I was born in Oizumi, Gunma, Japan on April 28, 1957, as a fourth son to parents Izumi and Tori. I graduated from Gunma University in 1981 (dept. of English and English-American Literature, college of education) with a bachelor's degree in Education and teaching credentials for elementary (basic), junior-high (advanced), and senior-high (basic) education (subject: English). When I was a junior in college, I was granted a special Monbusho (Ministry of Education) scholorship and studied at San Diego State University in California, U.S.A. (1978-1979).
I taught English at Kiryu Nishi senior high school for four years (1981-1985), then, I quit for pursuing post-graduate studies in linguistics. I went back to SDSU again and did my research for two and a half years there (1985-1987). I was a recepient of "University Scholar Award 1987-1988". In the meantime, I taught basic and intermediate Japanese conversation at Mira Costa College. I graduated SDSU with a Master's degree in Linguistics and an advanced certificate in Applied Linguistics and TESL in December, 1987.
After returning to Japan, I started to teach at Maebashi City College of
Technology in April, 1991. The college has grown into a four-year university
in April, 1997, with a new name Maebashi Institute of Technology, or Maebit
in short. I am currently an associate professor at the department of Information
Engineering.
In the summer 2002 I started my Doctoral program in Applied Linguistics
at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. I gained 18 units with this
program, but I had to quit it for a reason.
My research interest is in how we can utilize computers and the Internet
for foreign language learning/teaching, and in online learning material
development. Exploring the possibility of e-learning, especially using
Moodle, .is my main focus of activities.
In 2011, I was elected as an inaugural president of Moodle Association
of Japan.
I am married to a sweet wife Keiko, who is a dental hygienist. We are proud parents of our only daughter Irene who was born on February 7, 1996.