Overview
Seminar Title: “Using Your Language Skills to Work in the ‘Development’ Field—Find What You Want to Do”—*Held as part of Sophia University’s UN Weeks 2026*
Date and Time: Friday, October 16, 2026, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Organized by: Sophia University; Co-organized by: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); International Development Journal Co., Ltd.
Location: Sophia University, Yotsuya Campus
Main Program: Opening Remarks, International Cooperation Style Assessment & Discussion Session, Presentations, Group Sessions with Speakers and JICA Staff, etc.
Speakers and Participants
Opening Remarks: Taro Komatsu, Professor, Department of Education, Faculty of Integrated Human Sciences, Sophia University
Master of Ceremonies: Eri Yamazaki, Coordinator of the Sophia University Global Expansion Initiative (Africa)
Speakers:
Naoko Sakuragi, Editor-in-Chief of the “International Cooperation Career Guide,” published by International Development Journal Co., Ltd.
Shuhei Ueno, Deputy Director of JICA’s Human Development Department and Head of the Health Group II
Naoe Yakiya, Representative of the UN Women Japan Office *Participating online*
Aya Sonoda, Recruitment Coordinator for Overseas Staff at Doctors Without Borders
Sōhei Kotani, International Cooperation Group, Overseas Market Development Division, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. *Participating online*
Maki Ikuse, Sustainability Design Office, Nippon Koei Co., Ltd.
Group Session Contributors:
From JICA: Yukie Murakami (Global Health and Public Health Team 1, Human Development Department); Akika Nomura (Planning Officer, South America Division, Latin America and Caribbean Department, concurrently serving in the Planning and Japanese-Descendant Community Partnership Division); Yutaro Kawada (Operations Supervision and Coordination Division, Planning Department); Kiko Chiwa (Basic Education Team 2, Human Development Department); Mayu Kono (Health Team 3, Human Development Department); and Rino Ogi (currently interning in the Basic Education Group, Human Development Department; enrolled in the Faculty of Integrated Global Studies at Sophia University)
Participants: Approximately 40 in-person participants (including members of the general public, college students, and high school students) and approximately 100 online participants
Background and Objectives
As part of the “UN Weeks” events organized by Sophia University, we held a seminar primarily aimed at graduate students, college students, and high school students interested in international development and international cooperation. The seminar was designed to help participants envision more concrete career paths and working conditions in the field, and to help them find their own “first step” by focusing on “language” as a starting point.
Through an “International Cooperation Type Assessment” that provides an overview of the international cooperation sector; a panel discussion focused on working in the development field by leveraging language skills; firsthand accounts from professionals working at the United Nations, private companies, NGOs, and development consulting firms; and group sessions where participants could not only listen but also ask questions and engage directly with these individuals and JICA staff, we had the opportunity to reflect on our careers and work.
This seminar follows the 2024 seminar titled “Working in Africa Using Your French Skills” and the 2025 seminar titled “Working in Africa Using Your Language Skills,” both of which were previously held at Sophia University.
Contents
On the day of the event, Eri Yamazaki, who served as the master of ceremonies, and a coordinator at Sophia University, introduced the seminar’s objectives and program. Following this, Taro Komatsu, a professor at Sophia University, delivered the opening remarks, expressing his hope that the seminar would spark greater interest in the field of international cooperation and help participants further clarify their career aspirations.
Next, Editor-in-Chief Naoko Sakuragi spoke about the importance of learning early on “what kinds of jobs are available,” drawing on her own experiences as a photographer. She then introduced the “International Cooperation Type Assessment,” a tool that helps participants identify careers in the field of international cooperation that suit them based on their individual interests and passions. The participants then had the opportunity to try this out for themselves. Afterward, Shuhei Ueno, Deputy Director of JICA’s Human Development Department, joined the session for a discussion on the appeal of working in the development sector and how to utilize language skills in the workplace.
Next, as part of the industry presentations, representatives from international organizations, NGOs, private companies, and development consultants—specifically, Ms. Yakiya, Resident Representative in Japan for UN Women, and Mr. Kotano of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., who spoke online; and Mr. Sonoda of Doctors Without Borders and Mr. Ikuse of Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., who spoke in person—provided insights into their respective roles and the experiences that led them to their current positions. Although the connection occasionally cut out while Mr. Kotano was speaking online from Angola, the presentation—including this incident—provided an overview of the diverse nature of development-related work being carried out around the world.
Finally, in addition to Mr. Sonoda and Mr. Ikuse, who spoke in person at the event, six participants currently working at JICA in roles that utilize their knowledge of French, Spanish, and other languages joined the session. Together with the approximately 40 attendees in the venue, they split into several groups for a group discussion session where participants could ask direct questions and talk about the specifics of their work and their experiences to date. The seminar concluded amid this lively atmosphere.
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