He became intrigued with Japan due to a year abroad in high school, and eventually settled on an historical approach. An interest in international exchange led to a study of Japanese labor migration to Hawaii, which has broadened into the study of labor migration and modernization both in Japan and elsewhere. After teaching in Iowa and Hawaii, he came to PSU, where he directs the history master's program and teaches East Asian history, specialized courses on Japan, and world history at the undergraduate and graduate levels.�