Comments posted on the Soga Japan Center Facebook page about Dr. Soga’s passing Regina Cassens I would like to thank Dr. Soga for providing me with the experiences and tools that are important for studying Japanese. It has always been my dream to study abroad in Japan, and I was able to accomplish my dream thanks to Dr. Soga. From the bottom of my heart I am very grateful for the work you have put into this program and you will always be remembered for all of the wonderful things that you have done for us at WMU. Clifford Robertson I’ve been studying Japanese at Western Michigan since the spring semester of 2011. From that time, I have made many great friends and found a deeper appreciation for the language, culture and history of Japan. Without the work of Dr. Soga, and his dedication, I would have not had the opportunity to take the first steps into a brand new world. I believe that my future holds great things and because of his work, I am one step closer to that reality. I am grateful for the experiences that I have had in the Japanese program that he helped to set up. Thank you for all of your work and effort to make this possible. My best wishes to your family and to friends who knew you well. Rachel Leblang When I came to WMU I thought that Japanese would be something I studied on the side while I focused on Spanish. But the teachers and students of the Japanese department are some of the most incredible people I have ever met. So much so, that I don’t even study Spanish anymore! If the Japanese program had not been created, I would never had met the friends that I cherish, or been able to learn so much about Japan. Now I am excited to learn Japanese every day and will be studying abroad in Kyoto next fall. This is all thanks to Dr. Soga’s participation in Japanese studies. I am forever in his debt. Thanks to his contributions, I am happy to go to classes and continue to learn more about my passion. Katrina Hummel I really wish I could have met you. After my life got suddenly turned upside down, the only thing I could really devote myself to anymore was my love of Japan and the language. Without the support of everyone in the Japanese program that you created, I probably wouldn’t have been able to continue doing what I love. Thank you for your legacy; you will be missed by many.
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