recapjapanese
🌿 Japanese Tutoring with Purpose and Heart
Welcome👋I'm Joy > I specialize in supporting learners who know why they’re studying Japanese—whether it’s for university, career, travel, or family connection. My lessons are designed for students ready to invest in their growth and commit to the full journey. You’ll experience phases that feel exciting, slow, stagnant, and deeply rewarding—and I’ll guide you through each one with structure, encouragement, and practical tools.
I create a space where you're supported, challenged, and free to grow at your own pace. My lessons blend foundational practices—like textbook topics and short readings on travel, food, history, and culture—with modern tools such as, YouTube videos, apps, and Japanese websites. This approach helps you stay grounded while connecting with real-world Japanese in meaningful ways.
As a Japanese American raised in Japan, I learned firsthand that language confidence doesn’t come from exposure alone—it comes from persistence. I’ve experienced the nerves, the frustration, the stagnation, and the effort it takes to feel fluent. That journey shaped how I teach today—with clarity, care, and a deep respect for each learner’s path.
🤝If you’re serious about learning, I’m serious about guiding you.
💬 Have a question before booking a lesson? > I’d love to hear from you. Fill out this short form and I’ll reply within a few days: 👉 [https://forms.gle/XfVtCqZBYi7FTnnq7]
▶️YouTube
🎓Testimonials
★★★★★
Joy is an absolutely incredible teacher! I always feel encouraged to engage with the language even when I'm not entirely sure I'm right- when I do make a mistake, Joy very kindly and helpfully explains the correct answer. Her method of teaching is very easy to follow while still being rich in content- I always learn more during a lesson than I thought I'd be able to in such short amount of time! You really can't go wrong with Joy.
★★★★★
Joy is an excellent teacher! She's always enthusiastic about her classes and gives you precise corrections on your mistakes and good tips about improving in the language. Her homework is also always pertinent and useful to the topic we're covering! I like that I can practice all types of language learning with her, like speaking, reading, listening, even writing (kanji and combinations, kana) and I really appreciate that she customizes each class for every learner and their speed, level and goals. What you learn in each class and how you progress is totally up to you and she's super understanding about anything you wish to learn. Homework is not mandatory unless you want it and I always feel relaxed, so no pressure in her classes. :) Thank you Joy sensei!!
★★★★★
I've taken lessons with Joy for over a year, and she has always been a fantastic teacher. Thorough, dedicated, and professional, and good at developing weak points. I've definitely progressed greatly under her care, which made my trip to Japan this year easy and enjoyable. I even chatted conversationally with several different people on my trip. I highly recommend taking lessons from Joy!
★★★★★
I've just had my second lesson with Joy and as with the first, it was perfect for my speaking needs :) I am a bit ahead with my reading and writing compared to where I'm at with my speaking, and Joy is extremely helpful and patient as I work through relaxing with my speaking (I'm very shy ^^;) while weaving in new words from my self-study as well as words I'm curious about. She meets me where I'm at and challenges me, which I greatly appreciate. I also love that she leaves room to talk about interests. I hope to be able to talk more about them in Japanese as I continue with my lessons ^^. ありがとうございました !
★★★★★
I was right with my gut feeling and I can very naturally understand and follow her explanations without to much discussion or forth and back questions. Compared to other teaching experiences I feel we are progressing fast. Also she takes a lot of notes during our conversation which she reworks after the lesson, summarizing important words, kanji and grammar plus adding example sentences. The notes are very helpful. But most importantly she is a very congenial and fun person to talk to. Our conversations never get boring and there is always something to laugh about. I really enjoy speaking Japanese with her. So from my experience with Joy I can tell she is a professional and experienced teacher. Her teaching methods are fun and I think I have made good progress in speaking Japanese. I will continue learning with her and can definitively recommend her as a teacher!
★★★★★
I've had about 10 lessons with Joy-san now. I'd forgotten a lot of Japanese due to taking a long break in the past, but Joy-san has kept me on the right track in reviewing the Japanese I forgot and helping me understand the structure of grammar. It's also great that Joy-san speaks fluent English and Japanese so she can always explain things in detail! I would recommend Joy-san as a Japanese teacher!
★★★★★
joy is really great at really going into depth on the nuance of meanings between English and Japanese. As for a English speaker there are some grammars that it is not possible to translate. I am learning at a really fast paste and really happy with my progress so far.
★★★★★
Joy is great! Just finished my third lesson with her and I've already learned so much. As a beginner it can feel intimidating to learn a new language, but Joy is great at providing a safe space to ask questions and practice. She's also very positive which makes learning easier. Highly recommend learning with her!
★★★★★
Joy is a great teacher. Very patient and tailors the lessons to what you need most. I felt very comfortable speaking Japanese with her which helped me improve my language skills.
★★★★★
Joy is so patient and kind. She asks about your goals and what you want to accomplish and tailors your lessons accordingly. She is very flexible with your lessons and can explain in a straightforward and digestible way so you understand.
★★★★★
Joy is great at explaining the grammar. She gives me vocabulary and review sheets for our lesson so I can learn after by myself. I started from almost the beginning and learned a lot in only 2 months. She also teaches normal conversations and repeats mistakes every time. In total I would highly recommend her for someone who wants to learn a lot in short time.
🚀Ready to turn your goals into fluent conversations?
> Choose the class that best suits your journey
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Excited to meet you and share the joy of learning Japanese! (*^▽^*)
Japanese Penpal Program: Literacy Through Letters
Program Overview: My Penpal Program - Literacy Through Letters is designed to improve Japanese reading and writing skills through regular, personalize...
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15 minutes
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Quick & Focused: Build Skills in 30
Best for: Focused check-ins, pronunciation drills, quick reviews, and beginner-friendly introductionsThis 30-minute session is designed for learners w...
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Year Two & Beyond: 45-Minute Japanese Class
Upper Beginner Boost: 45-Minute JapaneseWelcome to this 45-minute class, specially designed for those who have been studying Japanese for over a year!...
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45 minutes
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Tales of Japan: 60-Minute Japanese Reading Class
This specialized 60-minute class is perfect for upper-level students who love diving into novels, articles, and other published works in Japanese. If ...
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1 hour
$50.00
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