I've been taking classes with Toshi since Summer this year and he's been great! He teaches in a way that makes it easy to follow and keeps each lesson organized. He listens and works with you to reach your goal, whatever it may be. I'm really happy!

Very informative and really tries to get you to the level you want to be at. From business standpoint to casual.
Always trying to make me understand that switching from polite to super polite and casual depending on the situation is key for my requirements. Also he tries to make the lesson's intriguing and fun as possible.

He likes to gauge the level you want to be at first then progresses to it at a reasonable pace depending on how comfortable you are!
とし先生、ありがとうございました。よろしくお願いします！

Very informative, iv been taking Toshi’s one on one classes along with a college class and I usually learn more from one class than I do from 2 of my 2 hour college classes. Toshi is also very supportive and will make sure that you can reach the level of Japanese fluency that you want at the space that you are comfortable. ありがとございます、とし先生

I am writing this from my moms phone so I thought I should elaborate that I am a 15 year old student, but I absolutely love my lessons with Toshi-san. He is hilarious and makes lessons extremely fun and makes it a lot easier to retain information. It is very hard for me to remember things and be invested due to my ADHD but he never fails to keep my attention. I definitely recommend him for everyone! I think anyone who wants to learn proper Japanese and etiquette should have lessons with him.

Toshi has had several sessions with our son. Out of all the tutors and teachers that he has had in his life Toshi has been the best. Toshi has done an amazing job building his confidence. When he is in session I can hear him laughing and when he is done he is so excited for the next session. I would highly recommend Toshi. Thank you Toshi for everything you do!

I was feeling very nervous about taking my first the lesson, but Toshi was very kind and knowledgeable. I was able to laugh throughout the whole lesson, and really start to feel comfortable. When I struggled to find words Toshi was able to help me find them, and was very patient with listening to me say “ummm” while I racked my brain. If you are looking for a great Japanese tutor, look no further than Toshi.

Toshi was fantastic. Yes, his lessons are a little on the pricey side, but my 11 year old daughter has learned so much in just one month's time, with only one 45 minute lesson per week. He is kind and patient, and when she gets off topic, he knows how to reel the student back in to the Japanese lesson at hand! Definitely recommend Toshi Sensei!

Toshi really understands where I am in my understanding of Japanese and structures lessons so I am learning a lot and also applying things to my life for relevance. I end up feeling like we are actually having a conversation in Japanese, and still get a lot of grammar support and kind feedback!

日本に住む中学2年生です。とし先生から、日本人に難しいアメリカ英語の発音のレッスンを受けてから2週間になりました。アメリカ人の英語の先生から、”英語の発音が凄く良くなったね”と言われました。すっごく嬉しいです。とし先生ありがとうございます。これからも頑張ります。宜しくお願いします。٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

Translated using Google Translate:

I am a second year middle school student living in Japan. It's been two weeks since I received a lesson on how to pronounce American English from Japanese teachers. An American English teacher said, "Your English pronunciation has improved a lot." I'm really happy. Thank you, Mr. Toshi. I will keep trying my best. Thanking you in advance. ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

Prior to my lessons with Toshi, I'd been taught Japanese for 2 years in high school. I'd learned many nouns and sentences, but all were very basic, and I mostly learned how to repeat what was told to me. Toshi 100% catered his lessons to my goals, and taught me far more about sentence structure and language forms than I had in a large class. Definitely recommend!

My first Japanese lesson was excellent. Because of my weird amount of previous knowledge, we spent a large amount of the time finding my exact skill level and fixing my bad intonations, and where I need to start. It was very fun to try to communicate my own thoughts in Japanese, and Toshi was very patient with me while I fumbled my words. I look forward to future lessons and I have high hopes for the final results.

Toshi taught Japanese to my 12-year-old son. He was extremely knowledgeable and kind. He was asking key questions about the Japanese problems to my son. My son felt comfortable with his way of tutoring, even Toshi is knowledgeable, he is not intimidating at all, he is a friendly Japanese wizard.

Toshi is an excellent tutor. He does a great job of assessing a student's ability, interests, and goals and tailoring the lessons to the student. He has a gift for teaching, and he creates a wonderful space for learning. As someone has mastered a number of other languages and complex grammars, I know the importance of technical ability as well, and Toshi has an excellent command of grammar, syntax, and structures of Japanese. He is a native speaker AND a great teacher. I feel fortunate to have found him and am happy to recommend him.

Thanks so much for Toshi in this quarantine time training. Toshi is a very strict teacher and mentor. And thank you for being an inspiration for my Japanese journey. You taught me how to strive for perfect pronunciation and precise in Japanese speaking skills, giving 200% when I’m studying/training and push my self over the limit. You taught me how to think smart and better, confidence for my Japanese. You totally changed my negativity. I will keep training as hard as my brain allows me to do so. Thanks ❤️

I've been taking lessons with Toshi for almost two years now, and have enjoyed every lesson we've had. Toshi does a great job at teaching the full spectrum of Japanese: grammar, vocabulary, hiragana/katakana/kanji, and the differing forms based on level of politeness in a conversation.

I started taking Japanese lessons with Toshi to prepare for my move to Japan and have already signed up for more lessons. Toshi has tailored each lesson to meet my language goals and has put a lot of thought into preparing lessons to make sure that I know what I need to make the most of my time in Japan. I really appreciate that he has also included travel tips, recommendations, and cultural information. In between lessons, Toshi makes himself available to answer questions and is very responsive to text messages. I look forward to each lesson and cannot recommend Toshi enough!

I am so grateful to be able to take lessons with Toshi sensei. Learning Japanese does not seem intimidating at all anymore. Having tried to learn Japanese by following digital courses before discovering TakeLessons, I can say without a doubt that Toshi sensei covers many important things that you will NEVER find in any textbook. His teaching methods are very effective.
Toshi sensei is an amazing teacher and person. I am fortunate to have found him and I am very grateful to him and everyone who supported me and gave me this opportunity. I strongly recommend that you take lessons with him if you are looking to understand and communicate effectively in true Japanese.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ありがとうございました。

Of course, I have never had an instructor in Japanese, so by definition Toshi is my best instructor. However, this has really been a great experience. Although we are online, it is more like we are meeting at coffee shop every other week. We go through real life situations, in the way people would really speak in Japan (such as going to a restaurant or coffee shop, with train station and shopping pending ). We have gradually gone from Romaji to Hiragana. We talk about a lot of different subjects so that I am always learning new vocabulary (weather, Mother's Day, Corona virus, etc.). We mainly use formal polite speech (it's easier to go from this to informal, than the other way around). I have become more comfortable speaking Japanese in markets and restaurants, because of this course. Toshi provides a lot of online resources such as movie streaming and web pages. I take extensive notes and supplement with Duolingo and other online resources to get the most out of it. On top of it all, Toshi is a warm and entertaining person and I just look forward to having a conversation with him and learning some Japanese.

I had my first lesson today and it was really great! I wanna learn japanese for business inquiries and Toshi sensei takes it into account when he teaches me. Everything he teaches me, includes how you should say that in a offfice, how you should say this with clients, etc. He’s really good to make you feel comfortable and he took to the time to try to get to know me! I cant wait for next lessons! :))

Toshi sensei is very knowledgeable of Japanese both in theory and in daily applications. I strongly recommend him to anyone who plans to live in Japan for an extended period or who needs to visit Japan frequently for business. His approaches in teaching Japanese are highly effective and practical.

I've worked with Toshi over the past few months, and I've been extremely happy with the progress I've made in my Japanese ability working with him. He was very patient (which is good, because I make lots of mistakes), and encouraged me to find other ways to explain what I meant when what I said was unclear so that he could suggest more natural ways to express what I was trying to say. This was exactly what I was hoping for when I looked for a Japanese tutor! He was able to assess my ability level quickly and adjusted his teaching method appropriately, so I always felt like lessons were at the right level and I was always learning something new.

I'm totally new to Japanese and I was very nervous. I just completed my 4th lesson and I'm finding learning Japanese is fun! Toshi is very patient and he is helping me create a plan forward. I have been working hard and have kind of gotten Hiragana,Katakana, but I need a lot more practice. I am able to read and write some words and in our lesson today I spoke my first complete Japanese sentence. Thank you Toshi for your help and for making my Japanese journey fun!

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 him more.

Toshi is a great Japanese teacher to our son. He is Japanese who has learned fluent English, so he understands the difficulties that students face trying to learn the language and explains these concepts clearly. We are lucky to have Toshi to help our son improve his understanding and ability to speak Japanese in his high school class.

He's very knowledgeable in both the Japanese language and culture and still manages to teach while making the lessons lighthearted and enjoyable. From what I hear, he's great with kids and beginners, but is also helpful for college students like me trying to get ahead. 10/10 Would recommend.

My son has has 2 Japanese lessons from Toshi and wishes he had started sooner. He looks forward to his class every week and practices daily at home. Toshi is patient and encouraging. My son is confident that his lessons with Toshi are leading him to his goal of speaking and writing Japanese.

I found Toshi luckily and he was the best person for what I was looking for. I needed to get “don't overthink it” translated to Japanese and he gave me more knowledge than I imagined. He has such knowledge and passion for the language that it was such a great experience. I know it might not seem like a big deal but those words mean a lot to me and he taught me different ways and meanings to write it and Japanese is such a complex and beautiful language that I felt like staying longer and learning so much more. Thank you so much Toshi! Totally recommend, 100%.

I had been looking for a tutor to help me learn Japanese over the long term, and Soo's resume seemed great! During our first lesson, he quickly assessed my (relatively basic) skill level and dove right in. He is friendly, encouraging, and very knowledgeable, and I was confident enough in his skills that I immediately purchased a couple books from which we can continue lessons. Recommended!

Toshi is a uniquely gifted teacher who truly lives up to all of his glowing reviews. My teen son is visually impaired and I am impressed with how Toshi has adapted his lessons to make sure my son will meet his longterm goal of becoming a fluent Japanese speaker. From the first lesson Toshi was determined to find a way to teach him effectively and he devised a method that is working beautifully. After nearly 6 months of lessons it is clear that my son is getting excellent instruction and has a tutor who takes him and his goals seriously. Toshi’s encouraging and lighthearted approach make his tutoring sessions a highlight of my son’s school week. My son says Toshi is one of the best teachers he has ever had and I agree. We highly recommend Toshi Sensei.

Toshi has been doing a great job helping my son with Japanese I. We have already noticed an improvement in his understanding of the language. His test scores have gone from D's to B's. Toshi shows up on time and gets right to work. My son likes his teaching style and patience. I would highly recommend Toshi.

Toshi has been working with our son who is a junior at college. Toshi has made an enormous difference and our son is not only learning quickly but showing marked improvement in his work. He has been getting great grades and receiving strong, positive feedback from his professors. Toshi is flexible, available when needed, and has formed a wonderful working relationship with him. Our son feels he is learning every time they work together. I cannot recommend Toshi highly enough. We feel lucky to have him a part of our son's college life and helping to prepare him to be a really excellent Japanese speaker once he is out in the working world.

Toshi is patient, kind, incredibly knowledgeable, energetic, understanding and excited to teach. He is the absolute perfect tutor! He knows his stuff and has a great Japanese material he has carefully selected. I have studied Japanese for over a year now and the very first day we talked he easily transitioned to teaching to my exact intermediate level perfectly. We discuss and examine very closely the mechanics of the language, something he helps me understand so much better not only because of his native understanding of Japanese and absolute native-level English, but his knowledge of linguistics as well. I have studied Japanese both in the US and abroad and I can safely say Toshi is the absolute best. I am excited for every lesson. I look forward to continuing with him and improving my Japanese. Thank you so much, Toshi!

My son has has 3 Japanese lessons from Toshi and wishes he had started sooner. He looks forward to his class every week and practices daily at home. Toshi is patient and encouraging. My son is confident that his lessons with Toshi are leading him to his goal of speaking and writing Japanese.

I was lucky to have Toshi as my teacher, and as someone who takes Japanese very seriously I can tell you that Toshi is the best teacher out there. To find a teacher with such a deep understanding of the language who can also give you a lot of added value such as insights on Japanese behavior and customs is rare. Even he helped me pick books! I enjoyed every lesson we had can not stress enough how much those lessons improved my Japanese. I highly recommend you choose Toshi as teacher like I did and ended up with a teacher who is also a friend.

Toshi has inspired my daughter interest to study Japanese. They have learned the language as they study the culture through Japanese cooking, crafts and other activities. I am so pleased with these enriching lessons. They have added a big boost to her education and interest!

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!!!!!

I`m a current high school student, and he is teaching me various Japanese expressions, and I've learned many things about Japanese grammar while doing lessons with him. My listening and speaking ability have also improved a lot. He also always answers all of my questions about Japanese with kindness.

Toshi-san is a very positive and effective tutor. He diligently and thoroughly prepares materials for each lesson (tailored to the student's level), assigns homework, and provides meaningful explanations about areas of difficulty or confusion. As well, his bright and cheerful disposition is very encouraging to the student.

Toshi has a great helpful personality. Easy to communicate with and can adapt to your needs as required. I learn better through example and asking questions. He never shies away from answering or explaining something I ask even thought it may be too advanced at the time of asking, he finds a way to help me understand. He is helping me a lot and my Japanese is improving. I like that he is teaching me the tricks of the language that make the grammar work correctly. In other classes I taken that is introduced little by little and far into the classes. I like that I can use those grammar methods now because I would like to improve my vocabulary recall and sentence construction. Highly recommended.

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 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.

Toshi sensei has been tutoring me for almost three 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 90 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 and look forward to the day that I can hold a conversation with him in full-speed fluent Japanese!

Toshi was kind, enthusiastic, and obviously competent both as a teacher and in the language. He did a great job of making the atmosphere one that felt safe. His excitement for Japanese is infectious and I found my self thinking that the usually scary mountain of learning a language felt attainable throughout our lesson. Toshi is great and I would recommend him without hesitation.

I've been attending lessons with Toshi Sensei for over a month now and it's been a great way for me to pick up my Japanese studies again after last studying in college more than 10 years ago. He suggested a couple options for textbooks. In addition to using the textbook, Toshi Sensei keeps the lessons interesting with Q&A, role-playing, and listening challenges (humbling, but super interesting.) I'm planning a trip to Japan next year and I'm confident that if I keep up with my Japanese lessons, Toshi Sensei will help me get into good shape for handling travel situations and also having interesting conversations beyond basic greetings and introductions. As long as you're not going to schedule anything during my normal lesson time, I highly recommend trying out a lesson with Toshi Sensei!

Toshi is such a great tutor. He not only teaches my son reading, writing and speaking Japanese, he also prepares course work, includes homework assignments, and even suggests Japanese movies and shows to watch. I cannot believe how much my son is learning so quickly. Thank you.

My daughters are 11 and 8 and are both enjoying their Japanese lessons from Sensei (Toshi). He's able to assess my girls and tailor his lesson plan to their personalities, all the while keeping them engaged and enjoying themselves. I highly recommend Toshi for your tutoring needs.

I have recently started receiving lessons from Toshi, and have found him to be an excellent tutor. He strikes a good balance between pushing you to think, read, and speak at a natural pace (i.e. fairly quick) and giving you time to process a new word, difficult passage, etc. It's important to maintain the pace so you can cover everything you need in a lesson, and it's good for mental agility, too, in my opinion. He is quick to correct without making you feel as though you've been interrupted (it's important to get the feedback but also maintain the flow of what you're reading, for example). We speak only a little English during our time, which is obviously important, and he does not slow down his speech for me. It's my guess that he tailors this to the student's level, but at least for my level, I think it's helpful for improving my listening skills. Toshi is clearly very experienced, and it shows in his ability to make good use of an hour's lesson. Each time I leave feeling as though I got two hours of instruction, practice, and feedback in a single hour.

I took an origami class. The class was taught by Toshi Sensei whom spoke very good English and were excellent teachers. I wore kimonos and drank green tea during the class, and I had a lot of fun learning to fold samurai hats, cranes, and even a paper totoro! Whether you've been doing origami for years or are looking to try it for the first time, I highly recommend Toshi Sensei.

Before finding Toshi-sensei I honestly wasn't interested in having online classes since I believed that I wouldn't get the in person experience that I needed to learn a language. Due to my busy schedule and no tutor near enough to drive to I was reluctant to try online tutoring. I honestly was pleasantly surprised by my first lesson with Toshi-sensei. He was extremely knowledgeable and taught in a way that you're able to retain the information. I can ask him any question with confidence and he will be happy to help! He's extremely patience and will take the time that's necessary for you to learn the material. I've been his student for a while and I can certainly see the improvement in my conversational skills and to properly write sentences in Hiragana/ Katakana (still working on kanji). I highly recommend him for anyone who wants to learn Japanese! Try him out you won't regret it !

As someone who had not spoken Japanese with anybody prior to our lessons, I would recommend Toshi Sensei. The lessons are well structured and customized to one's progress. It's easy to fall into the trap of being over-confident when primarily studying from a textbook because you are not forced to interact and the exercises can be a bit formulaic. Toshi Sensei provides me with that interaction coupled with immediate feedback. He also provides me with supplementary exercises such as transcribing previously unfamiliar katakana (a tough exercise). His sense of humor helps too.

This was only the first lesson, but Toshi-sensei went through the material very thoroughly and explained the concepts well. Even the parts that were review for me he either explained in such a way that I more deeply understood them or completely (and for the better) changed how I thought about them. Also, he was very nice to talk with! And incorporated my interests in the language/culture naturally and well. Looking forward to more lessons!

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.

Toshi is helping my son with an online Japanese course he is taking through school. Toshi is very knowledgeable and thorough. Toshi’s enthusiasm for teaching Japanese is obvious, and my son’s work has improved quite nicely with Toshi’s help.

Toshi has been teaching my daughter, who is a high school senior, Japanese for several months now. We think he is fantastic! He is highly educated in the written and spoken language, customs, meals, ceremonies, etc. You can't beat him! He is the best and even works with us on objectives for homeschooling for her to get a foreign language credit with her online homeschool! He is also a very kind and understanding man and works very hard to meet any needs. You absolutely can not go wrong with Toshi! Best choice we ever made!

I feel very comfortable asking any questions and always have a fun time learning Japanese with Toshi-sensei. I wanted a native speaking Japanese tutor to help me with conversations and reading basic hiragana/katakana. His lesson plan is easy to follow: I go through powerpoints, receive printouts & writing practice worksheets. I always look forward to seeing Toshi-sensei and enjoy learning more about the Japanese language with him.

My 12 year old son was extremely anxious about starting Japanese lessons, however Toshi welcomed him with much kindness and patience. He incorporated games and other fun creative ways to foster a positive learning experience. We were very impressed with his professionalism, experience, patience and non intimidating nature. I highly recommend him as a tutor.

I am from Japan. I am a Japanese. Toshi Sensei is BEST calligraphy teacher. I love real traditional Japanese brush and ink. He fixed my weakness and bad habits. Looking forward to next class! とし先生、どうもありがとうございます！これからもどうぞ宜しくお願い致します。

Toshi is very patient and encouraging. He is fun and makes learning interesting. I have had one lesson on origami and can’t wait to have more. I am middle aged and I don’t know the origami at all and Toshi is a very good teacher. I would highly recommend him.

Toshi-sensei is a fantastic teacher. In the eight months since this review, I have learned so much from him. He not only teaches the language but the concept and culture that goes along with learning Japanese. He also does a great job of connecting with his students regardless of age.

Toshi-san is a great teacher, very patient and very nice, I recommend to anyone! He taught me self introductions, grammar points. We also talked a lot about culture differences between Japan, Europe and the US which was very interesting, especially since Toshi-san has lived both in the US and in Japan!

Wonderful Experience!! My daughter and I are beginners in learning Japanese. Toshi is an excellent teacher who speaks english very well. The pace is perfect. Toshi is both professional and personal. He is able to provide a smooth transition from English to Japanese.

Our twelve year old Daughter just had her first tutoring lesson for Japanese with Toshi and we are very pleased! “Toshi is nice, very patient, is from Japan so knows about the culture too. I've only had one leason so far but he is great, and he definitely has the equipment (sheets you can study, text book etc.) all in all he is a great tutor.” - Sharon

Toshi has helped my son understand the basics of Japanese in a very short time. Toshi makes the session interesting for him and is very encouraging. I would recommend Toshi to anyone who is wanting to learn Japanese and is tentative with starting the process. He is incredibly supportive and positive and is very sensitive to adapting his methods to your way of learning the language.

Tailored teaching. Well organized; good teaching and learning tools; explains things extremely well and very clearly. Was very impressed how his approach changed as he noticed how I learn. Great at tailoring the teaching while also making sure you get the appropriate foundation.

Toshi was kind, enthusiastic, and obviously competent both as a teacher and in the language. He did a great job of making the atmosphere one that felt safe. His excitement for Japanese is infectious and I found my self thinking that the usually scary mountain of learning a language felt attainable throughout our lesson. Toshi is great and I would recommend him without hesitation.

I have been taking lessons with Toshi-Sensei for about two months, and he is fantastic. He easily adapts to my weak areas, even during a lesson, and constantly keeps me challenged and interested. He's always able to accommodate anything, and I love working with him.

Toshi is a very organized, extremely enthusiastic tutor who I am very much looking forward to studying with. He has my detailed goals in mind for his study plan, and I am sure we will be able to accomplish those goals together. I am very much looking forward to my future lessons with him.

I have been taking lessons with Toshi-Sensei for about two months, and he is fantastic. He easily adapts to my weak areas, even during a lesson, and constantly keeps me challenged and interested. He's always able to accommodate anything, and I love working with him.

Toshi Sensei presented a very informative and practical first Japanese lesson. He introduced common greetings and polite forms. At the same time, he was very careful to make sure I could both understand and say these new words. Toshi Sensei a good introduction to pronunciation. He familiarized me with two Japanese writing systems, Hiragana and Katakana. Toshi Sensei increased my confidence into ability to learn Japanese. He is a very skilled instructor.

I have used many different Japanese language coaches but Toshi is the best. In addition to his knowledge of the language he is very easy to understand. His first language is Japanese which I believe makes it easier for the student to understand. He is very professional and followed up after the session. I highly recommend hiring Toshi.

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!