in memory of Prof. Kenji Kitao

Kenji already had a Ph.D. from the Univ. of Kansas but studied for a second degree at MSU a while ago in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  His wife Kathi Kitao got her doctoral degree from MSU.  They were a dynastic couple in Japan but teaching in Kyoto and solid researchers.  Ironically, Kenji died at a conference which he loved.  I liked Kenji very much!
 
In Memoriam

The EUROCALL 2014 organisers and participants were greatly saddened by the loss of EUROCALL participant, Dr. Kenji Kitao, who passed away suddenly of a heart attack at his hotel on the evening of Wednesday, August 20th.

Dr. Kenji Kitao had an appointment as a full professor, at Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan.  He was 65 and about to retire this coming March. Dr. Kitao was a dedicated EUROCALL member.

Dr Kenji Kitao and his wife, Dr. Kathleen Kitao, were planning to present at EUROCALL 2014. They submitted the following papers:
Responses to Apologies in English: A Corpus-Based Study
Japanese Speakers’ Apologies in English: A Study Based on a Spoken Corpus

Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Kitao’s wife, Kathleen Kitao, family and friends. We would like to wish them strength during this difficult time.

Today we interred part of Kenji's ashes in his family tomb. The remainder will be interred in May at the Doshisha cemetery. Kenji's will specified that he would like to be buried at the Doshisha cemetery. However, it is in a remote location, and his mother would not be able to visit, So we decided to divide the ashes. In the picture are Kenji's mother and sister and brother-in-law.

— with Yoshihiro Serata.