By : Ali Syarief
When I set out to write Why Japan Matters: A Foreign Perspective, my aim was not merely to document observations about Japan, but to explore the deeper emotional and intellectual resonance that living in another culture can produce — particularly when that culture is as multilayered and often misunderstood as Japan’s.
It is in this context that I received, with genuine humility and gratitude, the reflections of Dr. Suzanne Flynn on my work. For those unfamiliar with her, Dr. Flynn is a distinguished professor of Linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), known globally for her pioneering research in second language acquisition, multilingualism, and cognitive development. Her scholarship has profoundly shaped the theoretical frameworks by which we understand the processes of learning and communicating across languages.
To have Dr. Flynn not only read my book but also respond to it with such warmth and intellectual generosity is something I do not take lightly. She writes:
“Overall, I found Ali’s book to be very informative and insightful. He provides some new perspectives about Japan that I never knew about or had thought about. I agree with his discussion about Lex-Hippo as being a transformative experience. This is truly mine as well. I really like how he captured this and expressed this sentiment so clearly. His feelings and mine are in total alignment. I also liked his discussion of the stereotypes about Japan and the Japanese. He expresses himself and his ideas in a very straightforward and easy to understand manner.”
What moved me most about her comments is not just her recognition of the ideas explored, but the personal connection she expressed — particularly regarding the Lex-Hippo Multilingual Project. This project, for both of us, transcended traditional notions of language learning. It redefined how we think about identity, belonging, and the infinite potential of human communication. To hear that my portrayal of that experience resonated with someone who has contributed so much to the field of linguistics is deeply validating.
Dr. Flynn’s response to the book also highlighted another important theme: the persistence of stereotypes about Japan, and the delicate work of confronting them without becoming entangled in cultural defensiveness. In writing about these issues, I tried to remain honest — critical when necessary, but always with care and respect. That she found the tone clear, accessible, and thoughtful affirms that this balance can be reached.
In academic spaces, particularly in intercultural studies, we often speak about the “other” — the foreign culture, the foreign language, the foreign perspective. But when someone of Dr. Flynn’s stature says that “his feelings and mine are in total alignment,” it is a reminder that the boundaries between self and other, native and foreign, scholar and subject, begin to dissolve through shared experiences and sincere reflection.
Her words remind me that while my book may carry my name, the stories it contains — and the truths it seeks — belong to a much wider community of learners, thinkers, and wanderers.
And for that shared journey, I am profoundly grateful.
