Albertus Alumna and Trustee Receives Book Awards

Samurai & Cotton

Albertus Alumna and Trustee Receives Book Awards

Dr. Tomoko Takahashi, Albertus alumna and trustee, has been named the Winner of the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Autobiography category for her memoir entitled "Samurai and Cotton: A Story of Two Life Journeys in Japan and America", published in November 2011, which has also been honored as an Award-Winning Finalist in the Autobiography/Memoir category of the 2012 International Book Awards.

The award-winning book, Samurai and Cotton, is the English edition (translation and rewrite in English) of her book in Japanese—with the same title that was originally published in Japan in June of 2010. A tribute to her father, family and ancestors, the book is based on the true stories of seven generations of the author’s family and centers on the life of her father. It takes on a historical journey through the world of the samurai as it transitions into the merchant class, culminating in the aftermath of the author’s decision to pursue her dreams to study in America.

"I am humbled by this honor," the award-winning author says. "Translating my own book into English, my second language, was a very unique and rewarding experience. As most authors do, I could have hired a translator, but I decided that it would be best translated by myself and written in my own voice. This recognition by the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and the incredible response from the American public, confirms that this was the right decision."

Tomoko was born in Japan; at twenty, she left her home for the United States. She received her B.A. in English from Albertus Magnus College in 1977, and earned her doctorate in applied linguistics from Columbia University in 1984. She currently serves as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California-she is also the Dean of the Graduate School as well as Professor of Linguistics and Education.

Over the past 20+ years, Tomoko has published more than twenty books including scholarly books in English and Japanese on language learning, cross-cultural communication, and lexico-semantics; thirteen co-authored textbooks for Japanese learners of English, eight of which have been translated into Korean and Chinese (both Mainland and Taiwan); and Japanese translations of Rosa Parks: My Story, Quiet Strength, and Dear Mrs. Parks.

Albertus honored Tomoko with the Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement in 2002 and with the Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa in 2006. She has been serving on the Board of Trustees of Albertus Magnus College since 1996.