Learn Japanese With
Mayumi Sensei
& Kayra Sensei
Whether your goal is to pass a JLPT Exam, learn helpful phrases for your next journey in Japan, or just learn the basics, we can help you achieve it.
Learn Japanese With
Mayumi Sensei
& Kayra Sensei
Whether your goal is to pass a JLPT Exam, learn helpful phrases for your next journey in Japan, or just learn the basics, we can help you achieve it.
Mayumi Sensei
Teaches at any level with over 15 years of experience. Sidenote: a big fan of the Pikmin game series.
"Things I want to bring home from Japan: Onsens & Conbinis"
Kayra Sensei
Energetic and fun teacher for young students! Currently a Master's student in Education to become a teacher at FCPS.
"Teacher? I prefer the term: Educational Rockstar"
Testimonials
What Students Say About Us
★★★★★
2025
Somi
"Mayumi Sensei was my first Japanese tutor, and I owe my solid foundation in the language to her. About 10 years ago, she taught me kanji, grammar, and hiragana/katakana with engaging and effective methods. She used fun and practical techniques like fill-in-the-blank kanji charts, similar to those in Japanese elementary schools. She always took the time to explain difficult concepts and answered my many questions with patience. I especially remember the day she brought out a kanji history book to answer my curiosity about the origins of certain characters. Mayumi Sensei is truly a skilled and dedicated teacher."
2025
Joshua
"They say learning a second language as an adult is difficult, but my experience with Mayumi Sensei has been anything but difficult. She is able to simplify subtle nuances of word choice and tone with practical examples, often personalizing them to me by using examples in subjects that I'm familiar with. She brings in helpful supplemental materials whenever difficult grammar points are introduced, and always makes sure I have a firm understanding of a concept before moving on. She allows me to learn at my own pace, and is flexible enough to work around my crazy work schedule whenever possible.Mayumi Sensei brings a personal, patient, and professional touch to Japanese tutoring, and I cannot recommend her enough!"
2025
Name
"Ornare arcu odio ut nulla pharetra diam. Odio tempor dapibus ultrices in iaculis adipiscing lorem."Pending testimonial for Kayra Sensei.
2025
Name
"A iaculis erat pellentesque adipiscing. Luctus venenatis lectus magna fringilla porttitor rhoncus."Pending testimonial for Kayra Sensei.
THE SENSEIS
About Us
We believe in our mission to empower learners of all levels and share the beauty and richness of Japanese language and culture!
Mayumi Sensei
Mayumi Sensei is a native Japanese speaker born and raised in a suburban town in Hiroshima. She has over 15 years of experience teaching the Japanese language. She is passionate about sharing her language and cultural knowledge with her students to help them achieve their goals. Mayumi Sensei believes in making learning fun and engaging, and she uses various teaching methods to cater to each student's learning style.Mayumi Sensei's career started as a teaching assistant for a Japanese 101 class at Radford University. After she took a break from teaching in a classroom to stay home with her daughters, she returned to the classroom. After Covid, she teaches online mainly.Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Hiroshima Prefectural University.
B.S. in Anthropology from Radford University
Kayra Sensei
Kayra Sensei is a Master’s student in Education at George Mason University, with plans to become a teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools after graduation. She has two years of experience as a private Japanese instructor and previously taught young children as a camp instructor. Known for her engaging teaching style, Kayra incorporates games and activities to make learning fun, adapting her lessons to meet each child’s unique needs and interests. Passionate about education, she is dedicated to creating an enjoyable and effective learning experience for her students.
Mayumi Sensei
Mayumi Sensei is a native Japanese speaker born and raised in a suburban town in Hiroshima. She has over 15 years of experience teaching the Japanese language. She is passionate about sharing her language and cultural knowledge with her students to help them achieve their goals. Mayumi Sensei believes in making learning fun and engaging, and she uses various teaching methods to cater to each student's learning style.Mayumi Sensei's career started as a teaching assistant for a Japanese 101 class at Radford University. After she took a break from teaching in a classroom to stay home with her daughters, she returned to the classroom. After Covid, she teaches online mainly.Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Hiroshima Prefectural University.
B.S. in Anthropology from Radford University
Kayra Sensei
Kayra Sensei is a Master’s student in Education at George Mason University, with plans to become a teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools after graduation. She has two years of experience as a private Japanese instructor and previously taught young children as a camp instructor. Known for her engaging teaching style, Kayra incorporates games and activities to make learning fun, adapting her lessons to meet each child’s unique needs and interests. Passionate about education, she is dedicated to creating an enjoyable and effective learning experience for her students.
Beginner Classes
10 Weeks | 120 min class per week
10 Week Course
120 min class per week
Required textbook: Genki 1, Edition 3.
Classes are offered online through Adult and Community Education (ACE).
*Sign-up with instructor name: Kurimoto
Japanese 100
Focusing on Hiragana, Katakana, and basic grammar
Following Genki: Lessons 1 and 2
Japanese 200
Introducing easy kanji, polishing reading and writing skills
Following Genki: Lessons 3, 4, and 5
Private Lessons
60 min - $50.00 per lesson | 90 min - $60.00 per lesson
60 min - $50.00 per lesson
90 min - $60.00 per lesson
Students of all levels are welcome!
Students must schedule a free 15 min consultation with us to get started!
One-on-one
Lessons are tailored to your learning style and pace
Receive instant feedback to make quick progress
Flexible scheduling, to accommodate your availability and preferences
Study Buddy
Learn Japanese with one other friend for cheaper lessons
You and your buddy can split the tuition!
Both students must be present for a lesson, otherwise it is cancelled. Please coordinate schedules responsibly!
Textbooks
Beginner
We use Genki 1 and Genki 2 in our beginner classes at ACE, as well as in private lessons.
We use Genki 1 and 2 in our beginner classes at ACE, as well as in private lessons.
Intermediate
Students will learn with Quartet 1 and Quartet 2 after completing Genki books 1 and 2.
Students will learn with Quartet 1 and 2 after completing Genki boooks 1 and 2.
Advanced
Examples of workbooks we use at this level, but varies by student and their goals.
Examples of workbooks we use at this level, but varies by student and their goals.
読む力
新完全マスター文法 読解
日本語総まとめシリーズ
新中級から上級への日本語
中上級学習者のための日本語読解ワークブック
Have Another Question?
Ask Away!
Send us a quick message and hear back from us within 24 hrs
Let's Connect
Contact
Fill the boxes below to send us a message. You will receive a response from us within 24 hrs!
Fill the boxes below to send us a message.
You will receive a response from us within 24 hrs!
Let's Connect
Form Successfully Sent
Thank you for submitting a message!
You will hear back from us shortly.If you don't see a response within 24 hrs, please check your spam folder!
Schedule your
Consultation
All students who are interested in having private lessons with us will start with a
15 min free consultation so that we can create the perfect lesson plan tailored to you!
Hiragana & Katakana QUIZ CHALLENGE
Othello
Inspired by the popular Japanese quiz show 東大王 (Tōdai Ō), this game challenges players' knowledge of the Hiragana and Katakana scripts.
Instead of focusing on Kanji, the game presents a fun and engaging way to test your mastery of Japan's two basic phonetic alphabets.
HOW TO PLAY
Taking Turns
Two players take turns placing their color piece. You may place your piece on a square and flip your opponent's pieces if you can 'sandwich' them horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. You must read the character on the chosen square correctly to place your piece there!Skipping Turns
If a player has 0 valid moves, but the opponent does, then the player's turn is skipped. If they cannot read the character correctly on their chosen square, their move is also skipped (press 'Skip Turn' button).Winning
Players keep taking turns until nobody can make a turn. Player with the most pieces wins!
Game developed by MarinaAcornz