Dr. Yoko Matsumoto-Sturt holds a degree in Phonetics and Linguistics from University College London, followed by an MSc in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh. She worked as an interpreter/translator for the BBC and the automotive industry before gaining teaching experience in Japanese language, literature, and translation at the University of Edinburgh. She completed her PhD in Applied Linguistics in 2004 with a thesis entitled ‘Second Language Acquisition of Japanese Orthography’ and became a lecturer in Japanese Studies. She participated in funded research projects, including a Japan Foundation Fellowship (2006), and was a visiting professor at Gakushuin University in 2013.

My research interests are broadly focused on society, language, and culture. Specific areas in which I am currently involved include a Kanji experiential learning project and visual media discourse research. My work has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Japanese Language Teaching (日本語教育) and Synergy. I have also contributed to a book on language policy and young learners in Scotland in Yasashii Nihongo and Multiculturalism in the Community (2019).

My recent projects, 'Beyond Kanji Teaching: Culture, Values, and Issues in Kanji Writing' (2022/23) and 'Japanese for Young Learners' (2016/17), aimed to widen access to Japanese language education and pioneered inclusive education. These were funded by the Japan Foundation’s Grant Programme.

All of my teaching draws on my research, including courses such as 'Kanji: A Linguistic and Cultural Introduction' and 'Supernatural Japan: Doing Japanology through Yokai,' which were nominated for the EUSA Awards in the Outstanding Course category in 2021, 2022, and 2024. I was also nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2022.