Meet Our Teachers
Who Are Coto Academy’s Teachers?
Whether it’s co-authoring a Japanese textbook, living abroad in the United States, or working at a top firm, Coto Academy’s professional teachers draw on their uniquely global experience and weave it into our Japanese lessons. They’re based at our Tokyo and Yokohama campuses, but also scattered across Europe and North America for our online Japanese school.
On top of a tight screening and selection process, our instructors go through structured, standardized training to ensure all students receive the same quality Japanese class they deserve.
7%
teacher screening rate
300+
teachers across 5 campuses and online school
Usui Sensei
Famous among Coto Academy students, Usui-sensei is our full-time Senior Instructor, primarily teaching beginner-intermediate lessons on top of managing training for new teachers. She has experience working in Indonesia, is fluent in Indonesian, and has been one of the longest-standing faculty members at Coto for 20 years, since we started as a volunteer language school.
Hidari Sensei
After receiving her Master’s in Literature from Strathclyde University in Scotland, with an undergraduate background in rock music, Yasuko joined Coto Academy and began her Japanese language teaching career in 2004. She was one of the founding members of Coto Academy Minato when it opened in 2018 and has been directly involved in the school management. She is the co-author of the Japanese beginner textbooks, ‘Nihongo Fun & Easy’ and ‘Nihongo Fun & Easy 2.’
Imamura-Sensei
Now the main teacher for Coto Academy’s Kids Japanese Course, Imamura-sensei has led children’s instruction from the start and studied dedicated teaching methods for young learners. Today, she focuses on curriculum development and course management. Outside of work, she loves theme parks, musicals, and travel. She once spent a month backpacking solo around Europe!
Coto Academy’s Japanese Teaching Department
Learning Development Team
Coto Academy’s teaching ethos centers on practical, learn-by-doing lessons. Our Learning Development team’s mission is to realize this. They recruit and train instructors and design our curriculum for different classes.
Quality Assurance Team
Our Quality Assurance team, made up largely of senior instructors, ensures every student gets the quality class we promise, and every teacher has the support they deserve. This includes curating teaching materials, building instructor dashboards, and running our Assessment of Japanese Communication Skills (AJCS).
Japanese Instructors
Our native instructors are the heart of Coto Academy. Many have traveled the world and proudly wear that global outlook as they teach our students. They bring years of experience with them, and many have built long-lasting friendships with the students they’ve taught.
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Are all Coto Academy teachers professional?
Yes. Every instructor at Coto Academy is a trained, professional educator, not just native speakers.
How are Coto Academy teachers trained?
Coto Academy teachers pass a rigorous screening and selection process. Only 7% of applicants are accepted. Every instructor brings professional teaching experience and unique personal insight, but our dedicated Learning Development and Quality Assurance teams work closely with them to provide ongoing training and support.
Do teachers specialize in teaching a certain Japanese skill?
Yes. Many Coto Academy instructors specialize in specific areas, including JLPT prep, kids’ courses, and private lessons.
Do Coto Academy teachers speak English?
Yes, many of our teachers speak English, as well as other languages from their time abroad. However, classes are still mainly conducted in Japanese, even at the beginner level, as we believe this is the best way for you to progress!