Teacher Introduction
We are proud to introduce to you to some of our regular staff, the teachers who make up the heart of our Japanese language school.

All of our teachers are graduates of a rigorous 420-hour Japanese teacher training course at recognized schools. The length and content of this course was originally specified by the Japanese Ministry of Education, but has now become the standard qualification for professional Japanese language school teachers. It is equivalent to a university minor, and the result is a very high standard of teaching.
| Name | Rie Kirby |
|---|---|
| Position | Director |
| Qualifications | Ministry of Education Japanese teacher certification |
| Hobbies | Movies, drama |
| Favorite Book | Kinshuu by Teru Miyamoto |
| Countries I've Visited | UK, USA, Thailand, Denmark, Holland, Italy, Scotland, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, France, Monaco |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Anywhere in the world where they welcome me! |
| Favorite Food | Ice cream |
| Message to Students | この広い世界でこうしてGenkiJACSで出会えた事をとてもうれしく思います。 |
| Other information | Co-author of Gakken Publishing's well-respected Super Anchor Japanese-English dictionary, 2nd edition. |
| Name | Mika Kajiwara |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | Ministry of Education Japanese teacher certificate |
| Hobbies | Music, movies, yoga |
| Favorite Book | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl |
| Countries I've Visited | オーストラリア、中国、アメリカ、フランス、チェコ、イタリア、台湾、韓国、スイス、ベルギー、イギリス、香港 |
| Countries I Want to Visit | エジプト、ペルー、インド、タイ、ヴェトナム |
| Favorite Food | チョコレート、梅干 |
| Message to Students | 日本語をつかって何をしてみたいですか?みなさんの目標は何ですか?そのお手伝いをさせてください! |
| Name | Natsuko Iimori |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | Ministry of Education Japanese Teacher Certificate
|
| Hobbies | Traveling |
| Favorite Movie | Edward Scissorhands |
| Countries I've Visited | USA, Peru, NZ, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Ireland, UK |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Egypt, Italy, Greece, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mexico, Australia |
| Favorite Food | Yogurt |
| Message to Students | Always have dreams |
| Name | Yuji Nogami |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | Ministry of Education Japanese teacher certificate 日本語教育能力検定 Volunteer teaching for 6 months Teaching since 2007 |
| Hobbies | スポーツ ゲーム マンガ |
| Favorite Movie | 007シリーズ/ドラゴンボール、ワンピース |
| Countries I've Visited | カナダ、台湾、ハワイ |
| Countries I Want to Visit | どこでも。安全なところ |
| Favorite Food | ラーメン、さしみ |
| Message to Students | わたしはきびしい先生です。 |
| Name | Aiko Kuroiwa |
|---|---|
| Position | Head Administrator/Teacher |
| Qualifications | Diploma in teaching Japanese as a foreign language Taught 2 years at secondary school in UK, 7 years at flight attendant school |
| Hobbies | Eating! |
| Favorite Movie/Book | Movie: The Full Monty |
| Countries I've Visited | England Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, France , Italy, Spain, Greece, Egypt, Indonesia |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Bora Bora (Polynesia), Vietnam, Thai |
| Favorite Food | Pasta |
| Message to Students | Have fun! |
| Name | Machiko Oyama |
|---|---|
| Position | Head Teacher |
| Qualifications | Diploma in teaching Japanese as a foreign language
13 years teaching experience |
| Hobbies | Watching people and TV |
| Favorite Movie/Book | Movie: The Full Monty |
| Countries I've Visited | UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Belgium, Hong Kong, Indonesia, America |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Egypt, NZ, Norway and 月 |
| Favorite Food | Ikizukuri |
| Message to Students | Enjoy and work hard がんばりましょう! |
| Name | Mayumi Sato |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | 日本語教師養成講座修了・日本語教育能力検定試験 |
| Hobbies | Handicraft, cooking |
| Favorite Food | すし・ケーキ |
| Message to Students | 急がば回れ |
| Name | Youko Okazaki |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | 420 hours Japanese teacher certification Passed Japanese language teaching competency test Teaching since 2008 |
| Hobbies | Photography, Concerts |
| Favorite Movie/Book | Kouki Mitani “Uchouten Hotel” Banana Yoshimoto“TSUGUMI” |
| Countries I've Visited | USA, Korea |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Peru (Macchu Picchu) |
| Favorite Food | Umeboshi, Cheese |
| Message to Students | 福岡を楽しんでください!!! |
| Name | Masayo Sato |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | 日本語教師養成講座420時間修了 日本語教育学副専攻課程修了 Teaching since 2003 |
| Hobbies | Movies |
| Favorite Movie/Book | ショーシャンクの空 |
| Countries I've Visited | China, Korea, Australia,New Zealand |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Europe |
| Favorite Food | 納豆巻き |
| Message to Students | 楽しく勉強しましょう♪ |
| Name | Junko Nojiri |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | 420-hour Japanese teacher certification Bachelor of Arts in English literature TOEIC score 990 |
| Hobbies | Eating delicious local food |
| Favorite Movie/Book | Crime novels, or ‘shourishousetsu’ (勝利小説) |
| Countries I've Visited | Several countries in Europe like Ireland, England, France, Italy, Holland...many countries in Asia and the US |
| Countries I Want to Visit | ??? |
| Favorite Food | Sushi |
| Message to Students | Isshoni ganbarimashou! (一緒に頑張りましょう!) |
| Name | Tsugumi Shiozaki |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | 20-hour Japanese teacher certification TEFL Kids certification Volunteer teacher for 1.5 years Professional teacher since 2008 |
| Hobbies | Badminton |
| Favorite Movie/Book | 人生の地図 The life map/ASAKIYUMEMISI |
| Countries I've Visited | Canada, Australia, America, Mexico, Korea |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Europe |
| Favorite Food | Fruit, fish |
| Message to Students | 楽しく日本語を勉強しましょう。 |
| Name | Junichi Taguchi |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | 420-hour Japanese teacher certification Teaching since 2008 |
| Hobbies | Sometimes cooking, Internet, drive and たべ歩き! |
| Favorite Movie/Music | Movie: I Girasoli, New Cinema Paradise Music: New Order "Blue Monday" and Chet Baker |
| Countries I've Visited | Many times to Hong Kong, Italy, etc. |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Eastern Europe, Spain, Ibiza |
| Favorite Food | Soba, Udon, Pasta Okonomiyaki, and すし |
| Message to Students | 人生を大事に生きる Live life carefully! |
| Name | Mayu Matsumoto |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | 8 months teaching experience |
| Hobbies | Travel to foreign countries, music |
| Favorite Movie/Book | Volver (almodovar) /Teru Miyamoto novels |
| Countries I've Visited | France, Italy, England, USA, Canada, Korea, Vietnam, Tailand and Shingaple, Maleysia, Taiwan, Korea, Mexico and Cuba |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Brazil, Spain |
| Favorite Food | Italian, French, Thai food, Mexican, Chinese.....everything!!! |
| Message to Students | Let's experience Japan through learning Japanese! |
| Name | Yukiko Iwamoto |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | Junior high, High school, Japanese teacher Part-time Japanese teacher at university/ language schools for 17 years |
| Hobbies | Walking, nature-watching |
| Favorite Movie/Book | tonari no totoro/books of yosimoto banana ,tawara matchi, asano atuko |
| Countries I've Visited | USA |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Austria |
| Favorite Food | Cheesecake |
| Message to Students | The more practice, the more confidence! |
| Name | Naoko Nagasaki |
|---|---|
| Position | Teacher |
| Qualifications | 420-hour Japanese teacher certification Volunteer teacher for 6 months |
| Hobbies | Playing the flute |
| Favorite Movie/Book | British movies, especially Pride and Prejudice |
| Countries I've Visited | England, Italy, America |
| Countries I Want to Visit | Spain |
| Favorite Food | Japanese meal (Nikujyaga) |
| Message to Students | Let’s have fun! |
| Name | Mai Bright |
|---|---|
| Position | Accommodation Coordinator |
| Qualifications | TOECI 915 TOEFL 610 |
| Hobbies | Traveling, Cycling, Watching movies |
| Favorite Movie/Book | Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (original version) |
| Countries I've Visited | USA, Canada, China, Korea, France, Thailand, Central Africa Republic, Spain |
| Countries I Want to Visit | England, Northern Ireland, Italy, Germany |
| Favorite Food | Yakiniku, Pattai, Okonomiyaki, Gyoza, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate ice cream |
| Message to Students | I will do my best to make your study at GenkiJACS fun and memorable! I am looking forward to having you study with us!!! |


