Awards

Besides funding special events and other department initiatives, the Tompkins and Linen endowments allow the department to provide a certain amount of support for students traveling to Asia for study.

Tompkins Award for Achievement in Japanese Language Study

The Tompkins Award is given to one Japanese language student a year, to recognize truly outstanding work in the third-year Japanese class or above. There is no application procedure; all Japanese language students at the advanced level will be considered, with the final decision made by Japanese language faculty in consultation with the chair. The prize consists of round trip transportation to Japan plus up to $1,500 to cover expenses for attending an approved seminar/conference, or to conduct an approved independent study project. The study plan can be developed in consultation with faculty after the award is made.

Past Tompkins Award Recipients

  • 2023-24 Yuchen Wang (’24) “Sex Education in Japan.”
  • 2022-23: Blue Jordan (’23), “Japan’s Cat Culture.”
  • 2019-20: Save Koontaweepunya (’21), “Kyoto Inspiration.”
  • 2018-19: Anna Sun (’19), “Merchandising Strategies of Tokyo’s Youth Fashion Boutiques.”
  • 2016-17: Morris Reeves (’18), “Japanese Business Management.”
  • 2014-2015: Brandon Acosta (’16) conducted research entitled “Different Themes in American and Japanese Video Game Box Arts.”
  • 2013-2014: Yogeeta Chatoredussy (’15) participated in the 66th Japan-America Student Conference with the Tompkins Award.
  • 2012-2013: Kamuela Lau (’14) “Japanese Ramen Research.” Nearly every region in Japan has its own variation of ramen.  Kamuela traveled from Hokkaito to Kyoshu and studied regional differences. Here is his blog.
  • 2011-2012: Amanda Ng (’13) visited Tokyo and conducted a survey of vintage clothing market.
  • 2010-2011: Jackson Lu (’12) conducted research entitled “Okinawa-the Past & the Present“.
  • 2009-2010: Joshua Wilson (’11) researched Japanese stand-up comedies and Rakugo in Tokyo.
  • 2008-2009: Jessica LeClair (’10) toured the main island of Honshu, visiting Osaka, the Kiso Valley towns of Magome and Tsumago, and Kanazawa. She conducted research comparing the native flora of Japan with that of the eastern coast of the United States.
  • 2007-2008: James Whitledge (’09) visited the A-Bomb Memorial in Hiroshima and researched the atomic bombing and its effects on Hiroshima and Japan. Go to Photo Gallery.
  • 2005-2006: Zhichun Ying (’08) visited Hokkaido and Tokyo. She conducted research on people from Hokkaido and the main island in Japan.
  • 2004-2005: Matthew J. O’Donnell (’07) went to Japan to conduct research on Japanese amateur comic books.
  • 2004-2005: Tomio Ueda (’06) conducted an independent study on the history of Origami.
  • 2003-2004: Roderick McLead (’05) conducted independent research on organized crime in Japan.
  • 2001-2002: Sarah Croft (’04) attended the Northeast Asia and U.S. Relations Intensive Study Project sponsored by the Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation Hokkaido.
  • 2000-2001: Tracy Cheung (’03) conducted research on Kabuki Theatre and its presence in modern day Japan. Tracy’s Project.
  • 1999-2000: Craig Tamamoto (’02) conducted research in Japan.
  • 1998-1999: Lock Reynolds (’01) attended the 9th Northeast Asia and U.S. Relations Intensive Study Project
  • 1997-1998: Joe Seavey (’01) attended the 8th Northeast Asia and U.S. Relations Intensive Study Project.

Linen Summer Grants for Study in Asia

Supported by an endowment for Asian Studies established by family and friends in memory of James A. Linen III, Class of 1934, the Department of Asian Studies offers a limited number of grants to assist Williams College undergraduates (including rising juniors, rising sophomores, and rising first-years) in traveling to South, Southeast, and East Asia during the summer for educational purposes. Proposals might include (but are not limited to) conducting research for an honor’s thesis; pursuing other kinds of independent research under the direction of a member of the Williams College faculty; participating in an intensive language training program in Asia at the advanced or intermediate level; etc. Students who have not studied Asian languages at Williams are also eligible to apply.

Students develop individual study proposals in consultation with sponsoring faculty members, and these are evaluated by the department in the spring. Several awards are given each year, in amounts that vary depending on the proposed research. Students wishing to apply for Linen Summer Grants should contact the Asian Studies Department Chair early in the Spring semester for information about obtaining an application.

Linen Summer Grants Recipients for summer 2015

  • Brandon Acosta (’16): Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies
  • Mathew Gibson (’17): International Christian University
  • Beatrix Haddock (’18): Hokkaido International Foundation
  • Mei Kazama (’16): Research project – study of Asian American female identity for senior art project
  • Morris Reeves (’18): Princeton in Ishikawa
  • Bowen Wang (’17): Hokkaido International Foundation

Linen Summer Grants Recipients for summer 2014

  • Vy Duong (’16): Hokkaido International Foundation
  • Remy Gates (’16): Nanzan University
  • Mai Mitsuyama (’16): Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies
  • Chloé Pulido (’16): Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies
  • Shazeen Rattansi (’16): Hokkaido International Foundation

Linen Summer Grants Recipients for summer 2013

  • Joseph Baca (’15): Tonda Japanese Bunraku Summer Program
  • Mei Kazama (’16): Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies
  • Jenna Maddock (’15): Hokkaido International Foundation
  • Clare O’Brien (’15): Hokkaido International Foundation
  • Helen O’Brien (’16): Hokkaido International Foundation

Linen Summer Grants Recipients for summer 2012

  • Shannon Hsu (’15): Princeton in Ishikawa 8-week Japanese Language and Culture Program in Kanazawa.
  • Eugene Murphy (’13): Hokkaido International Foundation 8-week Japanese Language and Culture Program in Hakodate.
  • Alex Weaver (’14): Hokkaido International Foundation 8-week Japanese Language and Culture Program in Hakodate.

Linen Summer Grants Recipients for summer 2011

  • Sara Kang (’14): CET 8-week Intensive Japanese Language and Culture Studies in Osaka.
  • Loe Obata (’14): Independent digital photography project in Kyoto.
  • Kimberlee Sanders (’12): Hokkaido International Foundation 8-week Japanese Language and Culture Program in Hakodate.