Kotoe Hisata began working with kindergarten children at VJLS-JH in 2004 and has been an employee here since 2007.
In her personal life, she raised three children as Japanese-Canadians, and now she is dedicated to helping her two grandchildren learn Japanese culture and language, as well.
At VJLS, she especially enjoys conversations with students, parents, and staff, and for her, these relationships have become an essential part of her life.
Kiyoko Fujii contributes to VJLS through her many years of experience in teaching Japanese to learners of all ages in Japan, the U.S., France, and Canada. She excels at clear grammatical analysis and phonetic instruction. She is the former principal of VJLS. She holds a Japanese language teaching certificate and she is also certified as a Japan Vocal Reading Association. She is also a dyslexia assessor.
In her free time, Kiyoko enjoys dancing and learning Chinese.
In her free time, she likes to collect general education information. She enjoys watching figure skating and cooking for people. She is also interested in writing tanka, haiku, and poetry. She has a 5th Dan in calligraphy and belongs to a chorus group.
Junko Fuchioka began calligraphy at the age of 4 under the influence of her father, uncle and aunt. She has an 8th Dan in Kanji, a 7th Dan in Kana, a 5th Dan in hard brush, and is a calligraphy instructor. Through calligraphy, she would like her students to feel and learn about Japanese letters, language, and culture. She teaches calligraphy to children with the goal that they will like this unique style of writing.Junko enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and traveling.
Ayumi Sugita is a certified kindergarten and daycare teacher, and has been working with children for 20 years in Japan, U.S., and Canada. She aims to provide enriching classes by incorporating a lot of traditional Japanese culture.
Ayumi likes swimming and baking sweets. She also likes making crafts and thinking ctaft ideas for each of the four seasons.
Misaki Kawai has experience working as a car salesperson in Japan for 5 years and has completed a Japanese Language Teacher Training Course in Canada. She does her best to make classes fun, and at the same time, be a teacher who can accommodate the various needs of her students.
Keigo Miyazawa aims to create a welcoming classroom environment so that students can enjoy learning and have a great experience.
He is a big fan of Japanese samurai-era history. His favourite samurai is Sanada Masayuki from his home prefecture Nagano. He also likes comedy.
Natsuko Nigh is a certified teacher in Japan and worked at high schools for more than 5 years. She also joined a local volunteer group to support Japanese language learners. She always thinks from the students’ viewpoint and plans her class for a better learning environment.
Outside of work, she enjoys making crafts and baking.
Hazuki Mizobuchi had worked as a teacher in an elementary school for four years after studying special education at a Japanese University of Education. She values personalized education for each student, providing an environment where everyone can have meaningful experiences through group activities.
Hazuki likes playing volleyball, watching anime, and enjoying seasonal cooking and events.
Chinatsu Ikeda holds a teaching license for junior high school. She has experience working as a sales administrative assistant in Japan. After moving to Vancouver, she volunteered with organizations that support school communities. She is committed to creating engaging classes that students will look forward to attending and enjoy. Chinatsu is also eager to learn from the senior teachers at VJLS.
Chinatsu enjoys reading books and traveling. She is a big fan of Anne of Green Gables and hopes to visit Prince Edward Island in Eastern Canada, where the story is set.
Akira Saito studied Plant Biology at UBC. He hopes that he can help students feel more welcome in the classroom.
He has played the trombone for 12 years and plays music in a marching band. He also sang in an a cappella group at UBC for 4 years. Akira’s favourite food is bánh mì. He enjoys playing board games and reading books about history in his spare time.
Rino Haneda previously worked in Japan as an automobile salesperson and a recruitment officer for three years. She is a licensed secondary school teacher, and is currently studying Japanese Language Education. She values the learning experiences of her students; always striving to make learning fun and create an enjoyable classroom environment.
Rino practices kickboxing as a hobby.
Yoko Katsuki worked for 50 years in Japan as a university faculty member at a teacher training institution for childcare workers, kindergarten, and elementary school teachers. Over the years, she has contributed to early childhood education in various roles, including as the principal of a university-affiliated kindergarten and as a lecturer for teacher license renewal courses. Believing strongly in the importance of education for children, she was also involved in building elementary schools in Myanmar through an NGO.
She holds a teaching license for junior high and high school education.
Yoko enjoys traveling, sewing, exploring different cuisines, attending concerts, and watching Rakugo performances. She is currently juggling the care of her three grandchildren.
Yukina Fujiwara holds teaching licenses for junior and senior high schools in Japan, and since graduating from college in Canada, she has been running a Japanese language school from her home. As a Japanese language teacher, she aims to create a classroom where students can learn in a fun environment, respecting their individual strengths and interests.
After winning a gold medal at the NHK National School Music Competition, a choral competition, she took up singing as one of her hobbies.
Ayumu Hatakeyama studied elementary education at university and obtained a teaching license for elementary schools. He taught at a private cram school in Japan for four years. He values the individuality of each student and strives to create lessons that allow them to experience the joy of learning and a sense of accomplishment.
His hobbies are watching sports and movies.
Yae Kawano worked as a teacher at a Japanese elementary school for six years, and after that, she engaged in educational support at an elementary school in Egypt for two years. She is currently studying customer service and hospitality in Canada. She values taking the first step to try new things and respecting the individuality of every student in the class while encouraging mutual support.
Her hobbies include traveling, mountain climbing, diving, and weight training.
Saki Takahashi first discovered her passion for cultural exchange during her student years, when she stayed in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. After gaining work experience in Japan, she moved to Canada, where she volunteered as a classroom assistant at VJLS while completing a Japanese language teacher training course. She aims to create classes where students can enjoy learning and have a truly rewarding experience.
In her free time, she enjoys cooking, taking walks, and traveling.
Toki Inui worked in Japan for four years as an English tutor for high school students and as an education assistant at an elementary school before moving to Canada in 2018 to pursue a Master of Education at UBC. She is passionate about creating meaningful and engaging learning experiences for all learners. She is currently continuing her studies in Early Childhood Education.
Toki enjoys hiking, browsing local thrift shops, and oil painting—a relaxing and creative hobby she has cherished since childhood.
Kenji Sawada previously worked in Japan as an IT engineer, where he was responsible for system implementation and user training. He also holds teaching licenses for junior high and high school mathematics. During his student years, he worked for six years as a swimming coach.
Drawing on these diverse experiences, he hopes to share not only the Japanese language but also the charm of Japan, including recommended places and foods. His goal is to create enjoyable and engaging classes that make students feel the joy of learning Japanese.
In Japan, Risaki Sawada works as a child guidance counselor at an after-school day care center.
As a student, she volunteered teaching Japanese to foreigners. She enjoys the reward of seeing language learners live richer and more enjoyable lives through the joys of cultural exchange and the Japanese language.
She aims to create an environment where children can have fun and feel safe.
Arisa Irimura holds junior and senior high school teaching licenses and previously worked as a financial counter clerk in Japan for six years.
She values providing personalized learning support for each student and strives to apply the knowledge and skills gained from experienced colleagues to her teaching.
In her free time, she enjoys watching dramas and traveling.
Eri Hato has been teaching Japanese to students from diverse cultural backgrounds in Canada for ten years. With her ongoing interest in teaching, she is currently pursuing studies in education around themes of belonging and inclusive education. She aspires to impart a positive impact on both her students and the community.
In her spare time, Eri enjoys walking, bird watching, and calligraphy.
Hayato Sakamoto has many years of experience teaching Japanese to adults. His goal is to make classes understandable and enjoyable for all learners.
He likes cooking, yoga and listening to music. Hayato especially enjoys Showa era songs and is also interested in history.
Yoshi Sugiyama came from Japan in 1996. His twin sons attended VJLS-JH for many years, beginning with the toddler program and ending with one son’s graduation from VJLS Grade 12 in 2023.
He served as a member of the VJLS-JH board of directors from March 2021 to June 2023 when he was assigned to become General Manager.
Before working at the school, he was an organic market gardener with an interest in growing Japanese vegetable varieties. Prior to farming, he worked for several Vancouver firms as a structural engineering technician.
Luke Chuang joined VJLS-JH in June of 2018. As Facilities Manager, he is responsible for building related maintenance and projects, rentals and health & safety concerns.
Luke plays badminton regularly on weekday evenings. He enjoys playing board games with friends on weekends and during the holidays. He’s not a big fan of outdoor activities, but still likes to go hiking in summer when it’s nice out.
Sabina Iseli-Otto helps with English-language office tasks and grant-funded projects. Before coming to VJLS-JH, she worked as a librarian.
She is originally from Alberta and likes talking about geography and weather. Her hobby is looking for mushrooms. She enjoys time with dogs and children.
Kazuko Iwata has eight years of experience working in the accounting department of a construction company in Japan. Since December 2023, she has been working at VJLS-JH, where she is responsible for handling accounts.
Her favorite things are coffee, chocolate, and cats. On her days off, she enjoys knitting and sewing.
Misaki Kawai has experience working as a car salesperson in Japan for 5 years and has completed a Japanese Language Teacher Training Course in Canada. She does her best to make classes fun, and at the same time, be a teacher who can accommodate the various needs of her students.
Misaki Nishimura joined VJLS-JH in September 2024 as a Japanese Teacher. Since March 2025, she has been working as Project Coordinator and Research Assistant under the leadership of Laura and Debra Saimoto, preparing for the launch of an Interpretive Centre at VJLS-JH in the fall of 2026. Her research and many contributions to the project will be shared with all those interested in Japanese Canadian history and who will visit the future Interpretive Centre.
She enjoys karaoke, movies, picnics, travel, cooking takoyaki, and hair-styling.
Crystal Wei joined the VJLS-JH in July 2025, and is a graduate from Simon Fraser University’s Interactive Art and Technology program. She studied abroad in Japan in Beppu, Oita for about half a year, before returning to Canada. She also passed the JLPT N3.
In her free time, she likes to read and play mobile games.
