class of 2028

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In 1965, Taizo Kaneko reached out to colleges and universities in the US in hopes of finding a sister school for the International College of Commerce and Economics, or Tokyo International University (TIU) as it is known today. Out of the 50 schools that received the letter, only one agreed to sign the agreement immediately: Willamette University.¹ Though this story is the one most commonly associated with Willamette University and TIU, the lasting impact of their relationship lies in the establishment of the Tokyo International University of America (TIUA) in Kaneko Commons, and the year-long American Studies Program (ASP) that followed its construction. While the program is much smaller than what it once was, the service, festivals, and international community that arose from every group of ASP students should not be forgotten.

TIUA’s story begins more than twenty years after the initial sister school relationship began between TIU and Willamette, at the funeral of TIU’s founder, Taizo Kaneko in June 1987.² Willamette University president, Jerry Hudson approached Taizo Kaneko’s son, Yasuo Kaneko with a plan to construct an international dorm for TIU across from Willamette University. The plan quickly evolved from a simple dorm to an American branch school of TIU: Tokyo International University of America. TIU purchased 6.5 acres of land on 12th Street from Willamette, and construction for Kaneko Commons began in April, 1988.³ Aside from the campus itself, phase one of construction included a 200-foot pedestrian overpass over 12th Street to bridge the two campuses,⁴ an on-site dining facility called Kaneko Cafe, and thirty-four dorm rooms.⁵ Construction was completed in September 1988,⁶ and in 1989, the first group of 64 ASP students arrived for the ten-month program in the spring semester.⁷ 

While TIU had already established a seven-week exchange program with Willamette University in 1966,⁸ the ASP program prioritized developing English language skills, community service, and building relationships. TIUA students began their first semester in February by taking English language courses. They spent their summer learning about other American studies subjects, such as economics and politics, in coordination with additional English classes. In their final semester, students had the opportunity to enroll in regular Willamette classes before graduating from the program in December. TIUA students also participated in various volunteer activities paired with a cultural orientation to acclimate themselves to volunteer work in America.⁹

The first year of the program was not without its challenges. Some TIUA students were paired with Willamette roommates without additional orientation, which caused some communication difficulties between them due to differing cultural norms.¹⁰ The newly-constructed sky bridge also created a feeling of separation between the two campuses, which caused hesitance from the Willamette students when reaching out to their now-neighboring sister school.¹¹

In September of 1989, there was an instance of racial harassment against TIUA students: three men threw beer bottles at Kaneko Commons and yelled racial slurs. Though no ASP students were injured and the incident was deemed isolated, TIUA sought the implementation of a night guard and an electronic door system for both reassurance and protection against thefts that had been occurring on campus.¹² However, these actions did not go unnoticed: in the same Collegian issue, the staff of the newspaper criticized the possible involvement of Willamette students in these attacks. 

“What disturbs us more than just the idea of attacks against the Japanese students at TIUA is the knowledge that Willamette students may have been involved. Think about it. We are all, supposedly, highly educated and are the future leaders of American society. Yet the “highly educated” can justify screaming obscenities at a group of teenagers simply because they come from a different culture… A partial solution does lie in our hands. It’s called communication. It means going over to TIUA or even just stopping in on a TIU student in your dorm and talking with him or her… The opportunity lies just across the street to explore a whole different way of thinking. Educate yourself.”

‘Educated’ Racists Intolerable at WU.¹³

Despite these initial concerns, the program proved to be popular, quickly increasing enrollment to an average of 100 students each year.¹⁴ As the program continued, TIUA’s presence at Willamette University and in the Salem community increased. Every year, TIUA would hold Kaneko Day Camp, during which ASP students taught 70-80 elementary schoolers about Japanese culture and language. TIUA students also spent their summer breaks volunteering, The Take-A-Break program, which typically occurs over spring break for Willamette students, allowed TIUA students to volunteer at different non-profit organizations during the summer. A few of the Take-A-Break programs included volunteering at Guadalupe House, an organization that provides resources and services to homeless individuals, and working with the tribal communities of Warm Springs, Oregon.¹⁵ Aside from these programs, TIUA students also volunteered at local organizations, such as Marion and Polk Food Share, Habitat for Humanity, and the Boys and Girls Club, contributing a total of 9,000-11,000 community service hours each year.¹⁶ 

The largest event TIUA students held was the Harvest Festival, which was founded in 1991.¹⁷ Similar to the festivals junior high school and high school students put on in Japan,¹⁸ the annual Harvest Festival utilized the entire Willamette campus, and featured traditional Japanese activities, food and performances. Visitors enjoyed folding origami, eating festival food like yakisoba and Okinawan donuts, and watching performances like an elaborate parade that mimicked the procession of the governor during the Shogun era. TIUA students would spend up to six months preparing for the Harvest Festival,¹⁹ and the festival’s turnout steadily increased from 800 visitors in 1992,²⁰ to 3000 in 1999.²¹ 

Though the ASP program only lasted ten months, TIUA students also held leadership positions and founded clubs during their time at Willamette. In the Associated Students of Willamette, (ASWU), TIUA had a designated student representative, and TIUA students were allowed to run for typical positions, like class senator. TIUA students also founded the Taiko Drumming Club and Karate Club, and held leadership positions in various organizations like S. H. E.: the Women’s Center, WU Intramurals, and the Willamette International Students Association.²²

The relationship between Salem and the ASP was often reciprocal: Salem residents welcomed them, and TIUA students worked to give back to the community in thanks. The Tomodachi (or “friendship”) program paired exchange students with local Salem families. TIUA students often went to their Tomodachi family’s home during the weekend and experienced American holidays, traditions, and everyday life with them.²³ The ASP program also created several opportunities for Willamette students. From residential assistants for the TIUA summer semester,²⁴ and peer counselors who facilitated cross-cultural communication²⁵ to the volunteer-based buddies program, which paired 104 Willamette students to the TIUA class of 2002,²⁶ there was no shortage of ways to get involved with TIUA. Overall, the ASP created 40-50 jobs for Willamette students each year,²⁷ as well as many more opportunities for cultural exchange and lasting relationships between Willamette and TIUA students.

From 2020 to 2023, the ASP was suspended due to COVID-19. When it resumed, the program was a tenth of what it once was, welcoming only 17 TIU students to campus as opposed to the typical 100. With enrollment reduced, Kaneko Commons, the building that housed the ASP classes, was entirely too large for the program. The ASP was moved to Smullin Hall, and Kaneko Commons was renovated and utilized by the Atkinson Graduate School of Management, which was quickly outgrowing the Atkinson Annex on Winter Street.²⁹ While Kaneko Commons still houses many of the TIU students who study abroad, Tokyo International University of America is no longer the home to the ASP program, thus ending a legacy of more than thirty years.

Even though many of the traditions and events in the ASP were lost during COVID-19, the contributions the TIUA students made toward Salem remain significant. Since its inception, the ASP has welcomed over 2500 Japanese students to Willamette.³⁰ For every Kaneko Day Camp, Harvest Festival, and hour of community service logged, TIUA students have had a positive impact on the Salem community. The ASP continues to be held every year, and one can hope that post-COVID, the program will grow back to what it once was. As the ASP student representative, Seika Tsuchimoto said during the closing remarks of the 2005 class:

“Just remember, we are still on the journey… We will definitely miss you, all our friends, staff and professors. But this is not farewell.”

Seika Tsuchimoto, ASP student representative of the class of 2005.³¹

Endnotes

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1.  J. Wesley Sullivan, “Worldly Wise,” The Scene, 1 May 1988, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/11633.
2. Informational packet, 1999, 1, Box: 6, Folder: 1. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
3. Pat Kurkoski, “Plans for TIU satellite campus underway,” Willamette Collegian, 12 February 1988, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/10086.
4. Matthew Trump, “Ground Breaks for Japanese Campus,” Willamette Collegian, 11 October 1988, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/10378.
5. Statesman Journal Newspaper Clippings, 1989 May 3 – 4, 1, Box: 1, Object: 3. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
6. J. Wesley Sullivan, “Worldly Wise,” The Scene, 1 May 1988, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/11633.
7. Kari Koivisto, “TIU Dedicated to Safety,” Willamette Collegian, 17 February 1989, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/9045.
8.  Pat Kurkoski, “Plans for TIU satellite campus underway,” Willamette Collegian, 12 February 1988, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/10086.
9. Informational packet, 1999, 1, Box: 6, Folder: 1. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
10.  Missy Swenson, “Integration of TIUA Campus Proves Tricky,” Willamette Collegian, 8 December 1989, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/10017.
11. Suzanne Budd and Seth Schaeffer, “Growing Pains,” Willamette Collegian, 9 November 1990, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/10325. 
12. Suzanne Budd, “Isolated” Racial Attacks hit TIU,” Willamette Collegian, 22 September 1989, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/8530. 
13. “Educated Racists Intolerable at WU,” Willamette Collegian, 22 September 1989, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/8530. 
14. TIU-TIUA Relations Committee, 2017, 3. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
15. TIUA Summer Take-a-Break, 2005-2010, 1, Box: 2, Folder: 48. Willamette University Office of the Chaplains records, WUA042. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
16. TIU-TIUA Relations Committee, 2017, 3. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
17. Informational packet, 1999, 1, Box: 6, Folder: 1. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
18. Ben Nystrom, “Festival brings Color to Campus,” Willamette Collegian, 13 September 2001, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/9074. 
19. Stephanie K. Soares, “TIUA’s ‘Harvest’ on Campus this Sunday,” Willamette Collegian, 12 September 2002, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/8229.
20. Andrew Nagappan, “Second annual Harvest Festival a hit,” Willamette Collegian, 16 October 1992, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/8345.
21.  Informational packet, 1999, 1, Box: 6, Folder: 1. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
22. TIUA Student leadership program materials, 2001-2002, Series III, Box: 9, Folder: 32. Willamette University Office of Student Activities records, WUA054. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
23. Informational packet, 1999, 1, Box: 6, Folder: 1. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
24. TIU-TIUA Relations Committee, 2017, 3. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
25. Suzanne Budd and Seth Schaeffer, “Growing Pains,” Willamette Collegian, 9 November 1990, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/10325.
26. Jenny Andrews, “Buddies make TIUA Friendships a Priority,” Willamette Collegian, 31 January 2002, https://hdl.handle.net/10177/8733. 
27. TIU-TIUA Relations Committee, 2017, 3. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
28. TIUA Yearbook, 2003, 5, Box: 7, Folder: 12. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
29.  Karmen Zhao, “Willamette University revamps campus: Relocation to enhance collaboration and community,” Willamette Collegian, 14 October 2024,
    https://www.willamettecollegian.com/post/willamette-university-revamps-campus-relocation-to-enhance-collaboration-and-community. 
30. TIU-TIUA Relations Committee, 2017, 3. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
31. Fiftieth Anniversary Closing Ceremony Remarks, 2015, 1, Box: 6, Folder: 6. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.

Image Citations

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• TIUA Yearbook, 1991, 5, Box: 7, Folder: 1. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
• Woodrow Blettel. (1989). T. I. U. A. Walking Bridge, Willamette University. https://hdl.handle.net/10177/26842
• Informational packet, 1999, 1, Box: 6, Folder: 1. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
• TIUA Yearbook, 2001, 5, Box: 7, Folder: 10. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
• TIUA Yearbook, 2003, 5, Box: 7, Folder: 12. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
• TIUA Yearbook, 2003, 5, Box: 7, Folder: 12. Tokyo International University of America collection, WUA075. Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.