J-CALP Instructors
Rie Tanaka
Founder & CEO, Head Japanese Teacher
I graduated from Musashino University with a degree in Human Relations (Psychology) and completed the 420-hour Japanese Language Teacher Training Course. I also passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test, obtained TOPIK Level 6, and completed the Level 2 Home Care Worker Training Course.
After working in the food service and nursing care industries, I began my career as a Japanese language teacher in 2007. Since then, I have taught in a wide range of educational settings, including Japanese language schools, corporate training for global companies, NAT-TEST item creation, Japanese teacher training courses, and JLPT preparation textbook development. I have guided learners from the beginner to advanced levels across diverse contexts.
In 2015, I relocated to Seoul, South Korea, where I served for over six and a half years as the Head Japanese Instructor at a prep school specializing in university admissions. During this time, my students achieved an acceptance rate of over 90%, with successful admissions to top universities such as Waseda, Keio, Tsukuba, and the MARCH group; leading art universities including Musashino Art University and Tama Art University; and graduate schools such as Juntendo University and Kyushu University.
Since 2020, I have focused on online education, providing more than 4,000 lessons to over 150 learners from more than 40 countries. On major teaching platforms—including italki, Verbling, Preply, and Fiverr—I have consistently maintained perfect ratings and have been recognized as a Top 1% Teacher, Professional Teacher, and Fiverr’s Choice.
Currently, as the founder of the educational brand “J-CALP online education,” I provide high-quality, small-group, and specialized Japanese instruction. In addition to teaching, I work as a translator, contributing to game and website localization projects for major Korean entertainment companies.
Greetings
Through my experience in various Japanese language education settings, I have often felt that
“there are learners who cannot be reached by existing teaching frameworks,” and that
“when we understand each learner’s background, they can grow far more efficiently.”
Even within the same classroom, learners differ in their native languages, cultures, and learning goals.
Yet many educational environments are built on the assumption that everyone should learn the same content in the same way.
As a result, I have long felt that many learners are unable to fully realize their potential.
Now that the world is connected online, language learning no longer needs to follow a uniform structure.
We live in a time where learning can be redesigned to match each individual’s background.
Without the limitations of distance, we can deeply understand a learner’s native language, culture, experience, and goals, and create the most suitable learning approach together.
J-CALP was born from this educational shift.
Our mission is to support each learner by understanding their personal background and providing efficient, meaningful, and individualized learning.
We are not simply “teachers of Japanese.”
We strive to be supporters who help expand the possibilities of each learner’s life through the study of Japanese.
Wherever you are, whatever background you come from,
we hope to provide learning that allows you to grow at your own pace and truly feel,
“I’m glad I studied here.”
With this commitment, we continue to walk alongside every learner—sincerely and wholeheartedly.
Our team of experienced and unique instructors is here to support you.
Instructor for Arts-Related Advanced Class
Takayuki Honma／本間貴之
I graduated from Gakushuin University with a degree in Aesthetics and Art History. During my time there, I worked on museum outreach programs and supported public exhibition projects.
I started my career as a Japanese language teacher in 2015. At my current school, I launched specialized classes for students preparing for admission to art universities and vocational programs, and organized student exhibitions within the school.
Drawing on my background in French, I have taught Japanese using an eclectic approach at events such as the 2018 Japan Association in Paris and Hinodé de Tours. In 2019, I also led Japanese language lessons and cultural workshops at the Japan Tours Festival, where they received excellent feedback.
I am now a full-time instructor and head of career guidance, mainly supporting students who wish to pursue studies in art-related fields.
Children's Japanese / General Subjects
Shoko Kochi／河内尚子
I graduated from Meiji Gakuin University with a degree in Law. While in university, I taught entrance exam preparation at a cram school, and after graduating, I worked as a legal secretary beginning in 2005.
I later transitioned into Japanese language education. Since 2024, I have been teaching Japanese at both elementary and high schools, working with students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. I also have about five years of experience living in Indonesia and can communicate in both English and Indonesian.
As a mother of three, I use my parenting experience to support each student with care and attention. I am dedicated to helping learners grow with confidence and reach their goals.
Business Japanese
Tomomi Iwase／岩瀬友見
I graduated from Waseda University’s School of Culture, Media and Society, where I studied Social Construction Studies.
After studying in Canada, I gained experience in both Japanese and global companies, working in international business and human resources. During this time, I also completed a Japanese Language Teacher Training Course.
Drawing on my professional experience, I help learners from a variety of backgrounds build the skills and confidence needed to thrive in Japanese workplaces. As a certified National Career Consultant, I focus on practical, career-focused business Japanese instruction.
My motto is “to make the people around me happy,” and I offer warm, sincere lessons with English support available.
STEM / Japanese Language
Takuma Hosaka／保坂拓磨
I graduated from Shibaura Institute of Technology with a degree in Engineering, and completed my Master’s program in Data Science at the top of my class at Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics.
I have gained experience in web development, team management, and data analytics at multinational corporations. After living in Singapore and India, I worked as an online programming instructor, delivering over 800 lessons to beginners, including international learners.
Since passing the Certified Japanese Language Teacher examination, I have been leveraging my teaching experience and strong English skills to offer attentive, personalized lessons tailored to Japanese language learners from diverse backgrounds.
Chem / Bio Instructor, Study Mentor
Chih Hsuan Hsu／許智軒
I’m originally from Taipei, Taiwan, and graduated from the College of Pharmacy at National Taiwan University. Since 2018, I have worked as a pharmacist in private hospitals and clinics.
I started studying Japanese in 2020 and passed the JLPT N1 in January 2022. I began receiving graduate school entrance exam guidance through J-CALP in December 2022, and in November 2023, I was accepted into the Global Health program at Juntendo University’s Graduate School of Medicine. During my exam preparation, I also passed the Taiwan tour guide license examination.
Based on my own experience preparing for exams and applications, I now work as an exam preparation mentor at J-CALP, supporting learners with career planning, university selection, and writing statements of purpose and research proposals in Japanese, Chinese, and English.