About Your Teacher and Coach

Hi, I'm Akiko — founder of Musubi no Ma and your Japanese teacher. 👋

I want to share something a little personal.

For most of my early thirties, I understood English just fine. But the moment I had to speak it? The words wouldn't come. I'd freeze. I knew what I wanted to say — I just couldn't get it out.

Then everything changed.

I was working at a large telecommunications company — 20 years in total — when I was suddenly transferred to a brand new division handling import business. My new colleagues were all returnees or had studied abroad. In client meetings, I had to rely on them just to get through a conversation. It was frustrating in a way that's hard to put into words.

Then my manager gave me an unexpected opportunity: an English coaching program. For six months, I stopped focusing on studying grammar and started focusing on one thing — actually speaking. Using everything I'd already learned, out loud, in real conversations.

By month four, something clicked.

The English that had been sitting quietly in my head for years finally started coming out naturally. And that's when I realized: it wasn't that I didn't know enough. I just hadn't been speaking enough.

That experience changed how I think about language learning completely — and it's the foundation of everything I do at Musubi no Ma.

The fastest way to learn Japanese isn't more grammar. It's more conversation.

A little more about me

🏢 20 years in the telecommunications industry, including management experience
🎓 4 years as an English coach
🇯🇵 Full-time Japanese language instructor
👥 100+ students taught
💬 1,000+ lessons delivered

Lessons are taught in English

Grammar can be confusing — especially in Japanese. That's why every lesson is explained clearly in English, so you always know exactly what you're learning and why. No confusion. Just clarity, and lots of practice. 😊