Hello everybody. I’m Ando, and I am in charge of the advanced Japanese language teaching.

In order to enter universities, or to pursue a career in Japan, foreign students have to acquire the similar level of Japanese language skills as their Japanese counterparts. That is to say, it is demanding, but necessary, to learn as much within the 1.5~2 years in the language school as what ordinary Japanese people have learned through 18~22 years.

There is no time to waste.

And that’s why I commit myself to a serious way of teaching, eagerly hoping that one day when it is time to pursue a higher education or a career, every one of you will have a happy and smooth life on your language skills.

However, learning language itself should be an interesting process. Language is the method of self-expression, and the basis for communication. In order to experience deeper pleasure from cross-cultural communication, it is important for one to understand the foreign society and culture. Therefore, we would also have a vivid discussion upon trendy topics and current affairs of Japan.

Masayuki Ando

Hello, I am Akiko Ito.

Recently I began to teach the advanced and preparatory classes.

Do you still remember what made you interested in Japan and Japanese language in the beginning? My students have given me their answers: animation, games, temples in Kyoto and Nara, Samurai, pop stars with Johnny’s, The Takarazuka Revue… Although their first motivation varies, through the study in TCJ, they have acquired the Japanese language skills that they had longed for.

If you aim to enter a good university, I will make best efforts in assisting you to excel in college entry examinations.
If you like J-POP, I bet you will enjoy learning by listening to Japanese songs in my class.

Why not reading Japanese newspapers, also, and let us have casual and fruitful conversations about Japan, about the world? Language is the tool for communication. Please make best of it to expand your world and chase your dream.

“Be happy!” is the motto of my class. “Be happy!” Even before the overwhelming grammar,Kanji, and pronunciations.
Those happy memories will remain, and I hope my class is one of them. Let us happily learn together at TCJ. I am always here for you.

Akiko Ito

The better you understand a language, the larger your world will be.

During my college study, around me there were many friends who either learned a foreign language or who came from a foreign land. When I communicate with them, I found my world enlarged, and I was able to discover myself in a brand new way. After all that wonderful experience, I decided to pursue a career that is related to language education, which made me a Japanese language teacher as today.

If people from different nations can communicate and understand each other by using a common language, the world as a peaceful and sweet home for everyone will not be a dream far away. Here at TCJ Students from all over the world cooperate with each other and learn together. Also, we have students who aim to become Japanese language teachers in the future gathered in this same place for study. Here, therefore, should be a great place for true cross-cultural communication.

I would commit myself with all my colleagues to provide the best support for every student to realize their dreams. Let us move forward together, to broaden our visions, and become actively engaged on a global stage.

Masato Hori

Hello everybody!

I am Sato, and I am teaching Beginner’s Japanese.

While studying with the students every day, I emphasize a lot on teaching “Good Japanese”. Many students first learned Japanese language from popular cultures, such as TV dramas and animation. A large number of the words in popular cultures, however, are too casual and sometimes impolite when used in formal occasions. In order to avoid that kind of embarrassment, I take care to teach my students the pretty Japanese language that is decent for every occasion.

During weekends, I usually take a walk and play with my cat. I live near the sea in Yokohama, where going out in good weather is especially joyful. ♪ For everyone who comes to Japan for study abroad, study is of course the most important mission. However, it is also very important to spend time after school happily and smartly! Don’t forget to enjoy your life here!!

Tomoe Sato

Hello. I am Miho Eguchi.

Right now I teach intermediate Japanese classes.

Since my childhood, there have been a lot of foreign friends around, which might contribute to my liking towards learning various cultures. Getting to know a new habit or a different value every day naturally provided me with happiness and nurtured my life.

Later I entered a university where frequent cross-cultural activities are held. It was there that I first got to know the career as a Japanese language teacher. From sophomore year I made up my mind to become a Japanese language teacher, and actively participated in volunteer teaching and cross-cultural communication. I also travelled abroad during holidays and gained precious experience. All that I did in the past makes me what I am today.

I believe that it is the same for all of you, who came to Japan as a foreign land. I hope my work will help you make best of the time today and make a better you tomorrow. The more people you communicate, the more you learn, and the more you will develop yourself. Let us accumulate precious experience day by day, and happily learn Japanese together.

Miho Eguchi

Hello everyone.

I am Uysal, and I focus on Intermediate language teaching.
Although my last name is in Katakana, I am real (?) Japanese.

What led to my career as a Japanese language teacher was the experience when I lived far away from Japan. There I met friends who studied Japanese very hard. How I hoped that I could help them! Those memories inspired me to become a Japanese language teacher.

In TCJ we have a lot of events: hot spring trip, cherry-blossom viewing, BBQ… I look forward to those exclusively Japanese experiences with all of you.
Welcome to Japan, and let us learn together!

Mitsuko Uysal

Hello! My name is Tomoe Ishizaka.

I know it is sudden, but I really love Japanese language! I still remember how amusing the Japanese class was during high school, which might have triggered my interest in becoming a Japanese language teacher. By the way, I majored in Japanese language and literature in college.

There are large numbers of synonyms in Japanese. However, their meanings are not that identical. They are rich expressions for various ways of consideration and feelings of Japanese people. Learning these words with nuance must be difficult, but rewarding.

I hope my class will be amusing and inspiring experience to you, as my high school Japanese class was to me.
Communication with all of you is great pleasure. If you have anything you want to talk with me about your country, interesting news, foods, or things that trouble you, please don’t hesitate to do so. But under one condition: let us talk in Japanese!

Tomoe Ishizaka

I am Tanaka, and I am in charge of the beginner’s and intermediate classes.

I will try my best to assist all of you to learn Japanese happily. In the class, the language skills will be enhanced through various trainings on reading, writing, listening and speaking. We will also spend a lot of time in conversation on a number of topics, to enable students to express thinking and feelings smoothly in Japanese.

TCJ is a multi-national school. Here, by learning Japanese language, you will not only learn more about Japan, but also about the world. Please do come with a broad vision of study.

I once studied in Britain, and therefore have experienced sweet and sad memories of learning abroad myself. But I believe that no matter what kind of memory your abroad life is, it will have something to do with your future. Please regard TCJ as your family in Japan. Don’t hesitate to come to us whenever you are in trouble. We are not teaching only the language of Japan, but also the life in Japan.
I look forward to seeing all of you in class.

Shinnosuke Tanaka

Hello! I am Aya Sakagami.

I teach the beginner’s and intermediate classes.

Although students learn a lot of grammars and vocabulary at school, it is never enough for language learning. “Using” the language is especially important. And therefore we have substantial writing and speaking training in class, in order to enable students to use the language. If students can use the Japanese language they have learned at school to smoothly communicate with the Japanese people, their self-confidence must be lifted up.

When I was a college student, I used to study abroad in Malaysia, where I made a lot of friends and accumulated precious experience. Today, I am welcoming all foreign students in Japan. I hope all of you can gain great experience when studying here. Please make many friends in TCJ. We will make the best to provide our support.

Aya Sakagami

Hello. I am Koichi Hashimoto.

I mainly teach the beginner’s and intermediate classes.

Let me assume that all of you who are reading this page are considering coming to Japan for study. Here at TCJ, you will not only get to “understand” Japanese, but to “use” the language. If you happen to drop by the school, let us have more talk. Let me know more about your country.

I usually go out for sports during holidays. Let us learn and go for sports together!
Look forward to seeing you here.

Koichi Hashimoto

Hello. I am Omigawa, and I teach the beginner’s and intermediate classes.

I once went abroad for exchange study during my college, which triggered my interest for cross-cultural communication and Japanese language teaching. I made my decision then to become a Japanese language teacher, and entered one-year training course for language education. And right after graduation from college, I was able to become a Japanese language teacher.

Now although it is pretty busy here, life is quite happy every day. Learning abroad should not be limited within language itself, but the culture, the practice of the country should also be well observed. I find myself keep learning a lot of things while teaching.

At TCJ, we have many events after class. You can always communicate with friends from various nations through BBQ or study trips. I hope all of you can make best of your life here, to learn as much as you can, and to accumulate as much wonderful experience as possible. Let us create happy memories together!

Yuki Omigawa

I made my mind to become a Japanese language teacher about 20 years ago, when I was with a language exchange program in Los Angeles. I taught Japanese language to people living there, which has inspired me for years to teach my students here at TCJ with passion.

Sports (especially golf) and reading are my hobbies. Although recently I’m not playing golf a lot, you can still see me frequently in sports clubs. Every night I read books, among which detective stories are my favorite. I can’t wait for Jiro Asada’s new book to release. Reading book opens a door through the heart of mankind, the pleasure of which cannot be explained by words.

Classes on reading require student to dig into the real intention and deep feelings behind the lines, and to taste the language in a skillful way. Therefore I make efforts to design my class, to help my students learn happily and profoundly.

Japanese is the common language at school for everyone to communicate with people from all over the world. Please, learn Japanese here, and expand your world.

Harue Miyazawa