I've been taking lessons with Hana for a long time now, and these days each lesson feels like catching up with an old friend. What sets her apart is that she makes an effort to get to know her students, and her encouragement goes well beyond Japanese. She has a real talent for noticing strengths in her students that they haven't noticed in themselves, and for nurturing them. Over our time together she's helped me come out of my shell and pursue things I wouldn't have had the confidence to try before. She's not someone who hands out empty praise, so when she tells you you're good at something, you believe it. The teachers you remember most are the ones who don't just teach. They become mentors whose lessons go beyond the subject itself. Hana is one of those teachers, and I can't thank her enough. She's patient, adapts to how you learn, and makes it safe to struggle with the hard parts. If you're looking for a teacher who will genuinely invest in you, I can't recommend her enough.

Hana is an exceptional teacher who quickly puts you at ease and is extremely attentive to making the lessons engaging. I learn new vocabulary every time I have a lesson with her. After over 2 years of taking classes with Hana, not only have I improved my Japanese proficiency and gained confidence in speaking, but we have also developed a strong friendship. Now, every lesson feels like catching up with a friend in a Tokyo café. I cannot recommend her teaching enough!

I really enjoyed today's lesson :) Something I really enjoy about studying with Hana is how connected each lesson feels. She'll often bring back something we talked about before, which lets me revisit grammar and vocabulary I've been solidifying between lessons. It never feels like we're just working through a linear list — it feels more like we're building something together. I've also noticed a real shift in my confidence. I'm a lot more willing to just try and make mistakes now, which I think is what's actually helping me improve. My speaking still has a long way to go, and I still want to keep pushing myself more, but looking back at my writing, grammar, and just my general willingness to attempt things, it's come a long way from how terrified I was before my first lesson. I'm really lucky to have found Hana as a teacher. She's made such a difference in my Japanese, and in my ability to actually picture myself speaking it well one day :)

I love Hana!! I enjoy her lessons and learning with her. She reviews her materials very well and I also enjoy the conversation lessons with her. I want to have more lessons with her : )

いつもありがとうございます!僕ははなさんが僕の先生になったのを感謝します！習った日本語が多くてはなさんのおかげで！

I felt like I had a small breakthrough in my speaking this lesson. I noticed myself pushing a little harder to get the Japanese out instead of hesitating or falling back on English as much as I usually do(sorry lol), and it felt really encouraging and exciting to notice that change happening. Thank you, as always, Hana, for your continued patience, support, and thoughtful teaching. You always make studying Japanese genuinely fun, and I’m excited to keep pushing myself, making mistakes, and learning from those mistakes. As always, I’m really looking forward to the next lesson!