“When we started GenkiJACS, we felt that existing Japanese schools didn’t meet the needs of students from Western countries,” said Director Rie Kirby. “We tailored our programmes specifically to those needs, and now we’d like to take the success we’ve had with that approach to Tokyo.”

“We feel our courses are a great alternative to the more strictly academic courses offered at a lot of other schools”

Having launched in 2004 in Fukyoka city, Southern Japan, Tokyo will be the second location for GenkiJACS. Since opening almost 10 years ago, it now caters to more than 600 foreign students, mostly from Western countries.

“With the success of our school in relatively unknown Fukuoka, Tokyo was the obvious next choice, as so many people who want to come to Japan choose Tokyo first,” added Co-Director of the school, Evan Kirby. “We also felt that no other schools in Tokyo offered the mix of very small group classes, high flexibility, and a full activity program that we do.”

Courses at the Tokyo centre will mirror those at the Fukyoka school, and include Japanese plus traditional culture and Japanese plus pop culture. Class schedules are flexible, allowing students to start any Monday throughout the year and study as many weeks as they like.

“We feel our courses are a great alternative to the more strictly academic courses offered at a lot of other schools,” said Rie Kirby.

Lessons, which begin June 3, will be held in classrooms overlooking the famous Hanazono Shrine in what GinkiJACS says is “arguably the most conveniently located Japanese school in the country”.