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.

Teachers and staff

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 Tea ceremony certification Flower arranging certification 1 year as volunteer teacher 2 years as part-time teacher professional teacher since 2002
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 English lit. degree TOEIC 855/TOEFL 183 4 years teaching 日本語教員養成副専攻課程修了
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 Japanese-English Teacher Certificate (at U of Wales, Bangor) Japanese calligraphy 7th grade Scuba diving license
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 Book: Japanese historical books
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 Comedy
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日本英語検定準1級・草月流1級師範 10数年　元気ジャックス3.5年
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!!!