Back in 2010, Devon Whitaker remembers standing in Naoko Takemaru’s office holding his copy of the Japanese studies’ professor book, “Women in the Language and Society of Japan: The Linguistic Roots of Bias.”
The book wasn’t even officially on bookstore shelves yet, Whitaker remembers. He wanted to be the first one to buy it. And he wanted to do it in person, in front of his sensei, Japanese for teacher.
It was almost like he was getting the book signed by a celebrity author.
On Saturday night, Whitaker was clutching that same book as he stood outside Takemaru’s home at a vigil organized by neighbors. Takemaru, 69, was killed along with two other UNLV professors in the senseless Dec. 6 shooting on campus.
On Monday, Whitaker was 10 pages into rereading the book.
“Even rereading it for me is hard. Every word I read, it’s like she’s directly reading to me,” said Whitaker, ‘12 BA Asian and Asian American studies.
"She was a bundle of joy to be around and work with. She cared a lot about her students and wanted her students to do well. She motivated me to be a better student.”
At the time of the shooting, Takemaru would have just finished teaching her Japanese 302 class and would be preparing for her next class, Topics in Japanese Culture.
Whitaker took every single course that Takemaru taught — from the 100-level all the way through the 400s to his graduation. This year marked her 20th year at UNLV, where she is credited for developing the Japanese language program and taught upper-division courses on culture and business.
“There’s a phrase in the Japanese language — do your best — and she pretty much ended every class with that phrase and motivated me that much more; not just with her classes and degree program, but just to do my best,” Whitaker said.
In addition to the book that Whitaker prized, her publications included articles in refereed journals and conference proceedings, and book reviews.
She first came the U.S. as a foreign exchange student in 1974 and eventually returned for to get master’s degrees from Michigan State and from Monterey Institute of International Studies and a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University.
Her courses were always full, Jennifer Keene, dean of the College of Liberal Arts said. The college awarded her its William Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2014. And she welcomed students into her office any time, not just during designated office hours. The walls in her office were covered with the markings of a “cat lady” — calendars, pictures, and puzzles of felines.
Whitaker visited her often. There, he once asked her for a letter of recommendation for the Japanese Exchange Teaching Program. She was as unfailingly kind, he noted, but also had high standards and did not bestow such letters on every student.
“There wasn’t an ounce of quit in her," he said. "She was a bit strict but in a good way. The lines of communication were always open. She would tell her students if anything was on their minds, something bothering you, we'll just work it out. She had an open door policy."
Susan Byrne, a professor of Hispanic studies and former chair of the World Languages and Cultures department, noted the way that Takemaru had of drawing fellow faculty together.
“Naoko was consistently and wonderfully kind, understanding and supportive of me in my role as department chair. The same beautiful spirit persisted as I stepped down from that role,” Byrne said.
And Takemaru’s thoughtfulness required no translations. They usually came in form of small gifts.
Alicia Rico, current chair for World Languages and Cultures, said when her father died and she had to go back home for services, Takemaru handed her a present. It wasn’t for Rico herself, though, it was to give her grieving mother.
Germán Negrón-Rivera, an associate professor-in-residence of Spanish, had a similar experience when Takemaru learned that his mother, like hers, had Parkinson's disease. Negrón-Rivera’s mother received a gift every year from Takemaru, accompanied by beautiful postcards.
Before teaching, Takemaru held a patissier license and had worked at a restaurant in Tokyo. She also lived in France for at time.
Margaret Harp, an associate professor of French, remembered Takemaru as a “triple threat artist” at a news conference held on Dec. 8. “She was a professional concert pianist who left that career due to physical disabilities. She embroidered beautifully, creating her own designs, and every holiday season, she brought us her homemade chocolates.
“Naoko was frail physically; however, she was lionhearted in kindness, lionhearted in generosity, lionhearted in humanity — the point of liberal arts. And I have no doubt she was lionhearted in her final moments on Earth.”
She is survived by a brother, Hisashi Takemaru of Okayama.
Tributes to Naoko Takemaru
Email us to add your own memory to this page.
Dr. Takemaru was an amazing professor. I am grateful that I was able to take one of her classes. When I applied to graduate school in 2010, I learned about a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) scholarship at the University of Oregon. I asked Takemaru-sensei if she would write a last-minute letter of recommendation for me. She happily wrote it for me and was so kind and supportive. I received the scholarship thanks to her. She changed my life. I have a Ph.D. in Japanese history and currently live in Japan with my family. Thank you, Dr. Takemaru.
— Hillary Maxson-Kobayashi (from LinkedIn)
She would notice my accomplishments at UNLV and send me congratulatory and "thinking of you" emails. We shared a love of linguistics, gender, intersectionality, and education. She was so happy when I purchased an old book of hers on some of these topics, and we were supposed to meet so she could "give me her autograph."
I was going to surprise her during office hours and catch up, but I was too embarrassed of how my Japanese speaking skills have regressed. I wanted to brush up on the language to show her that it wasn't just another class. That I held her teachings near. That I respected her time. That I loved learning from her.
— Melikabella Shenouda (from Instagram)
I had enrolled in Takemaru Sensei's 302 Japanese class in the spring of 2020. However, early on, Takemaru-sensei's mother, who she was really close to, had gotten sick and, in February, she passed away. As a class, we had decided that we would all make and write cards as well as bring flowers. So during her office hours, we all went to her office and surprised her with it. I remember how teary eyed she got, and she hugged all of us. Her classes may have been difficult and she did expect a lot out of us, but she cared about everyone.
Takemaru-sensei remembered everything about her students. Last month, on November 8, I had the privilege of speaking to her again, which would end up being my last conversation with her. She encouraged me to continue to take Japanese as I had stopped and never finished the program. I do plan on following her last wishes next fall. It was an honor to be her student.
— Ricardo Rodriguez
I am an alumni of UNLV from the year 2012, and I currently live in Japan. I am filled with an unbelievably heart-wrenching feeling at the loss of three wonderful faculty members at UNLV.
Although I have not taken a class with professor Takemaru, the fact that she has passionately loved UNLV for 20 years as an associate professor and has continued to convey information about Japan to her students, fills me with great pride and admiration as a Japanese person. I aspire to do something that can connect Japan and the United States, just like professor Takemaru. I believe there are many other UNLV students who share such thoughts.
I offer prayers to everyone who has been involved in this incredibly painful incident.
I will continue to live with pride as a UNLV alumna. I hope to visit UNLV in the near future.
— Maria Mori
Dr. Takemaru was such an incredible professor. She believed in her students and knew we had all the tools for excellence, and she expected us to reach that excellence. She was one of those teachers that brought something irreplaceable to the material. It's not just about a well-prepared lesson plan; the way she presented those lessons and interacted with students took your Japanese to the highest heights.
I took her class in 2018, and I think of the refinements she made to my Japanese ever since. I have a lot of those words that remind me of her that will always stay with me. Even after many years, I'll know Takemaru-sensei was the one who taught me to be careful of this usage or that pronunciation. I'm eternally grateful for her critical impact on my Japanese that will stay with me forever.
— Alexander Yurkov
Takemaru-sensei was and always will be one of the best mentors anyone can ask for. She was always there to help when others were in need, and this was also true for me. Sensei has helped my mother, myself, and my sister through various hardships by giving us strength and encouragement when all seemed dark. Although she is no longer here with us physically, I believe in my heart and soul that she is still here with us in spirit.
She had tirelessly helped others on their path to a bright future, entrusting her knowledge to innumerable number of students, always with that beautiful smile. Sensei was a scholar, a mentor, a professor, a mother, a grandmother. To everyone her soul has touched, she holds a special spot in their heart, and she will forever be in our heart and memory.
Until we meet again, sensei, I bid you a safe journey to be with your loved ones who are waiting on the other side for you. I am sure you have already reunited. Please have a safe journey and do not worry about anything here. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to meet a beautiful soul, a second mother, and forever mentor. I miss you dearly and will forever remember the name and individual Dr. Naoko Takemaru. Please rest in peace.
— Lisa Johnson
Takemaru-sensei was a strict yet passionate professor. I was always worried that I was never quite meeting her high standards, but her dedication to teaching inspired me to strive for better in each and every class. What I remember most though is how kind, considerate, and thoughtful she was. When my grandmother passed away mid-semester, Takemaru-sensei not only accommodated my extended leave to attend the funeral services, she checked on me well after to see how I was doing. We got to talking after class once, and after I described a funny yet peaceful dream of my grandmother randomly playing video games, Takemaru-sensei smiled and said it must have been a good dream because my grandmother was doing well. I've never forgotten that.
— Kayla Pamintuan
She was always kind and smiling to everyone. I remember Professor Naoko Takemaru walking to the Hospitality building to get coffee and talk to her colleagues. She was not my professor, but her kindness and smile will always be remembered.
— Janet Macias
