Current and Recurring Classes

Six are on offer right now. Scroll down to learn about each one.

• Beginner Japanese
• Beginner Japanese Unit II
• Introduction to Japanese Language and Culture for Teen Stars
• 読書の時間：Dokusho no Jikan (appreciation of Japanese Literature)
• Japan Trip Prep Course
• The Movie Circle

Beginner Japanese 

I am excited to announce this course for people who are interested in my native country Japan, but who have not yet launched into the exploration. As a foreign language learner myself, (and for a very long time!) I understand it takes courage to take the first step. It is even more challenging when you age, even though we are getting wiser, well, that’s what I hope every day!

Limited to 2 to 6 participants so that we can start building a solid foundation of the Japanese language in a harmonious environment, getting familiar with our two essential alphabets called Hiragana and Katakana. Once you get to the mastery of these letters, you gain liberation, meaning that you are now set free to read and pronounce correctly. With you and your classmates together, I am pretty sure your initial effort won’t be too difficult.

The fun begins. We will take a close look at various forms of Japanese culture. By the way, you are welcome to request your interest area(s)! You will also be introduced to proverbs and sayings that are the core of who we are, how we live in Japan as well. Overall, this is a cultural exchange, a joyful and meaningful one.

Let’s get started, いっしょに　はじめましょう！ 

Particulars of Beginner Japanese:

• Class size:  2-6 people
• Session length:  75 minutes
• Duration:  7 sessions (July 20, 27, August 3, 24, 31, September 7 & 14)
• Format: Zoom, live, interactive 
• Level: absolute beginner, no experience needed
• Pricing: $245 ($35 per session, if you pay in full by July 19, you will receive a 10% discount, also if you bring a friend or partner, there is a fee reduction.)
• This will be a recurring class, with the next start date TBD
• Get your name on the list: Contact – Yuko Hardy

Each session weaves in a cultural theme, such as:

• 🍜 Food & dining etiquette
• 🍵 The art of tea
• 🏯 Architecture & history
• 🚄 Trains & travel
• 👘 Fashion & design
• 🏛️ Museums & arts
• 🌏 Regional places & landscapes
• …and more, shaped by the group’s curiosity!

Beginner Japanese Unit II

Hello again‼

ひさしぶりですね！やっぱり、日本語はたのしいからやめられない？！😉 Here we are, in the continuation of Japanese learning. I often remember one of my favorite commercial songs of Kappa Ebisen that I grew up with: “Yamerarenai, tomaranai, Kappa Ebisen! “  【懐かCMソング】かっぱえびせん【カルビー】

In my humble opinion, learning a foreign language is a long journey with many ups and downs. There are times you find it extremely rewarding, in particular, when you are able to communicate with the people of your target language. However, there will be times when you doubt if you are making any progress. I must admit that I continue taking weekly French lessons religiously even though I am a C2 diploma holder. 

In this 8 weeks-long course, I would like to continue guiding you into further exploration of our culture; in other words, the Japanese way of living as well as the uniqueness of the society. While you practice speaking Japanese with your classmates, you start gaining confidence in your pursuit of the language. Currently, I am stuck with this phrase: Never Graduate! How does that sound to you? Language learning is continuous. 

Particulars of Beginner Japanese Unit II:

• Class size:  2-6 participants
• Session length:  75 minutes
• Duration: 7 sessions (July 21, 28, August 4, 25, September 1, 8, 15) 
• Format: Zoom, live, interactive 
• Level: Beginner with Hiragana knowledge and intermediate early japanese learning
• Pricing: $35 per session, but if you pay in full before the first lesson, $221 a 10% discount; if you come with your friend or partner, you will get a paired fee reduction.)
• Date and Time: Starting Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 7:10 pm PST.

🍙Introduction to Japanese Language and Culture for Teen Stars

• Do you like to watch anime?
• Have you ever eaten Onigiri/Omusubi? 🍙
• Are you fascinated by the incredible baseball player Shohei Otani?

Well, that’s not all of the cultural items that we identify with Japan; there are many, many more that are unique to my small, but awesome (すごい！＝sugoi) country. In this course for teens you will explore with me elements that form our culture by 

• Learning our alphabet ひらがな (Hiragana)
• Making and eating snacks together
• Folding Origami
• Playing Karuta Game, and so on. 

Summer in Portland is fabulous. Let’s make it even more joyful through Japanese activities together!  

Particulars of Introduction to Japanese Language and Culture for Teen Stars

• Class size and format: 2 to 5 participants
• Session length:  90 minutes
• Duration: 5 Tuesday sessions at 2 pm: July 14, 21, 28, August 4 & 25 
• Who is this for: Young stars ages 11-14, no previous experience is needed
• Where: Instructor’s house in SE Hawthorne neighborhood
• Fee: $190
• Get your name on the list: Contact – Yuko Hardy

📖　読書の時間：Dokusho no Jikan (appreciation of Japanese Literature)

It has been my dream of doing a class whose objective is to absorb the sublimity of our written form of language. Being a single child, at an early age, books became my friend naturally. Today, your phone can likely entertain you in a non-stop fashion. Nonetheless, I still find great joy in holding a hard cover book in my hand, sensing the spirit of the author, envisioning each character. In this attempt of creating a course focused on reading during the summer where your spirit is a little more relaxed and maybe, joy-seeking, why don’t we indulge ourselves by reading Japanese literature. You will be provided material to read before coming to a class. We meet every other week to discuss what we read, with grammar and vocabulary support. Depending on the participants’ level, it might be a children’s story, or a passage of a book. Please allow me to confess that my favorite book in English is “Matilda” written by Roald Dahl. If you are interested, please contact me to inform me of your language level.     

Particulars of Dokusho no Jikan (appreciation of Japanese Literature)

• Duration: 4 Sessions, Tuesday at 5:10 pm: July 21, August 4, August 25 & September 8, 2026
• Format: small class size, 4 sessions on Zoom, interactive, live  
• Who: anyone who is willing to step into Japanese literary world 
• Session Length: one hour
• Fee: $120 

🗾 Japan Trip Prep Course

Get Ready to Experience Japan Like You Belong There

As much as I enjoy living in the US, I miss my native country. I feel lucky to have a place in my heart that makes me feel this way. So, it’s a profound joy and honor that so many people are curious about and even dream about going to Japan. This 8-week course is specifically designed to make your dream trip to Japan as delightful and unforgettable as possible. 🙂  

Particulars: of Japan Trip Prep Course

• Class size:  2-6 people
• Session length:  75 minutes
• Duration:  8 weeks
• Format: Zoom, live, interactive 
• Level: no experience needed, as long as you desire to visit and discover Japan!
• Pricing: 2-3 participants $35 / 4-6 participants $25 (per person, per session)
• Start Date: TBD, Summer 2026
• Get your name on the list: Contact – Yuko Hardy

Focus and Objectives:  

Who We Are: The Japanese: An introduction to the Japanese people — our values, mindset, social customs, and what makes Japanese culture truly unique. A warm foundation before your trip begins.

Our unique calendar: Explore the richness of Japan’s traditions through its calendar — seasonal events, national holidays, festivals, and the cultural significance woven into each. Do you know that Japanese school begins in early April along with Cherry Blossom? For a long time, I could not adjust to the September school year in the US. Knowing these facts makes you feel comfortable at the time of landing. 

Conversations with Locals: Practice useful phrases and expressions for real-life situations — restaurants, hotels, train stations, and shops, etc. You will not depend on your phone app, instead, you are going to actually communicate with locals with your own words! How exciting! 

Facts About Japan: From geography and transport to etiquette, currency, and everyday life, I would like to share as much as I know so that you will not be surprised. For example, we call it Ao Ringo = Blue Apple, yes, that is right. Green Apple does not exist in Japan 😂

Besides the 4 areas above, I always ask every participant to engage in conversations. Together, we create a friendly, intimate environment where we can enjoy the exchange ideas, experiences, questions, discoveries.

What’s stopping you? 日本行き、実現 しよう！Nihon Iki, Jitsugen Shiyo!

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And a Free Culture Get Together

📚The Movie Circle 

I love movies. I love people. I really enjoy discussing movies after watching them. Someone told me recently that you have not fully watched a movie until you have discussed it with others. You may get a different perspective, or even a deeper insight. Well then, couldn’t we do the same in this case for Japanese movies? 

As an extension of my Japanese teaching, I would like to create an opportunity for anyone to whom movies are essential, as well as those who are passionate about Japan. I will pick a Japanese movie every month. Sometimes, you may be the one who chooses! Then in a harmonious group setting, we will reflect on it while practicing Japanese as much as you can handle. You will also deepen your knowledge of Japan by watching Japanese films, both classic and contemporary. 

• When: Last Saturday of the month, starting on June 27, at 6:00 PM, then monthly afterward) 
• Who: Anyone with love for film and Japanese culture
• Length: one hour
• Format: Zoom, interactive
• Fee: No fee for current students
• Film to discuss