“EFL + α”: Attitudes Towards English Use in Japan Around Necessity, Value, and Ability Eric K. Ku* Akita University, Japan Gavin Furukawa Sophia University, Japan Mie Hiramoto National University of Singapore, Singapore Article International Journal of TESOL Studies (2021) Vol. 3 (3) 153-168 https://doi.org/10.46451/ijts.2021.10.06 Abstract English has a complex status in Japan. On the one hand, it is considered “foreign” in the sense of being the go-to, in-demand foreign language of study. On the other hand, it has had a strong influence in Japanese society in ways that are unique to Japan, such as the use of katakanago ‘Western loanwords’ as part of Japanese. This complex status is paired with equally complex attitudes towards the role of English in Japan. In this paper, we explore the connection between the status of English and attitudes towards English in Japan, or what we call “EFL + α” (meaning ‘with something extra or something special’ in Japanese). We examine data from a variety of sources in the public Japanese discourse relating to English use, ranging from online chat boards to official government documents. Based on our data, we notice three prevailing attitudes towards English use in Japan: English as an assumed necessity, English as unnecessary and overvalued, and English as a marker of general communication ability and intelligence. Finally, we suggest approaching the concept of “EFL + α” as a way of making sense of “English in Japan” not only as what is (i.e., variety of English is used in Japan), but also as what is being done (i.e., social and cultural practices around the role of English in Japan). Keywords English as a Foreign Language, Japanese English, Asian English, World Englishes, Japan 1 Introduction: The State of English in Japan We begin this paper attempting to summarize the state of English in Japan, which is a complex matter. Those unfamiliar with Japan’s cultural, historical, and educational context may assume, rather simplisti- cally, that English operates as nothing more than a foreign language in Japanese society. In this section, *Corresponding Author Address: Akita University, 1-1 Tegatagakuen-machi, Akita City 010-8502, Japan Email: ericku718@gmail.com