Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2010
Photo by Lenard Po
Where are you from and what do you do?
I’m from Tokyo, Japan. I am a dancer, cheerleader, dance instructor and model.
How did you get so good at English?
I studied English only in college. My major was international studies, so I studied English just a little bit harder than other people. I also stayed in Washington, DC during my long vacations at college, for studying English, interning and volunteering. I wanted to make many friends all over the world and wanted to learn English for my career. My English is not perfect, but I always try to do my best. The keys are “Don’t be shy” and “Always have fun.” Those are good keywords for Kawaii Japanese as well.
Tell us about Kawaii Japanese.
Learning Japanese should be fun, and you should do it with somebody you actually want to talk to—that’s obvious, right? We are fun and cute Japanese girls who will motivate and help you learn Japanese, one little bit each day. Don’t worry about textbooks and grammar, just enjoy one of our cute lessons on your personal blog each and every day.
How does it feel to be a “Kawaii sensei”?
In the beginning, it was my first time ever to do a video shoot and teach language to people. I was pretty nervous. But when I started doing it, I realized it’s totally fun. Also, I can find out what foreigners think are interesting points about the Japanese language, so it is a great way for me to understand the cultural differences and to learn, in addition to being a sensei.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to dance—jazz, hip-hop, ballet, dancing with pompoms, Japanese traditional dance and so on. I like to go to the beach, and also like to walk in the park. I love animals and flowers, so the park is my favorite place.
What’s something everyone should do in Tokyo once before they leave?
I recommend eating real Japanese food. Especially ramen, which is totally different here than in other countries. I know instant ramen noodles are like junk food or fast food in other countries, but it’s totally different here and there are tons of great ramen restaurants in Tokyo. You guys definitely should try that. Please use chopsticks, not a fork.
See http://kawaiijapanese.com for more info.
