Dr. Toyoko Funahashi, Visiting Professor from Japan, Joins CPS

Beginning in August 2026, Dr. Toyoko Funahashi of Ritsumeikan University’s College of Policy Science in Japan will embark on a year-long research appointment as a Visiting Research Scholar at the Center for Philippine Studies (CPS), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Hosted under the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, Dr. Funahashi’s stay through July 2027 reflects a shared commitment to international scholarship and cross-cultural understanding.

Working under the guidance of Co-Director Dr. Patricia E. Halagao, Dr. Funahashi will examine Philippine-related companies in Hawaiʻi, exploring how immigrant-owned businesses—particularly food establishments and neighborhood enterprises—shape local markets, preserve cultural identity, and strengthen community life. Her broader research also  examines the evolution of distribution modernization in the Philippines and Hawaii, and compares the international expansion strategies of Japanese companies in Hawaii and Southeast Asia.

Through fieldwork on Oʻahu, collaboration with CPS faculty and Philippine-related companies in Hawaiʻi, Dr. Funahashi’s research promises to compare Japanese and Filipino business activities in Hawaiʻi, while enriching understanding of the Filipino diaspora and its vital contributions to the economic and cultural landscape.