Shū is a pleasure to have as a teacher in every way - a real gem. I take conversation lessons with him and the range of topics we cover is everything I wanted. It is patent that he combines years of experience with a zest for knowledge, great critical faculties and a merry disposition! I can’t speak directly to the experience of learning with him from zero, but I can see from having my own mistakes corrected that he has thought deeply about how to transpose Japanese grammar to make it intelligible to an English-speaking audience. Therefore, I imagine that a student at any proficiency will have a wonderful time with him. His generosity also extends to looking through homework you wish to send him; Shū has a massive Google Doc of writing ideas for practically all language capabilities that can also serve as a springboard for writing any essays you fancy. Kind, patient and thoughtful - what more could one ask for? Any class with Shū is bound to be a masterclass! Yoku yatta, Sensei!!!

ありがとうございます,しゅう先生！あなたのレッスンはとてもたのしいですね。 Shu's lessons are fantastic, and I am always learning and pushing my limits in a great way. Today we did 2 new grammars but still Shu was incredibly patient with me as we worked through them. I really enjoy these classes and will continue to come back. Thanks Shu!

I've had a few classes with Shu sensei now and I've learnt a lot! He actively encourages me to speak but goes in depth into grammar at the same time which I appreciate. Looking forward to more classes! :)

Shu-sensei is an awesome teacher. I would recommend him to anybody at any language-learning level, because he's patient. He can always tell when I'm about to say something, and he'll stop and wait for me to talk. My typical lesson with Shu-sensei is to have a casual conversation and then review writing homework. For homework, I just write about whatever topic I want. During the lesson, I read the homework out loud, and he will give grammar advice. Typically the homework leads to further discussions. I like this format because I get to talk about my interests. I decided not to study grammar with Shu-sensei, because I personally want to focus on speaking. However, he does offer grammar-focused lessons, if that's what you want. The lessons are over before I know it, because they're very fun. Educational, but it doesn't feel like I'm in a classroom setting. If you're afraid of speaking in Japanese, I highly recommend giving it a try with Shu-sensei.

Shu-sensei is an amazing teacher. The structure of his 1 hour class means that I have time to discuss outside topics during our catchup conversation that end up strengthening my understanding of Japanese. Also the way Shu approaches answering cultural questions by providing scenarios really helps to ground myself in a lot of the "whys" of Japanese. A lot of the learning that I have done has been off-book, and Shu is able to not only answer my questions easily, but tie it back to English examples that make it even easier for me to understand.

I have been doing lessons with Shu san for over a year now, and they are something I look forward to every week. Being able to practice my listening, speaking and writing with a patient, entertaining teacher has made my progress feel effortless. Working through the Genki textbook has given me a solid foundation, building on it each week with new grammar I can use in writing and conversations. Thank you Shu san!