My Story
Why I Became a Japanese Teacher
I’ve always been curious about people, language, and culture.
When I was nine years old, my family moved from Tokyo to Osaka. Suddenly, everything felt different—the accent, the expressions, and even the way people interacted with each other.
I still remember wondering:
“Why does everyone speak so differently here?”
That simple question became the beginning of my lifelong curiosity about language and the diversity of human experiences.
Learning the Power of Coaching
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.
Through supporting my teammates, I discovered something important: helping someone grow can be just as meaningful as achieving something yourself.
That experience shaped the way I see education today. A great teacher is not someone who simply gives answers. A great teacher observes, guides, encourages, and helps each person discover their own ability.
Understanding How People Learn
During university, I studied school psychology because I wanted to understand human growth from a deeper perspective.
While studying education, I realized that I was not only interested in teaching students what they “must” learn. I was more interested in creating an environment where learners choose to grow, develop their own motivation, and take ownership of their progress.
However, after observing different educational settings, I realized that creating truly student-centered learning experiences can be challenging in traditional classrooms.
This inspired me to search for a different approach.
Exploring People, Communities, and Education
After university, I wanted to experience different aspects of human life and communities. I worked in various fields, from the tertiary sector to the primary sector, while continuing to explore Japan through traveling, cycling, and hitchhiking.
I wanted to understand people beyond textbooks—to see how they lived, communicated, and connected with each other.
Along the way, I worked with NGOs and NPOs, learning about community projects and social initiatives. Eventually, my journey led me to Japanese language education.
Discovering My Teaching Philosophy
I have worked in many educational environments, including early childhood programs, elementary schools, tutoring centers, nature schools, and Japanese language schools.
In tutoring, I learned the importance of building a personal connection with each student. Many students improved because they felt understood, supported, and encouraged.
At Japanese language schools, I also worked with learners with different needs, including children with autism, dyslexia, and ADHD.
Parents often asked me:
“Why does my child forget what they learn at school but remember so much from your lessons?”
Through these experiences, I learned something essential:
Students learn best when education is adapted to who they are.
Everyone has different strengths, challenges, learning styles, and motivations. The right support can completely change the learning experience.
Creating Nihongoknow
Through all of these experiences, I realized I wanted to become the kind of teacher I wished I had when I was learning.
Someone who does not just teach information, but coaches, supports, and inspires students.
Someone who creates a safe environment where mistakes are part of growth, where students can challenge themselves, and where their individuality is respected.
That belief became the foundation of Nihongoknow.
Language Connects People
I also spent nearly a decade traveling around the world, living in different countries, meeting people from many backgrounds, and experiencing different cultures firsthand.
Those experiences confirmed something I had always felt:
Language is not just a skill. Language is a bridge between people.
Now, based in Vancouver, I have the opportunity to do what I love most—helping people connect through Japanese.
I combine my teaching experience, coaching background, psychology studies, and knowledge of learning science to create lessons that are effective, meaningful, and enjoyable.
More Than a Teacher
I’m enthusiastic about teaching, but I also take pride in being a mentor.
Learning a second language is a journey, and I understand the challenges firsthand. When I was learning English, I experienced the same struggles many learners face: feeling stuck, making mistakes, and wondering if I would ever become comfortable communicating.
But I also discovered something powerful—the joy of progress, the excitement of real conversations, and the confidence that comes from truly understanding another language.
As a Japanese teacher and performer, I bring energy, storytelling, and laughter into my lessons. My classes are not only about studying Japanese; they are about experiencing the language.
Through real-life stories, cultural insights, and experiences from my travels, I want students to feel that Japanese is something alive—not just something found in textbooks.
I’m here not only as your teacher, but as someone who walks alongside you, supports you through challenges, and celebrates your progress.
The greatest mistake in learning is fearing mistakes.
Embrace them, and that is where real progress begins.