Dr. Shimazu was born and raised in Japan. After completing his undergraduate education in Japan, he received his MA in teaching English as a second language in the United States. In 1989, he received his EdD from the University of San Francisco with an emphasis in language test construction and validation. He has taught Japanese language, Japanese linguistics, business Japanese, and Japanese culture at San Jose State University since 1995. Awarded provost's outstanding scholarship of teaching and learning at SJSU in 2008. He also taught Japanese at the University of San Francisco (1979-1994) and at San Francisco State University (1979-1992). At Soko Gakuen Japanese Language School in San Francisco, he has worked as a consultant since 1992 and was Coordinator and Instructor (1982-1992). Publications include "Language Course Taught with Online Supplement Material: Is It Effective?" (Education, 2005); Handy Katakana Workbook: An Introduction to Japanese Writing KANA (Boston, MA: Pearson Custom, 2003); "A Comparison of a 5-day With a 3-day 5-unit Language Course: Which Is More Effective?" (Chula Vista, CA: Education, 2001); "Advice for EFL-ESL Teachers of Japanese Students" (VA: TESOL, 1992); "Some Advice for Japanese Students Learning English" (Odawara, Japan: Language Institute of Japan, 1975).