Introducing: Ken Kurusu

We are very pleased to announce that Kenichiro Kurusu will be joining the Department’s teaching roster this A.Y. 2024-2025! Read on to get to know more about our newest senior lecturer!

1. Can you tell us more about your background?

I went to the only two universities in Japan which offer the Filipino language as a major. I graduated from the Philippine Studies Program at Osaka University in 2020, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and Culture. This is where I encountered the Filipino language for the first time and developed my foundational knowledge of Philippine Studies. I earned my Master of Arts degree in Linguistics at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 2022.

I actually also studied at UP Diliman as an exchange student in A.Y. 2017-2018, thus this is my second occasion of being part of UPD. During my undergraduate and master’s studies, I worked on the phonetics and phonology of consonant clusters in Tagalog, which is also my current interest for my dissertation at the UP Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas. Since I would like to conduct linguistic research on Tagalog/Filipino using the Filipino language so that I can contribute to the development of the language, I chose to come back to UPD.

2. What got you interested in the Philippines and Philippine languages? 

To be honest, when I applied for admission to my undergraduate program, I chose Filipino randomly as my major since I just wanted to study whatever foreign language. Thus, my study started without me even knowing simple greetings! However, the more I got to know the linguistically and culturally “halo-halo” society of the Philippines, the more I got interested in it, especially in Philippine languages. Philippine languages–as represented by more than a hundred languages, which carry etymologically diverse lexicons and loanwords, their unique morphosyntax, and all the code-switching done by their speakers–symbolize a diversified Philippines. Learning more about them eventually drove me to continue pursuing my studies up to the PhD level.

3. What are your current research interests or what is something that you wish to work on?

My research interests span a myriad of key issues in language–the phonetics and phonology of Tagalog/Filipino, Filipino bilang Wikang Pambansa, migration linguistics, and World Englishes. For my dissertation, I am currently working on the phonetic realization of consonant clusters in Tagalog. I would like to examine how different Tagalog speakers pronounce them, employing a sociophonetic approach. I am also interested in issues in the development and dissemination of Filipino as the national language. Aside from these, I am working on various issues related to language in the process of migration, such as the language use of migrants in their destination countries. My studies on this have so far been based on my experience working with Filipino migrant children residing in Japan. I wish I can be engaged in documenting Philippine languages, particularly non-standard varieties of major languages, which have not been documented well compared to others.

4. What are some of the highlights of your life in the Philippines so far?

Throughout my 1.5 years of life in the Philippines, I got to travel across the country. Here are some of the highlights that I cannot forget: (1) Boracay, the best beach in the world, needless to say; (2) the magnificent view of Mayon Volcano. My desktop wallpaper is still the photo of Mayon with an airplane at the (old) airport even after five years since I last visited there, and (3) Mindanao, where I finally got to visit last February (GenSan) and March (Davao & Iligan). I was so amazed by its diverse linguistic situation, which is different from that in Manila.

5. What is something that you look forward to in teaching at the UP Department of Linguistics?

I am looking forward to interacting with esteemed faculty and students at the Department and discussing various topics on language and linguistics. At the same time, teaching something is also a way of learning something from students, and most teachers will probably agree on this. Thus, I would also love to learn a lot of things together with the Department. 

6. Finally, what is something that you enjoy during your leisure time? 

I consider myself having a lot of hobbies: watching baseball/football games, taking photos with my camera, traveling, swimming, watching Marvel/Star Wars movies and dramas, and KPOP. =)

Welcome to the Department, Ken さん!

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Currently, Ken-sensei teaches Hapon 10. Access the “Regular Classes” and “Course Catalog” tabs of CRS for more information. 

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This article is part of the “Faculty Spotlight” series of the Department, and is also done in celebration of 100 years of Japanese language teaching in the university. Click here for more information.