I returned to Ann Arbor for the first time in seven months. The atmosphere felt nostalgic. I truly realized that I had spent a year here until the end of last August. Entering Ann Arbor, I remembered various things from that time. Looking around the city, many memories came back. I felt nostalgic as I passed by the kindergarten and elementary school my older child attended, the day-care my younger child attended, and ate at the restaurant I often visited after meetings at the university.

This time, I visited the University of Michigan with three other researchers, and we held research meetings with Professor Stephanie, who has been taking care of us. It was a very fulfilling week where we could immediately take action toward submitting a paper, such as discussing ideas that came up in the research meetings and conducting data analysis. One of our research topics is already in a state where we are almost ready to submit a paper. An environment where you can concentrate on research is wonderful. I can read many papers, and various ideas emerge.

Even during my sabbatical, I received various comments from Professor Stephanie, which allowed me to steadily advance the data analysis and bring it into a very good shape. All that remains is to conduct one more data analysis and write the manuscript. We had a very productive discussion. Thank you very much. Since my collaboration with Professor Stephanie will continue, I would like to visit Ann Arbor again to discuss things further. At the end of the next academic year, the Learning Analytics and Knowledge conference will be held in Kyoto, with Professor Ogata serving as the executive committee chair. She mentioned she would be coming there as well, so I look forward to having frequent discussions.

On the day before my departure, I was also able to meet with Professor Thomas Finholt. Professor Finholt was the professor who signed my acceptance, and although he was the Dean of the School of Information at the time, he is now the Vice Provost of the entire University of Michigan. He is extremely busy, especially in March. I was happy to be able to meet him despite it being a holiday.

By the way, my name was still there. It makes me happy somehow. Professor Stephanie asked me, “Can you still use it?” but I replied, “No, no, I have returned the key, of course” (laughs). It would be nice if I could use it, though.

I would like to visit Ann Arbor again next academic year.