Toshi M.

Toshi Sensei is a fantastic teacher! He is patient, kind, and is always willing to work on anything you have questions on! He makes learning Kanji easier by taking a little bit at a time and making sure you commit them to memory. Whether you are just getting started in the language, or if you want to brush up your skills, Toshi Sensei is the perfect teacher for you! I can't recommend him enough!

Toshi Sensei is an amazing teacher. He was nice, kind, fun to work with and helped me improve my Japanese considerably. He is very knowledgeable about Japanese grammar and culture. We also worked on the nuances of Japanese conversation. I loved taking classes with him - I cannot recommend him enough! Thank you Toshi Sensei :)

Very encouraging and knowledgeable Toshi has helped me a lot in my understanding of grammar and my ability to talk Japanese. The ciriculum has grown organically and he has done a good job of matching my skill level and keeps it challenging without it becoming overwhelming. Recommended!!

Toshi has been working with my daughter for a year and, with his help, she has become a much stronger student. A year ago she was starting to fall behind in Japanese, but now she has a solid A and feels much more confident in class. Toshi is extremely kind and patient and clearly has the gift of making learning fun. He frequently brings his own worksheets so that my daughter can get extra practice with the topics that she is learning in class. During school vacations he arrives with additional material so that she will always have something new to learn. Working with Toshi has definitely enriched my daughter's experience in learning Japanese.

He taught me the beginning steps of learning Japanese, he knows Japanese fluently and has a lot of patience for a beginner student. Today I learned how to say my name and introduce myself. The sounds of words when they are at the beginning or end of a sentence.

Even though I needed very customized lessons specific to my needs, Toshi was very patient and enthusiastically helped me in specific ways. In the first lesson, I have taken in more than just learning the language, but a deeper understanding of the culture, the everyday life in Tokyo and practical information about getting around in the city. Thank you Toshi!

My children are close in age and are in different grades. They both have different strengths & personalities. Toshi has been a good fit with both of them. He is patient and knows how to bring out their strengths while helping them become stronger in other areas. I have tried other tutoring programs before but I have seen the most improvement since we began working with Toshi. They are even excited when it's time for tutoring!

I completely enjoyed working with TOSHI. He totally understood my needs (an upcoming trip to Japan) and also my long-term goal of general conversation improvement. He made me feel confident and unafraid of making ridiculous mistakes. I would highly recommend TOSHI to anyone who loves Japanese language and Japan.

Toshi is very patient and encouraging in helping me pursue my interest in learning Japanese. He is very knowledgeable and clear in his explanations so I always understand the lesson. He is very friendly and makes the lesson enjoyable. I can get discouraged learning a new language, but Toshi is always encouraging and supportive which has been so important for me to make progress.

Toshi Sensei is a great teacher! I highly recommend taking lessons with him. He's helpful at practicing with conversation and I enjoy going to lessons most of all. You'll benefit most from his lessons if you're willing to put in the time practicing outside of lessons.

I started Japanese a little under one months ago and now adding all the vocabulary and sentence structure together is so rewarding! It takes me a lot longer to grasp and understand everything but Toshi-san is so understanding and patient. He'll always slowly repeat anything until I have an understanding of it! I am so fortunate to have found a Japanese tutor this amazing! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!

Toshi is a great teacher. I enjoy the conversation in Japanese. He makes it comfortable for you to speak it without feeling bad for messing up. It feels like it's okay to so you can be corrected and learn from your mistakes. It's like learning a language as a child where you learn in school how to say things. He's better then a normal teacher or anyone else I've learned from. He makes it very personable and follows through with what he says he'll do. Over all I'll still say for anyone to tutor with him. He's very knowledgeable and easy going.

I'm able to learn a lot from each lesson mainly because Toshi has been able to teach me in a patient and easily comprehensible way. Not once did I feel uncomfortable. I also learn different ways to practice a language with not just Japanese, but in general. Not only does he talk about basics, particles, verbs, grammar, and other parts of the Japanese language, but he also goes over some interesting culture fun facts that I never knew, which has kept the lessons interesting. For a determined student like myself, I not only make a lot of progress reaching my goal of learning a language, but also enjoy it along the way and that's why I think Toshi’s teaching is optimal for those who really want to learn Japanese.

Toshi has been a tremendous tutor that has helped me progress in my Japanese learning each week. He is patient and provides excellent direction and guidance to continue building off the previous week's lesson. The lessons are part discussion, part textbook work, which allows for both learning of new material (grammar, vocab, kanji, etc.) as well as application of that learning through conversation -- which is really how you start to learn the language. Could not ask for a better tutor!

I've been taking lessons from Toshi and I honestly love it. The first couple of weeks I was super nervous about it being online, but after week two I was logging on no issue. He takes me though everything until Ive got it DOWN, he provides the perfect amount of homework based on how well he thinks I did that lesson, and he goes at the pace you want to learn. He's a 10/10 teacher who Id recommend to anyone.

Toshi has a great tutoring style. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and deep knowledge of Japanese language and culture. We especially appreciated his insights about Japanese idioms. We are very beginners level adult students and Toshi made us feel like we can converse! I look forward to learning more from him.

Steve only had one lesson with Toshi so far but the lesson was wonderful! Toshi is teaching my ten-year-old son the beginning basics of Japanese and he was already speaking his first Japanese words after one lesson! Toshi really took his time with my son is patient and related to what my son needed. Toshi is very nice and communicates well!!

Toshi is the best Japanese teacher! I'm so glad to have him teaching me Japanese! He taught me many things that I cannot learn from my school! Like Japanese culture and some useful daily words. I am really passionate in Japan and its culture! I can't wait for every week now!!

Toshi san tutoring approach will base on personal goals which I like a lot, I think he's very nice and patient to explain through the whole lesson and he also backup the class with cultural overview .. The main topic will always be clear and easy to remember!

Toshi sensei has given me a good insight into the intricacies of the Japanese language and has helped to expand my vocabulary. He has inspired me to speak Japanese with his engaging lessons. Enthusiastic, patient, kind, and very a knowledgeable teacher. I absolutely enjoy my lessons with Toshi Sensei! Looking forward to many more with him!

I'm telling everyone about Mr, Toshi. I'm really starting to think in Japanese. My teacher Mr,Toshi. is a great and wonderful teacher who takes thing slow so i don't feel scared of when I'm learning Japanese. I can't wait for my next lesson.

Toshi-San has been my Japanese tutor for 3 years (since October 2014!), and during this time he has been knowledgeable, friendly, hilarious, kind, and forgiving. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking to continue their Japanese language skills (me!), start them, or work on already learned grammar. He is a fantastic teacher, an amazing conversation partner, and I'm so glad TakeLessons helped me find him!!

Toshi Sensei is an excellent teacher. My wife and I are begginer Japanese students but we have different levels of proficiency with learning the language. Toshi was able to pick up on this and tailor the lesson to provide effective instruction to the both of us. We also recieved assistance with our plans for the upcoming trip. Toshi was able to give expert advice on where to go and where to stay that you can't find on your standard travel websites and forums. I would absolutely recommend him as an instructor.

Toshi Sensei is incredible. I searched for a Japanese tutor for so long and as soon as I read his response knew he was the one. I feel extremely comfortable with him and he is fantastic at explaining concepts and answering questions. He is also funny and a pleasure to work with. An hour flies by in what feels like 5 minutes. Highly recommend Toshi Sensei!

I started Japanese a little under three months ago and now adding all the vocabulary and sentence structure together is so rewarding! It takes me a lot longer to grasp and understand everything but Toshi-san is so understanding and patient. He'll always slowly repeat anything until I have an understanding of it! I am so fortunate to have found a Japanese tutor this amazing! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!

Toshi Sensei is truly 5 stars "Best instructor ever." He takes the time to really teach you Japanese culture, and more than what is in the books, so you can TRULY understand Japanese. He is also very friendly and easy to talk to, and learn with! He pushes you to speak the language and is quick to help you fix mistakes, and that is really the best way you can learn Japanese. On top of that, he sends you fun Japan-related links and extra videos throughout the week, and is available any time to help you with your Japanese struggles. I can not recommend him enough. Thank you Toshi Sensei!!

I loved having Toshi-Sensei as my tutor. I take Japanese classes at University, but even going through these classes, and getting help from the teacher and other students I still have many questions when it comes to Japanese. Toshi-Sensei not only helped me out with Japanese, but I can say that many times he went the extra mile. He goes very in-depth in each lesson and he takes his time to explain something to make sure you completely understand. He is also a very nice person and his positive attitude/personality really comes out in his teaching. If you ever need help in Japanese at any level (from completely novice to intermediate level of the language), he can definitely help you out. I will definitely continue having Toshi as my tutor and if anyone else needs help/wants to learn Japanese I definitely recommend them to go to him also.

Toshi sensei has been tutoring me for almost four months now, and it has been one of the most valuable investments I've made into my Japanese. Sensei is professional, patient and seems extremely dedicated to his teaching. He is always well-prepared for the material to cover in the next lesson and has never missed writing the useful follow-up review afterwards. I look forward to every lesson and the 60 minutes always passes quickly. The lessons themselves are usually a combination of grammar practice, reading dialogues from the textbook, and real-time conversation practice. I feel that the conversation practice has been essential towards developing my confidence in speaking Japanese. Sensei is always very patient with me as I fumble through my broken Japanese, and corrects any grammar or punctuation issues immediately. I believe that having this feedback loop is critical in avoiding bad speaking habits, so I am really glad that sensei does this. I also love listening to sensei's stories from his own life and about Japanese culture. He seems to be a passionate person and it is enlivening to listen to him speak. I will definitely stick with Toshi Sensei and look forward to the day that I can hold a conversation with him in full-speed fluent Japanese!

Toshi san tutoring approach will base on personal goals which I like a lot, I think he’s very nice and patient to explain through the whole lesson and he also backup the class with cultural overview .. The main topic will always be clear and easy to remember.

I have been taking lessons with Toshi for months now and could not be happier! He is a real, genuine guy who will talk not just small talk, but also personally to you, caring for your individual well-being. He makes me feel like a brother in Christ and I am great friends with him. I want to move to Japan to work for a company like Kodansha Comics, Yen Press, Kadokawa, or Square Enix (I really want Kodansha the most!) as an editorial translator to translate books (mainly manga) from Japanese to English. Toshi is helping me reach my dream by not only teaching me the language, but also about the culture, customs, daily living, formalities, and much more. Every once in awhile he will send a cool link to me with something about Japan (i love reading these so much!). As I strive hard to eventually move to Japan and work as an editorial translator, Toshi is there every step of the way to teach me, provide support, and be a long lasting friend I will always enjoy working with. I wouldn't pick anyone else to teach me, as I feel he is the perfect match, an irreplaceable teacher!

I feel very comfortable asking any questions and always have a fun time learning Japanese with Toshi-sensei. We're a group of 3 students that wanted a native speaking Japanese tutor to help us with conversations and reading basic hiragana/katakana. His lesson plan is easy to follow. We always look forward to seeing Toshi-sensei and enjoy learning more about the Japanese language with him.

Praise the Lord! I am so blessed to have found Christian teacher Toshi. Toshi was a godsend for me getting back into Japanese after a long hiatus. He was able not only to help me with logistical things (help with homework, correct use of grammar, quiz preparation), but he has also made my conversational Japanese better than ever. I would highly recommend him!

Toshi is Extremely knowledgable and reliable teacher.
Toshi is able to work with you regardless of your prior knowledge of language. He is able to work out a lesson plan that will fit your needs as well as having the flexibility to work with your schedule. As a native speaker of japanese, he understands practicle use of day to day conversations aswell as the formal side of it all. He will help you build the essential foundations required so that you may learn how to read,write,speak, and understand Japanese speak.

Toshi Sensei is a great teacher! I started seeing him after I received a low grade on a Japanese test, but within weeks of seeing him I was getting A's on every test. He's very patient and time effective. Every time I leave a session I feel that much more confident in my Japanese. Overall he's a cool guy and makes it easy to learn.

We are thrilled to have found Toshi to tutor our son in Japanese. He is everything you want in an educator for your child: he is fun, patient, informed and responsible. He makes learning fun and effective. Our son looks forward to his time with Toshi and is benefiting tremendously from their lessons. Five stars all the way!!!!!

Excellent Native Japanese Teacher!
Toshi sensei does a great job teaching the fundamentals of the Japanese language For those who are new to or relearning (like me) Japanese, his teaching style and focus is perfect. He teaches well rounded lessons; covering written, spoken, and reading aspects through Kanji, Katakana, and hiragana. On a personal level, he is friendly, patient, fun, kind person. In addition, I have learned so many new things like Japanese Calligraphy, Japanese tea ceremony, Origami, Japanese traditional healthy meals, Japanese culture, etiquettes, manners, I highly recommend him as a tutor.

Toshi is amazing Japanese tutor. He is clearly very experienced in working with students of varying backgrounds and needs. We started off with discussing my purpose for learning Japanese and areas on which I wished to focus. We quickly delved into an introduction to the Hiragana lettering system, regular-voiced-unvoiced consonants, long vowels, and double consonants. Along the way he gave excellent historical and cultural context behind the development and usage of Hiragana relative to the usage of Kanji. It was a very enjoyable lesson and discussion. Before I knew it the hour was over. I'm looking forward to next lesson! :)

Our daughter is very nervous when meeting new people. She has only had 3 sessions with Toshi so far, but she trusts him and enjoys her sessions. We plan to continue tutoring through Toshi for the foreseeable future. Our daughter really wants to become fluent in Japanese and live in Japan someday. I would highly recommend Toshi to anyone looking to tutor their child.

My son is enjoying his Japanese lessons with Toshi very much. Toshi is very good at tailoring lessons to the individual student and challenging them while keeping it fun and interesting. I am amazed at how much my son knows after only a few lessons. I would highly recommend Toshi to anyone wanting to learn Japanese.

I worked with Toshi for months on Japanese, so that I could talk with my Japanese girlfriend's parents, and I could not imagine a better teacher. Toshi's command of Japanese is extremely deep, and his English fluency means that he could explain Japanese language concepts and structure to me with ease. Equally important, Toshi is a very passionate teacher. Nothing made him happier than watching me succeed and increase my grasp of the language. Thanks to Toshi, I completely (and easily) learned hiragana, and began to learn kanji and katakana. I also learned basic Calligraphy, Japanese tea ceremony, origami, useful daily communications. Finally, in addition to being very practical (and very polite, I might add), Toshi explained to me the nuances of Japanese culture. Our conversations about Japanese and American cultures really helped me understand my Japanese friends and girlfriend. For all you New Yorkers interested in Japanese, go for Toshi.

Toshi has been my son's tutor for the past three months. My son is twelve years old and Toshi is very patient with him. He makes sure my son grasps a concept and has time to practice the concept before moving on. If my son is still struggling or needs more practice, he stays on that concept or provides suggestions geared towards my son's age and ability level. I highly recommend Toshi as a tutor. He is a natural born teacher. He paces the lessons and concepts around his students' growth and understanding and ensures the skills taught are being mastered and learned before moving on. That's what great teachers do! He is very professional and is well organized and prepared for every lesson. Toshi always comes prepared already knowing what will be taught for the day. My son and I are really lucky to have found Toshi!!

My daughter speaks very highly of her tutor and is eager when doing homework and getting ready for lessons. Toshi is very patient, nice and agreeable. He makes the class way more interesting!!! He is also extremely positive about student's progress and ability and is always willing to do more for the student. Would definitely recommend!!

Toshi is very patient and kind and we have developed a great student/teacher relationship. I have learned SO much about the Japanese language from him and just today we took a break from the usual and did a calligraphy lesson. He is very knowledgeable about the Japanese culture and knows what he's talking about. He hardly ever uses the teacher's textbook and rather teaches from his own head. I recommend him completely if you're interested in learning the Japanese language. He's not simply a tutor; he's a friend.

Toshi is very nice and extremely easy to speak with, he is great for beginners, and I enjoy his style of teaching. He made it very easy for me to follow along and is very patient. He gave me realistic expectations and timelines that I am really comfortable with.

Toshi-Sensei is very well-prepared into the lessons, and was able to go at my pace, which was probably a lot faster than what he usually does. He is very accommodating with time and was willing to do the extra mile to set up tests as checkpoints upon request. I greatly enjoy lessons with him and I would say that my Japanese skills have significantly improved with less than 10 tutorial sessions. The homework sheets helped greatly as well.

My daughter really enjoys having Toshi as her Japanese tutor. Toshi is great at understanding what my daughter needs to learn in order to do her best in her Japanese class. Toshi has been very patient with my daughter and has touched on the basics of Japanese further pushing my child to execell. I really recommended Toshi if you are looking for a Japaneses teacher.

My son loves his Japanese lessons with Toshi-san! Toshi is very patient and takes the time to explain why the Japanese language works the way it does. I was very excited that he was a native Japanese speaker, so he is able to help, correct and advise my son on all his school work. I highly recommend Toshi-San!

I am preparing JLPT N1 right now and Toshi is always understanding and never gets frustrated during our lessons. He is very helpful. I feel like the tutoring time is used very productively, he goes through grammar points one after another and lets me practice exercises for each one, making full use of the 60-minute lesson so I learn very fast. He helps you find the easiest way of doing things.

My daughter was struggling in her high school first year Japanese class; she did not have any prior experience with the language. We found Toshi halfway into the first semester, and it was a great decision! He is so engaging and covers all parts of the language: reading, writing, and verbal. He is patient, understanding, and fun. My daughter never feels bored during his lessons. goes beyond the school curriculum and really teaches for understanding the language, not just for memorization. My daughter's high school Japanese class focuses on memorization before teaching the grammar; however, Toshi teaches grammar, which in turn makes learning the language much easier. Much of the material my daughter learns is practical and could be used in everyday conversations with a Japanese person. We love Toshi and will continue to have lessons with her for all four years of high school and perhaps beyond!

Toshi taught me Japanese for two years and he's a great Japanese teacher. He's very prepared for each lesson and every time when I have a question, he is very patient to answer. My Japanese level improved enormously with his help and I would definitely recommend him to other students. Toshi has become not only my teacher but also a good friend that I cherish.

I have been taking Japanese lessons with Toshi for a six months now, and I can already see improvement in my speaking, reading, and conversing skills. The lessons vary from time to time to keep it interesting, and Toshi is very willing to stop and answer questions. I watched Japanese anime yesterday, and I understood much better! I have an idea of what's going on now and I can understand probably every other sentence well. :) Highly recommended if you want to learn Japanese effectively and efficiently!

Toshi-Sensei is a native Japanese speaker and really enjoys teaching his language. I have taken several Japanese programs and Toshi-Sensei if by far the best. He goes over everything thoroughly and makes sure you understand and are learning all that is being taught. f you are a serious student and want to learn I HIGHLY recommend him....

My son has had one session with Toshi & it was very helpful. The goal is to help improve my son's Knowledge & grade in Japanese - enough that his enthusiasm & confidence fully return & that he will be happy to continue with japanese into his Sophomore year. Toshi was friendly and professional. We have booked twice a week session & clearly Toshi have worked with his age group before.. thank you so much for your kind gentle manner with my son.

Extremely patient and kind with my shy 12 yr old Granddaughter. Toshi makes her feel very comfortable so my Granddaughter is not afraid to ask questions. A big plus in my book! He made it fun and eased all her nerves. She is super excited for her next lesson with him. Thankful to have found Toshi.

I have been waiting to write this review until I attended a few lessons. Toshi is by far the BEST Japanese teacher I ever had. His level of patience is superhuman, especially if your someone who likes to take their time to digest what they learn and not feel rushed. His ability to assess your academic needs underscores his years of teaching. I have taken many Japanese classes in college and with private organizations full of native speakers, but to date, Toshi stands head and shoulders above them all. An added benefit to studying with Toshi is his working knowledge of business Japanese and social etiquette, manners. Something I did not receive in a classroom setting. If I had to give him a grade, it would be an A++. Outstanding teacher for serious students of Japanese.

Mr. Toshi M. has tutored my son across several weeks now and we could not be happier! My son, who utterly hated his Spanish class in school, immediately took to Mr. Toshi. He teaches and communicates almost effortlessly over the Skype. He is focused in bringing out the best in my son, teaching to his level (beginner), but pushing him along outside his comfort zone. And setting aside the fact that Mr. Toshi is a native speaker, Mr. Toshi's skills at teaching and tutoring in a foreign language, specifically, are quite clearly those of a professional. I actually do feel quite fortunate to have found him and very much look forward Mr. Toshi continued teaching my son.

Toshi is Excellent Japanese Tutor!
Toshi does and excellent job every time. He's been my Japanese tutor every week for 7th months now and I've learned a lot. I'm very slow at Japanese (because my memory is atrocious and it's a difficult language to adjust to), but he is a very patient person with me. Japanese is really starting to click with me now, and he was patient through my struggles, which I'm very grateful for. He seems proud of my progress too. I'm also progressing much faster because I'm more consistent about doing the homework every week and studying in addition. He is really good at working with you to approach the lessons in a way that works well for you, because everyone learns differently and at a different pace. Thanks Toshi :)

Toshi is tutoring our son in Japanese and Japanese calligraphy So far it is a great combination and he is excited about learning both. We had some reservations on putting both together - but it really works! It challenges him in ways that keeps him engaged in the lesson. I would highly recommend Toshi to anyone looking to tutor their child.

Toshi san is an amazing teacher. He really takes the time to break down the Japanese language and teach you piece by piece. He is very understanding and attentive to each student's learning needs. He is very passionate about what she teaches, and is super fun to learn from! He is truly the best teacher I have ever had, and I look forward to many more lessons with him in the future. Toshi san is awesome!!!!

I took only two classes with Toshi and am looking forward for more as the methods of his tutoring are really unique. He hears-sees-senses the most hidden flaws not only in my Japanese, but also in my conducting before the audience. He picks these flaws so professionally, shows them to me and teach me how to correct them so easy that it’s just amazing how those fixed little details bring a huge difference into my speech. I am very grateful for all his help and glad that he is my tutor.

Toshi is awesome tutor! Starting out from Zero knowledge in Japanese, Toshi has taught me in a very short time a basic understanding, vocabulary, ground rules. I learned so much more than I thought I would be able to. I look forward to learning more with his help. I like that the lessons are challenging but manageable because of his support.

I would highly recommend Toshi as a tutor - He is extremely kind, affable and enthusiastic and has a very approachable manner with children. He is also reliable, prompt and hardworking. He is clearly very intelligent, his communication skills are excellent. My children love Japanese lesson with Toshi. I think that the lessons provided my children with a positive introduction to the Japanese language.

He's really patient with me when I'm trying to remember things. It takes me a bit sometimes to respond and he never rushes me. I am also a student who gets bored if things are too easy, but can also get frustrated if I don't feel successful. Toshi challenges me just enough to make me feel like I am really successful in learning, without feeling like I am always failing. Toshi changes his lessons to fit each student, and is really helpful whenever I have questions.

Toshi-san helped me prepare for my upcoming trip to Japan by having lessons that focused on my needs as a traveler. He discussed the Japanese alphabets and taught me vocabulary and sentences for asking directions, ordering food, introducing myself, shopping, telling date and time, etc... I also learned about basic conversations, grammar, pronunciation and sentence formations. He was very patient, attentive to my needs and encouraging. I would love to work with him again when I get back from my business trip!

Toshi is able to work with you regardless of your prior knowledge of language. He is able to work out a lesson plan that will fit your needs as well as having the flexibility to work with your schedule. As a native speaker of Japanese, he understands practicle use of day to day conversations as well as the formal side of it all. He will help you build the essential foundations required so that you may learn how to read, write, speak, and understand Japanese speak.

Toshi san is an amazing native Japanese teacher. He really takes the time to break down the Japanese language and teach you piece by piece. He is very understanding and attentive to each student's learning needs. He is very passionate about what he teaches, and is super fun to learn from! He is truly the best teacher I have ever had, and I look forward to many more lessons with him in the future. Toshi san is awesome!!!!

My son was struggling in his Japanese class. There are no tutors where we live, so we found Toshi. After only two lessons via Skype, my son feels far more confident about his mastery of Japanese. He says he's cleared up a great deal of confusion and is very patient. Thanks Toshi!

I have been tutored by Toshi Sensei for around six months now and I must say he puts more effort into his lessons then any other teacher I have seen. He has helped me with a translation of a story in order the help me improve my Japanese, created several lesson plans based on input in order to make the lessons fun as well as productive. He is also one of the most approachable teachers I have met, constantly responding to texts and emails throughout the week, making learning a continuous process instead of something done once a week. I would recommend Toshi Sensei over any other tutor.

My fourteen year old daughter is taking Japanese lessons with Toshi and cannot wait for each time they meet. Toshi is kind, patient, and very knowledgeable. He helps guide my daughter through this complicated language in a way that keeps her engaged and excited. Thank you for your time, Toshi!

I had been studying Japanese for a few months on my own by watching news programs, movies and reading through a textbook. At first it was difficult to tell what level I was at or if I was even speaking the language correctly as I had no one to practice with. When I first met with Mr. Toshi, he was very calm and patient with me. It was through him I was able to figure out were I am at in learning Japanese. His teaching methods and explanations are very clear and each time lesson with him I feel as though I know so much more than before. Mr.Toshi, is the perfect tutor for anyone really wanting to improve their skills in the Japanese language!

Toshi is my son's Japanese language tutor. He is a lovely and intelligent teacher originally from Japan. We see his positive teaching spirit in all of his lessons, and with help by email between lessons. He always comes prepared with a marker board to demonstrate the Japanese symbols. His teaching style is patient, fun and thorough. We would highly recommend him to others.

Toshi- sensei is always on time and thoroughly prepared for every lesson. I felt he really listened to what I wanted from my tutoring sessions and has developed my lessons in accordance with that. He is friendly and knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and very helpful in pursuing language learning at the pace that is right for me. Thank you so much Toshi- Sensei

I was very skeptical my daughter would maintain her desire to learn Japanese, since the language is so different from her native English. However, she has not only stayed focused on her desire to learn more about the language and the culture,...she is genuinely excited and can't wait to show me what she has learned after each lesson. Toshi is the source of my daughter's excitement about learning Japanese, and I am SO happy we found him. Because he is a native speaker AND he worked in the local school disctrict, he brings a unique balance of patience and understanding to new students of Japanese. My daughter can be easily disappointed when she is not progressing fast enough, or is struggling with learning something new,...but Toshi has managed to keep my daughter calm and still push her at a steady pace - I am SO impressed with her progress in such a short time.

If you are considering a Japanese tutor, then I would strongly receommend you consider Yoko as your language guide - she's FANTASTIC !!

I am very happy I chose Toshi-san! He comes highly recommended! I have been going to Toshi-san since September of last year twice a week. Now I can read Hiragana & Katakana. I can go to Japanese market and pick up words. Friends of mine are amazed at how much I have learned and a big part of that comes from the fact that Toshi-san is a wonderful teacher. He has loads of experience...He wants the best for his student & my favorite part about learning from him is he keeps things interesting. Interesting enough for me to remember Japanese vocabulary or writing! He is very interactive, uses great tools (books, cards, games, SONGS!)

Me and my BF decided to learn Japanese together and found Toshi on Takelessons, and we were so happy that we did! He was very nice and knowledgeable, always smiling. I will have more to talk about when we have more lessons, but he is definitely a great teacher and we look forward to our classes in the future.

Toshi is a very knowledgable and patient tutor. Our first lesson was very thorough and covered the Japanese writing system of Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. We learned the pronunciation of Hiragana and Katakana and how to say "hello", "goodbye", "good morning", and "goodnight". We look forward to more lessons with Toshi!

I had my first lesson with TOSHI recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. He has his plate full with me, I must say. I not only want speaking and listening practice, but also help with grammar and vocab in order to meet my goal of passing the N1 level of the JLPT in December. I'm confident I'll get there with his help. We had a very interesting conversation and I am looking forward to studying with her more.

I have never had to tutor before, but once I found Toshi I knew he was the teacher who was going to help me reach my goals. I want to reach level 2 on my JLPT. I tend to be overly ambitious with the goals I set for myself, but Toshi is very understanding and accommodating. He is very open to discussing his culture and customs, which makes our after session discussions, so much more pleasant. He doesn't treat you like just another student, he is truly an amazing teacher and I have so much respect towards him. If you want to learn Japanese, I can't recommend Toshi enough!

I almost hate to write this review for fear Toshi-sensei will become too busy to continue teaching me! Toshi-sensei is AWESOME!! He comes well prepared to teach you, is patient and has phenomenal skills to keep a student wanting to learn more! I definitely recommend sensei to anyone who is serious about learning because he is serious about teaching.

I really enjoyed my first lesson with Toshi. I got through a few chapters of my textbook by myself but I really felt like I needed another person to work with. Toshi reviewed the first few chapters with me and gave great feedback. We then focused on the last chapter I had been working with; verbs. Also, I haven't done really any speaking up to this point and he was very patient and understanding. Overall, we were able to figure out what I need to review and what I should focus on next and what we're going to do next time. Now I can't wait for my lesson every week and in between I have a much clearer understanding of how to progress forward!

I have worked with Toshi Sensei on line for several weeks. Sensei has worked with me 3 times per week and the sessions are fun and I am making much faster progress than I had hoped. Toshi Sensei effectively uses a textbook at times and at other times just focuses on more spontaneous conversation. I could not be more pleased and look forward to working with Toshi Sensei going forward.

Toshi is an excellent tutor. Our 7th grade son said the other day "I love Japanese lesson with Toshi" after a session with Toshi, and our son is not easy to impress. Toshi is very conscientious and flexible. He has done an excellent job assessing what our son needs on an ongoing basis and creating lesson plans to meet his needs. Toshi is also very patient and able to explain Japanese concepts in a way our son can understand. We are so glad that we found Toshi. We highly recommend. him.

Toshi Sensei provides great knowledge of the Japanese language. In addition - I love how he provides a fun and welcoming atmosphere to learn the language. As a person who grew up in Japan, his goal is not only to teach you the language, but to make sure you are one with the Japanese people! He is throughly organized and lessons with him have helped me a lot. I would recommend him to anyone looking to learn Japanese.

Toshi is a great Japanese teacher. His explanations of the grammar and culture are clear and helpful. His suggestion of working with the text was a really good one. The supporting apps are also well worth it. I just finished my fourth lesson with Toshi and I can't say enough good things about him. A few of my friends decided to sign up as well. I went from taking private lessons to now having lessons in a group of six. Everyone loves him and he really takes the time to break down everything. as a tutor without hesitation. Great experience!

Toshi is a professional that knows what he is doing. He was very patient with my son, explaining everything as many times he needed. He is very pleased with him! And so am I! Be sure that here you have a person that knows the content and knows how to teach it to a high school student. Just one word describes Toshi, WONDERFUL!

About a year ago my 9 year old daughter asked about learning Japanese because of her interest in kawaii and anime. We have always wanted her to learn a second language, so we decided to find a tutor. We were lucky to find Toshi. The lessons never get boring for my daughter because Toshi has so many fun learning games to play with her. It's amazing to see how much Japanese she is learning while having fun the whole time. Thanks, Toshi!!!

The lesson with Toshi-Sensei was an effective one. Not only is he well-versed in the Japanese language, he is very savvy with structuring a well-flowed lesson. Most of all, he projects an energetic vibe that makes learning fun! I am so happy! highly recommend!

Thank you Toshi Sensei! At my first lesson I learned many basic expressions and sentence structures. Toshi Sensei is fun. I will be going to Japan in 3 months, and I know my lessons with Toshi Sensei will help me communicate politely and effectively. Can't wait next lesson!!!

I have been learning from Toshi-sensei for about three years now. He does a good job assigning homework and providing that bit of pressure that pushes you to succeed. Thanks to Toshi, I passed the JLPT at the N5 level. I am now taking Japanese at the university level and will be studying abroad in Japan for summer 2017. Thanks to Toshi-sensei, I embarked on an amazing journey that keeps getting better.

Toshi Sensei is kind, patient, and very skillful at teaching a foreign language. I would highly recommend him for his steady encouragement, caring nature and dedicated professionalism. Thanks to his tutoring, I find myself being able to convert my previous experience of learning Japanese into more organized, polished sentences. His homework assignments are especially targeted to help you succeed. I look forward to each week and getting closer and closer to maybe one day being fluent!

Toshi is a fabulous teacher to my 11 year old daughter. She absolutely loves her Japanese lessons and looks forward to them. She has 3 lessons a week with Toshi and has been going strong for 6 months. I love his teaching method, his attention to detail and his patience, whilst at the same time pushing forward and expecting the best he knows that his student is capable of. Toshi shares Japanese culture and information via skype or email outside of 'lesson learning time, which is another wonderful addition to lesson learning outside of actual lesson time'. Toshi is a rare find and I cannot recommend him enough for anyone wanting to learn Japanese.

We love Toshi-Sensei! He is a professional, warm, friendly and so patient and very fun with the boys. He is always upbeat and enthusiastic. He helps the boys with their homework and writing sentences with their katakana, kanji. They love working with Toshi so much, and his gentle humor takes most of the drudgery out of doing homework. I love that he is there to help make sure they understand their work, as I don't know any Japanese at all. Toshi is BEST!

Since Toshi has started teaching me Japanese, I have started understanding all kinds of Japanese not just business level Japanese. I understand complex interactions and am picking up on cultural cues that would have been very difficult to learn on my own. Toshi has a unique way of teaching which allows you to understand all different levels of Japanese whether TV or animation, day to day conversations with family or friends, business associates, etc. Toshi is very focused like me and has grounded and benchmarked me in my Japanese. He has given me challenges appropriate to my skill level. I feel that with him teaching me I will achieve my goal of speaking fluently to Japanese and also picking up N5-N1 JLPT certifications as I learn. Toshi is a warm, kind, encouraging tutor that will work with you and answer questions at any hour of the day. Highly recommend!!

Toshi has been a great tutor so far for my daughter. He has an encouraging teaching style which is always positive. Even when it gets difficult, he is always patient and will slow it down to her pace. He not only teaches the material but talks to her about Japanese culture and lifestyle. My daughter always looks forward to her lessons every week.

I can't not tell you how wonderful Toshi is! My son has been taking lessons with Toshi and is so excited and motivated. Toshi has a great way of teaching and his method of teaching really works. I highly recommend trying out lessons with Toshi you will not regret it; and you'll be speaking in no time.

I love Toshi-sensei because he plays J-pop while we work. He is cool, fun, kind, nice, very positive. He teaches me Japanese culture, J-pop, J-anime, ice cream, snacks, something new every time. and he does a lots of fun things with me. I can speak and read Japanese now. Thank you Toshi-sensei. I love Japanese lesson with Toshi-sensei.

In the first lesson, I learned not only how to speak proper Japanese in a way that's more natural so that real Japanese people can understand me, I also learned about cultural differences. I highly recommend Toshi Sensei if you want more than just textbook knowledge of Japanese (like actually traveling to Japan)!

Today was my first lesson with Toshi Sensei and it was amazing! We talked about some Japanese culture as well as the things I love. The class was fun and useful. We talked about some greetings in Japanese, too! Toshi Sensei is a really good teacher and you won't feel nervous in front of him. It was such a great experience! I'm really happy that I chose to take the lesson with him! Thank you!

I had a great first lesson with Toshi sensei! He is fun and friendly and is very well organized. We talked about his plan for me going forward and I am confident that the rest of our lessons will be just as great as this one. I am excited because he seems to really understand the struggles of someone that is studying Japanese and how frustrating it can be. I would definitely recommend him to other students. :) 楽しかっただよ！

I've been trying to learn Japanese for a long time, and have never been able to understand Japanese TV, anime, news, dramas, or anything like that, despite several classes and investment in tools like Rosetta Stone, Japanese in a Flash and the like. Although I am still a long way from really being able to understand the shows, Toshi's explanations of how the language is used every day has been enlightening, and allowed me to get a better handle on sentence structure when I'm listening to the spoken language. I had no idea that the Japanese I had been learning in school and through the other texts I had used was really only for polite situations, when most of what I am hearing in television shows and movies is more casual and doesn't use many of the particles and phrases that are commonly taught. I'm excited to continue working with Toshi.

He's the PERFECT tutor for my daughter!!! She is very happy to officially learn Japanese & is highly comfortable with Toshi. As a busy working single mother it is so convenient having the lessons come online at home so I don't have to worry about transportation; she jus comes home from school as usual & logs right on.

Toshi-sensei is the best!!! He makes it easy and fun to learn Japanese and always helps you do the very best you can! He's engaging and gives you helpful tips to improve yourself in all things Japanese! He's patient and understanding and lessons are always fun! You'll learn a lot about the culture too! Thank you Toshi-sensei for your great lessons! ありがとうございます! ! !

I have been taking Japanese lessons with Toshi for a few months now. I can say he is my favorite teacher! He is super patient and always explains everything perfectly.
He is always committed and always in time for every lesson. Keeps track on where you are so that you can keep going from there, and you can tell how much he enjoys teaching.
If you are looking for someone who will help you get to the level that you need, he is the one! Trust me, you will love every lesson. Best teacher ever!

Toshi is a wonderful sensei. He is patient and encouraging. He teaches a lot about the culture and history, which I feel is very important in understanding more of the language. He is great at teaching correct tone and pronunciation in a casual and more formal style. I would highly recommend Toshi. He is fantastic!

Toshi-sensei is a very kind-hearted teacher who is very supportive of learning Japanese, helps with any goals you want to accomplish with the language and culture, is clear on making sure your pronunciations are correct, and is able to answer any questions one might have. What I like most is how supportive he is, so if you're struggling with a certain area he makes sure you don't feel discouraged and works with you to constantly improve. I really enjoy lessons with him and would recommend to anyone interested in learning Japanese.

Toshi is a very good Japanese teacher. He makes the lessons a fun and enjoyable experience as well as teaching cultural and societal norms as they relate to Japan. Very satisfied with him, If you're in the market for a Japanese teacher I HIGHLY recommend Toshi.

I've been taking lessons from Toshi every week for the last few months. I feel like I've learned more Japanese in this short time frame than the amount of French I've learned in the five years I took in high school and college. Really personable and fun to take lessons with and teaches you not only the language, but the culture too. Hope to keep taking lessons for much longer!

I have been working with Toshi-Sensei for a few months now and all I can say is wow! He has been such a huge help to me and helps me to be very confident with my Japanese.

Whether I am having a simple time or struggling he always makes sure to explain it in ways that are easy to understand and never gets frustrated with my questions or if things take me a long while to grasp.

Not only that but he makes a point to always check up on my home life and see how my family is doing! He is an honest good person and one of the best teachers I have ever encountered in my life and I consider him a great friend!

Arigatou gozaimasu Toshi-sensei!

Japan is a wonderful country full of diverse businesses, unique people and customs which when stretched across their land make up the beautiful tapestry which they know as home. Toshi sensei will always be blessed to call this beautiful land home but takes up residency now in California where he is able to spread the light of Japan abroad teaching anyone willing; the art that is the Japanese language!

Language is a powerful blessing that allows us to effectively communicate clearly with one another, thereby allowing us to connect with one another on a much more common ground. Toshi sensei takes his time to ensure that the language is learned clearly and effectively by reviewing often and with overwhelmingly positive reinforcement! Lessons tend to fly by so quickly as you quickly dissolve the concept of being 'taught' with the actuality of having fun! Learning any language can be hard, but Toshi sensei ensures that the effort is well worth it! As a student you can expect to smile, laugh and learn a lot at a pace that both fits your lifestyle as well as your personal interests. Do not expect an instructor that is judgmental, quick-tempered, hasty, rigid, or anything less than phenomenal! There are NOT ENOUGH STARS to define the teaching style of Toshi sensei! Hard work, dedication and continual practice will pay off if you should choose Toshi sensei as an instructor.

When thinking about what language comprises and how intricately it connects to even our own cultures and customs, it is overwhelming how much there can be to learn! I am so very thankful and blessed to have Toshi sesei as my instructor. While considering who you want to learn from, remind yourself that YOU...dear reader...DESERVE THE BEST. You are not paying for OK, and you certainly want above average...so do yourself the privilege of seeing just how awesome Toshi sensei is!! Many blessings on your path to learning the art of Japanese!

I have been studying with Toshi for over a little over a year now. He is a fun and
amazing teacher who I have learned a lot from since I met him. I have already learned writing, reading, and Japanese culture. Japanese culture has always been something I liked so the lessons are very interesting. I hope to one day live in Japan after I become fluent and that would still be just a dream without his tutoring. He stands out amongst tutors as somebody who is kind and patient and not just somebody who crams information to his students. I am proud of what I have learned and I am excited to study more. Thank you Toshi. – Jordan Phillips

I've been studying with Toshi for a year. He is a fun and awesome teacher. Since I've been with him I not only am learning Japanese, but Japanese culture as well. I know how to read and write in Japanese and now I'm being instructed within our lessons in Japanese. Since its something that interests me and is very fun the lessons just go by so fast. I'm hoping to study in japan when i go to college for a semester or two. Thank you Toshi.

Toshi is an outstanding Japanese tutor. He came highly recommended to me and he did not disappoint! Because I am preparing for a Fulbright fellowship in Japan, I needed someone who could arm me with essential Japanese phrases for social and academic settings. Toshi has prepared me both linguistically and culturally for this international move and for this, I am very grateful. - Diane Rodriguez-Kiino, Ph.D.

I originally sought Toshi out for tutoring with JLPT level 3. He was very prompt with getting in contact with me and scheduling an appointment as opposed to other possible Japanese tutors who were either slow to or did not respond at all. Even though Toshi and I were only able to meet up for 6 sessions of tutoring ( 1 hour per session), his tutoring was a pivotal part of my passing the JLPT the when I took it the second time. Toshi is able to give very detailed explanations of grammar points and especially cultural points. Even though I have already passed the JLPT, I have chosen to happily keep Toshi on as a regular tutor for my Japanese class due to his effective tutoring skills!

Dear Toshi Sensei,

I think you have taught me a lot of Japanese. It has made me able to understand the words. Also, when you teach, it is soo fun. You also, make it enjoyable to listen to. Since, you make it fun, it is easier. It is also fun talking and laughing together. I love your Japanese class. I can't wait to go to Japan with you and my family in the future. I also wish we can take the Japanese test soon. -
I've learned alot so far. I also get to use the words sometimes in Karate. It's fun learning how to write the words. Sensei is sometimes funny. He is also kind. I am happy I'm doing classes with sensei Toshi.- from Cameron & Rheya Carr Twins Sibling

Toshi's Japanese Tutoring service are excellent, and I would recommend them to anyone. He helped me on Japanese speaking skills, grammar, and the reading and writing of Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji. He is always very meticulous - his attention to detail helped me fix bad habits I didn't even know I had - but always very patient and cheerful. Furthermore, his knowledge of the Japanese Language is vast; thus he is able to advise people on how to speak in any specific situation. This will prove vital for those planning to travel to Japan. Not only speaking, but behavior, posture, etc. are socially relevant, and he takes time to educate students on these points as well. I passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam (A.K.A. JLPT Level 3 ) recently; it is safe to say that this is mostly to the credit of Mr.M Toshi's teaching skills. He is also very accommodating in terms of time and meeting place. If you are looking for a Japanese tutor, I world definitely recommend Mr. Toshi.

Toshi is doing a fantastic job helping me prepare to take JLPT N1. He is patient and very understanding of what my needs are at my level. It's very hard to find a teacher that can help those at advanced levels. He's been very accommodating, and I love having him as a tutor! I know that with him as my tutor, I'll be pera-pera in no time.

I am so very happy to have Toshi as my teacher. I like that he is a native Japanese person so I know that I am learning the right way. He is a strict teacher who demands proper pronunciation of the language yet each lesson is fun and filled with interesting cultural information on Japan. Not only am I learning the proper way to speak Japanese, I'm also learning to write and read hiragana and katakana. Toshi has allowed me to incorporate my love of Jdrama into my lessons and has introduced me to an enjoyable program called Sazae-san. Toshi has helped me erase the fear of learning Japanese and now I look forward to each and every lesson.