Local Japanese Classes

There are many local Japanese classes available for foreigners all over Akita. If you happen to know of one in your area, please share it here. Other useful information about Japanese language classes in Akita can be found here, on the AIA website.

Akita Japanese Classes

• Class Name: Akita City Japanese Language Class
• Levels: Beginner to Advanced
• Cost: Free
• When: Thursday nights 6:30-8pm
• Where: Au, Akita City Community Center: 4F, Research Rooms 1 & 2
• Text: Minna No Nihongo 1 and 2, Introduction to Japanese Reading Skills
• Contact: Sato at 090-5442-9919 (English is OK), Planning and Coordination Section, City of Akita Tel.018-888-5464, or just drop into a class and check it out.

• Class Name: Iroha Club
• Date and time: Tuesday 17:50 - 19:15
• Place: Harmony Plaza, Atrion 6F
• Fee: 1000 yen per session
• Contact: Sato residence Tel.018-864-1706 (Please leave a message on the phone)

• Class Name: "Jalsa" Japanese Class
• Date and time: Wednesday 14:30 - 16:30
• Place: Please call to confirm.
• Fee: 1000 yen per sessions
• Contact: Takahashi residence Tel.018-835-2009

Hachirōgata Japanese Class

• Levels: Can vary greatly, teachers are very flexible though
• Cost: Free.
• When: This class meets the first three Thursdays of each month.
• Text: You can either bring your own or use the ones they have.
• Thoughts: This class is a lot of fun and the people volunteering to teach are really friendly (as are the participants).

Honjō Japanese Class

• Levels: 4 or more.
• Cost: Free.
• When: Friday nights, 6:45-8:30.
• Where: Honjō Community Center (本荘公民館; Honjō Kouminkan), next to the library behind JC.
• Text: "Minna No Nihongo".

Nikaho Japanese Class

• Levels: Depends on the number of teachers that day, but students are usually broken into groups based on their JLPT level.
• Cost: Free.
• When: Sunday mornings, 9:00-11:00.
• Where: Nikaho Community Center Murasugisou 2nd floor meeting room (仁賀保公民館むらすぎ荘)
• Text: "Minna No Nihongo" or "Shinkanzen Master". You can also bring your own textbook.

Inakawa Japanese Class

• Levels: 3 or more.
• Cost: Free.
• When: Wednesday nights, 7-9.
• Where: Inakawa Life-Long Learning Center (稲川生涯学習センター; Inakawa Shougai Gakushuu Sentaa).
• Contact: Yuzawa Board of Education Life-long Learning Section, 0183-42-5810 (Japanese).

Kitaakita Japanese Class

• Levels: Classes are typically divided into three groups (beginner, intermediate, and advanced), but the actual ability of the people in each group varies a lot. The teachers are friendly and flexible though!
• Cost: Free.
• When: Sunday morning, 10am-12pm.
• Where: 2nd floor of the Takanosu Community Center "KomuKomu" (北秋田市民ふれあいプラザコムコム, 〒018-3312　北秋田市花園町10-5)

Semboku Japanese Class

• Levels: Beginner (starting with learning hiragana and katakana) through JLPT N1 (there are many volunteer instructors so you will probably have a personalized study plan).
• Cost: Free
• When: Sunday mornings, 10-12.
• Where: Kakunodate Kouryuu Center (角館交流センター) located just around the corner from Kakunodate Station.
• Text: Minna no Nihongo (for most learners) or a selection of kanji, grammar, or assorted JLPT practice textbooks (photocopies typically supplied by the instructor).
• Contact: Just show up to class on Sunday, or inquire at city hall about local Japanese classes.

Noshiro Japanese Class

• Levels: Flexible
• Cost: 500 yen a month.
• Text: "Shin Nihongo no Kiso", "Minna no Nihongo", and "Dekiru Nihongo"
• When: Tuesday nights 7-9
• Where: Noshiro Community Hall(能代市中央公民館 のしろしちゅおうこうみんかん, 〒016-0842 Akita-ken, Noshiro-shi, Oiwakemachi, 4)
• Contact: Kitagawa Yuko at 090-3640-0459 or by email at acnn@shirakami.or.jp
• Website: https://noshi-niho.jimdo.com/

Odate Japanese Class

• Levels: flexible.
• Cost: 500 yen per month.
• When: Monday nights, 5:30-7:30pm.
• Where: Central Odate Community Center (location).

Parking nearby can be validated at center (parking)

• Text: Mina no Nihongo.

Ogachi Japanese Class

• Levels: 3 or more.
• Cost: Free.
• When: Thursday nights, 7-9.
• Where: Ogachi Cultural Center (雄勝文化会舘, Ogachi Bunkakaikan).
• Text: Mostly photocopies.
• Contact: Yuzawa Board of Education Life-long Learning Section, 0183-42-5810 (Japanese)

Omagari Japanese Class

• Levels: Based on what level of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) you want to study for.
• Cost: Free.
• When: Tuesday evening, 7 - 9.
• Where: Omagari Koritsu Center （大仙市大曲交流センター)

Yuzawa Japanese Class

• Levels: 3 or more.
• Cost: Free.
• When: Wednesday mornings, 10-12.
• Where: Yuzawa Work Youth Home (湯沢勤労青少年ホーム, Yuzawa Kinrou Seishonen Home).
• Contact: Yuzawa Board of Education Life-long Learning Section, 0183-42-5810 (Japanese)

August Intensive Japanese Course

Every year there is an Intensive Japanese Summer Course for people who want to brush up on their Japanese before school starts. These course come highly recommended from past participants. First-year ALTs with no Japanese especially can gain a fantastic jump start on the basics through the beginner course. The Intensive Japanese Summer Course is a great way to meet other ALTs in Akita!

1. When: August 11th - 14th, 2011

2. Where: Akita Life Long Learning Center in Akita City

3. Lodgings Reservations can be made upon your request (deadline 11th). Akita Park Hotel or other no-frills hotels in the area (about 4,500 yen per night). Hotel and its lodging expense may differ due to the date of your application. Reservation close to the course is not guaranteed.

4. Tuition: 20,000 yen (excluding room and meal)

5. Levels: Participants are divided into 4 classes or so depending on their language ability.

6. Instructors:
Mikiko ITO Instructor in Japanese, Akita University Int’l Exchange Centre
Etsuko KONNO Instructor in Japanese, Akita City Japanese Class
Masahiko SATO Instructor in Japanese, Akita University Int’l Exchange Centre
Ritsuko MIYAMOTO Professor of Linguistics and Japanese-language Education, Akita University

7. Advisor Ritsuko MIYAMOTO (Professor of Japanese language at Akita University)

8. Contact E-Mail Masahiko SATO at at bnlfan(atmark)cna(dot)ne(dot)jp (the 3 rd letter is L.)
Please make the subject of your e-mail 'Intensive Japanese Course'.

See also

• Language and culture