What does CHABASHILA mean?　~Our Mission~

Do you like green tea? Next time you enjoy a cup, take a closer look. If you see a tea stem standing upright, it's a sign that something good is about to happen. This tea stem is called "茶柱" (chabashira). We’ve named CHABASHILA after this symbol of good luck. We hope that, like the tea stem, our lessons bring you good luck and happiness while also helping you achieve your goals.

Our students at a Glance:

Amy-sensei  

Global Living Experience: Sunderland UK & Utsunomiya, Tokyo, Kawasaki, Yokohama JAPAN

Personal Background: Consulting firm, Japanese language schools 

Personal Interests: Motorbike touring, Horse Riding, Boat Fishing, and loves animals! 

Click here for Amy-sensei's YouTube channel and you can see her photos here. Also you can purchase LINE sticker designed by Amy-sensei, here.

Aoki-sensei  

Personal Interests: Dance, music and travelling.

Message from Aoki-sensei: I am looking forward to help you learn Japanese so that your life in Japan will become an exciting and a fruitful one.

Click here for Aoki-sensei's Instagram.

Harumi-sensei  

Personal Interests: Surfing, Travelling, Cooking and Hand crafting

Message from Harumi-sensei: I'd like to teach not only the Japanese language itself  but also Japanese culture and history. I enjoy learning World history myself so let's study and have fun together!!

 Yayoi-sensei  

Expertise: Basic level and Business level, Japanese for IT Engineers. She used to be an Electronics Engineer herself and holds a patent in the video-image field. Also she took part in the special training for teaching Japanese to business persons and has taught many students at enterprises since then.

Personal Interests: Travelling and watching Musicals. She has travelled to places such as Taiwan, Canada, USA, Philippines and Vietnam and watched a musical in New York. Also she is a big fan of sports (eg. baseball, volleyball, rugby, badminton, basketball) especially sports played by High school students such as the "Koshien" baseball tournament, Spring term volleyball tournament and rugby "Hanazono". 

Nobuko-sensei  

Global Living Experience: Several cities in Europe, Kobe and Tokyo in Japan

Personal Interests: Travelling, listening to music, reading books and cooking. Especially Maki-zushi.

Message from Nobuko-sensei: I hope that you will have a fulfilling life in Japan through learning Japanese with me. Let's enjoy learning Japanese!

Fujita-sensei  

Expertise: All levels, especially conversational Japanese and JLPT preparation

Message from Fujita-sensei: I love to travel abroad. I have visited more than 40 Countries, worked/studied in Vietnam, Canada, South Korea, Philippines and Thailand. As a Japanese instructor, I have career teaching in South Korea, Philippines, Japan and Thailand. I like to enjoy scuba-diving and local food in those Countries. I have gone underwater in Mexico, Thailand, Philippines and Japan. Talking about food, I like to eat and also to cook spicy dishes such as Thai food and Korean cuisine, besides sweets.

To continue practising talking, speaking, and conversational skills are very important in improving your Japanese. Let's talk with me and be fluent and proficient! 

"Continuity is the father of success!"

Kumi-sensei  

Expertise: Japanese Culture, has a certified license to teach Sado (Japanese tea ceremony) and Kodo (traditional incense ceremony)

Personal Interests: All sorts of dance including Nichibu (classical Japanese dace). Especially into K-POP dance now and also likes to watch Kabuki, to play the drums and much fond of Japanese idols. 

Message from Kumi-sensei: I am keen on making my lessons "語楽". This is a created word based on a word "語学". Originally it means "to learn a language" but "語楽” means "to enjoy learning a language". Through my lessons I try to introduce Japanese culture as much as I can every season because I would like my students not just to study Japanese language but to become interested in Japanese culture and achieve their goals. 

Yuki-sensei  

Personal Background: Teaching at Japanese language schools and embassies.

Expertise: Business, practical Japanese

Message from Yuki-sensei: I like traveling, going to art museums and to stroll around the town to find interesting things. Let's have fun talks together, not just about Japan but about your Country and others! 

Nozomi-sensei  

Expertise: Accent training, JLPT, business Japanese

Personal Interests: Travel abroad and has a dog, hamster and a hedgehog. 

Message from Nozomi-sensei: Look forward to meet you in the lessons!

Click here for Nozomi-sensei's YouTube channel.

Mayu-sensei  

Expertise: Beginner's level, Japanese for children. 

Message from Mayu-sensei: I think I am a bookworm. Once I start reading, I just cannot stop until the end. My favourite authors are Teru Miyamoto, Maha Harada and more and more. If you would like to talk about Japanese books, I am so happy to be there! And I love art, whenever I have a day off, I try to visit a museum. The next destination is Hokusai Katsushika museum!

Kaori-sensei  

Expertise: All levels including business conversation, JLPT preparations and Japanese for children

Message from Kaori-sensei: My motto is to make interactive lessons. I will propose a learning method that suits each learner the best. Also, I use not only textbooks but materials such as YouTube, anime, manga, and news articles and pick up topics you are interested in. As I am a foodie and like to play with my dog, I would like to introduce Japanese food and culture so that you can enjoy your life more in Japan.

Naru-sensei  

Expertise: Beginner's level, Kanji, Conversation lessons using original materials

Personal Interests: Enjoys hiking, taking nature walks, and visiting shrines to collect goshuin, the red ink stamps.

Message from Naru-sensei: Join us and have a lot of fun while learning real Japanese that's not found in textbooks. You'll make lots of friends and turn your dreams into reality. Let's enjoy studying Japanese together and immerse ourselves in Japanese culture. By the way, I'm also a Yoga instructor and a Certified Psychologist, so we can incorporate well-being and mindfulness into our lessons.

Haruka-sensei  

Expertise: Business Japanese (esp. IT field), Beginner's level including preparations for JLPT N4/N5

Message from Haruka-sensei: My motto is to make interactive lessons! As I travelled to more than 60 countries in 6 years and have lived in India for 6 years, it allowed me to gain global perspective and be well-acquainted with many cultures, histories and languages. I will teach you Japanese and will introduce other topics you are interested about Japan by finding the similarities and differences to those that I have experienced and explored.

Sumiko-sensei 

Expertise: Practical everyday conversation and business conversation. I would like to be a fun Japanese teacher for all beginners from children to adults. 

Academic Credentials: Art History M.A., University of Arizona

Personal Interests: My hobby: playing ukulele and visiting museums and old temples. Favourite artists: Henri Matisse and Tawaraya Sotatsu among many.

Message from Sumiko-sensei: As I have lived in the U.S. for 8 years and in New Zealand for a year with my children, I am willing to support and enrich your learning from many different aspects. 

Takahashi-sensei  

Expertise: With nearly 40 years of experience in business, he is currently teaching about technology trends in the IT field such as AI, IoT, Networks, Web, and Enterprise systems, as well as software development. Additionally, as a tourist guide, he can show you around many historical spots in the Tokyo and Yokohama areas.

Personal Interests: Enjoys playing jazz piano, boat fishing, running, camping, and more.

Message from Takahashi-sensei: Let's study Japanese while enjoying fun conversations.

Yuko-sensei  

Expertise: Grammar (beginner to intermediate level), Japanese conversation, JLPT preparation

Personal Interests: Piano, karaoke, watching movies, traveling, interacting with animals

Message from Yuko-sensei: I aim to provide lessons that cater to the diverse needs and goals of learners. Please feel free to let me know if you have any special requests.

I'm quite knowledgeable about Japanese entertainment, so I would love to chat about it during our lessons.
I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Hiroko-sensei  

Expertise: Daily conversation (particularly at intermediate and advanced levels), grammar, and JLPT preparation

Personal Interests: Travelling, Okinawa, and appreciating nature—especially greenery and flowers

Message from Hiroko-sensei: Let’s enjoy learning together!

Natsuco-sensei  

Expertise: Japanese Business manners, Preparation for JLPT

Personal Interests: Travelling and to go for a drive. Also she is capable of carving a statue of Buddha and can put on a Kimono by herself and to others properly which is a very difficult thing to do.

Message from Natsuco-sensei: I was teaching in India till September 2019 so I know how hard it is to live in a foreign Country. Through learning Japanese with me, you can make your life in Japan an enjoyable and a productive one.

Emiko-sensei  

Expertise in: Beginners to Intermediate level, JLPT N4 to N2 level, Preparations for the personal statement for entering Japanese Universities, Speaking

Things she like: To draw pictures, appreciate art, yoga, listening to music, gardening and travelling. Please ask me for information about travelling in Japan!

Message from Emiko-sensei: Conversation practice is an interaction between the learner and the teacher. I myself enjoy gaining new insights through talking to my students. "I want to say this in Japanese, but I don't know how" A strong motivation like this makes you a fast learner. Please share your thoughts, anything in your mind with me so that I can teach you a practical Japanese. Also, in my lessons while introducing new words, I will show you pictures/images as well as words to support your memorization visually. Let's have fun learning Japanese together!

Haru-sensei  

Expertise: Guiding beginners to reach an intermediate level in Japanese. With a Level 1 Secretarial Certification, I also teach business Japanese, focusing on practical, conversation-based lessons.

Personal Interests: Travelling, the outdoors, the sea, manga, Netflix, good food, and plenty of sleep — and I’ve always liked Snoopy.

Message from Haru-sensei: I live in the countryside of Hokkaido, where the air is fresh, the scenery is beautiful, and winters bring plenty of snow. I’m cheerful, love to laugh, and enjoy creating a relaxed, fun atmosphere in my lessons. When I lived in Australia, I discovered both the joy of teaching Japanese and the challenge of learning a new language myself — so I truly understand how you feel. Let’s enjoy talking together and learning step by step. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself speaking Japanese with confidence! I’d be happy to help you reach your goals.

Saito-sensei  

Expertise: Business Japanese, Grammar and Practical Conversation

Saito-sensei possesses: Business experience at top-tier global companies and a background in teaching at the University of South Alabama. He holds an MBA from the University of South Alabama.

Yuko Shimada-sensei  

Expertise: Tailoring lessons to individual needs using textbooks, online articles, game-based materials, and other ICT tools. Preparation for qualifications such as the JLPT or BJT can also be included.

Personal Interests: Music, anime, films, and TV dramas. Enjoys going to live music events throughout the year, is currently learning to play the guitar, and loves watching films both at the cinema and via streaming services — and these interests often become a natural and enjoyable part of lesson conversations.

Yoshi/Xinye-sensei  

Expertise: Business Japanese, Japanese exam preparation (JLPT, BJT), and graduate school preparation courses. Drawing on extensive experience in both Japanese and international business environments, lessons focus on practical, real-world Japanese that can be applied immediately in academic and professional settings.

Academic & Professional Background: Yoshi-sensei has over 25 years of professional experience working in Japanese companies in the logistics, trade, and retail sectors. He has also spent approximately 10 years on overseas assignments in China and Thailand, and has worked for European logistics and trade companies based in Tokyo. He completed his college education in the United States and went on to graduate school in Hong Kong.

Languages: He is fluent in English, having completed his higher education in the United States and Hong Kong, and has business-level proficiency in Chinese supported by eight years of professional experience working in China.

Yamamoto-sensei  

Expertise: Teaching Japanese through clear and thorough grammar instruction, helping students gain confidence in conversation while deepening their understanding of Japanese culture.

Message from Yamamoto-sensei: I have experience teaching Japanese to learners from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, from complete beginners to advanced students. I believe learning is most enjoyable in a relaxed atmosphere, so let's talk, laugh, and learn Japanese together! Outside the classroom, I enjoy spending time with cats and listening to music.