Exploring Strategies to Connect Foreign Language Education With People Skills: Nurturing Intercultural Understanding Through the Rich Cultural Tapestry of Japanese Anime

In today's globalized world, the importance of intercultural understanding and interpersonal skills is increasingly emphasized. This study focuses on linking foreign language education with intercultural effectiveness and investigates the impact of using anime as a tool for cultural understanding and the development of intercultural competence. The course is an introductory Japanese culture course for non-Japanese learners, designed to introduce Japanese culture and values while encouraging students to deepen their understanding of their own thoughts, values, and culture. The intercultural effectiveness scale conducted before and after the 16-week anime course indicates significant changes in students' self-awareness, world orientation, relationship development, and emotional resilience—four of the six dimensions of the intercultural effectiveness scale. The results suggest that anime is not just a form of entertainment but also a valuable educational resource that enhances students' intercultural competence.