Best Japanese Language Lesson In Vancouver | Nihongo Know School

My Journey

I’ve always been curious about people and culture. When I was nine, my family moved from Tokyo to Osaka, and suddenly everything felt different, the accent, the expressions, even the way people interacted. I remember wondering, “Why does everyone speak so differently here?” That early experience sparked a lifelong fascination with the richness and diversity of culture.

In high school, I joined a top-level basketball team. I wasn’t the star player, but my coach trusted me enough to become a student assistant coach. Leading and supporting my teammates taught me something powerful: helping someone grow is as rewarding as any personal achievement. That lesson has stayed with me ever since.

During university, I studied school psychology because I wanted to understand human growth from a deeper perspective. At that time, I realized that I wasn’t particularly drawn to working in traditional Japanese schools. I was more interested in an approach where students choose to learn for themselves, rather than being taught what they “must” learn. That was the kind of education I wanted to create. However, after observing schools and educational settings firsthand, I began to realize that my vision of student-centered learning would be difficult to achieve in conventional classrooms.

After university, I wanted to explore a wide range of human experiences, so I worked in jobs spanning from the tertiary sector to the primary sector. This was a natural extension of my university travels across Japan by hitchhiking and cycling, I wanted to observe people and communities even more closely. Along the way, I worked with NGOs and NPOs, gaining insight into social initiatives and community work, and ultimately ended up at a Japanese language school.

I have worked in schools in many capacities: early childhood programs, elementary schools, tutoring centers, and nature schools. In tutoring, I was often one of the most popular teachers, which taught me the importance of connecting with each student individually. At Japanese language schools, I worked not only with typical learners but also with children with autism, dyslexia, and ADHD. Parents would often ask, “Why does my child forget what they learn at their local school but remember so much in your weekly class?” These experiences showed me that students thrive when they receive personal attention and encouragement, and that education works best when it is tailored to their individuality.

Through all these experiences, I realized something important: I wanted to be the kind of teacher I wish I had, someone who coaches, supports, and inspires each student in a way that fits them best. If I had met a teacher like that when I was learning, I know it would have made a huge difference. That realization inspired me to create my own school, a place where education is the focus, mistakes are part of learning, and every student’s autonomy and individuality are nurtured.

I also spent a decade traveling the world, living in different countries, meeting people from all walks of life, and learning about their cultures firsthand. Those years opened my mind even wider and confirmed something I’d suspected all along: my calling is to connect people through language.

Now, based in Vancouver, I get to do exactly that. I combine my coaching experience, psychology background, and insights from neuroscience and behavioral science to create lessons that are not just effective, but fun. I want my students to not only learn Japanese but experience it, gradually mastering its nuances and feeling confident in real conversations.