20 years of teaching ★A former University Lecturer ★Japanese Linguist selected as BEST online Japanese Tutor by Vidalingua

I studied Japanese at University but after 10+ years of not speaking it, my level had deteriorated hugely. After struggling to re-learn the language by myself, I luckily found Mineko-sensei and my level picked up again quickly. Mineko-sensei has such a friendly approach to teaching that you feel relaxed and comfortable enough to make mistakes - something that is so important when learning languages! She is passionate about sharing Japanese culture, and that excitement is contagious and fuels your desire to learn even more.

Mineko was my Japanese tutor for several years, and I went from zero Japanese language skills to being able to talk with my Japanese colleagues in meetings and socially. Mineko is high energy and driven, you don't get a free ride in the learning sessions!! Her teaching style is to show you what you practically need to be able to communicate effectively, not just the language, also the cultural aspects of what is important as well. I highly recommend Mineko for anyone wanting to learn Japanese or about Japan.

I’ve never found it easy to learn a language, I always struggled even in my long-off school days. So, having made the decision to try my hand (or more correctly, my brain) at Japanese, I count myself fortunate to have found Arai sensei to teach me. Here are three reasons why English speakers should choose the Arai Academy.
1. She understands the problems faced by English speakers in tackling a language that is often so opposite in its approach to their own.
2. She has a knack of breaking down the learning into ‘bite-sized’ chunks, which build on one another. You won’t find this in any of the textbooks I’ve seen.
3. I tended to ask myself why is Japanese like this? And I got the answers, as with Arai, along with learning the language you get to understand some of the culture of Japan. This is just so rewarding!
Bob

I have been taking one-on-one weekly lessons with Arai sensei for about a year and a half. I feel that these lessons are improving my Japanese in an enjoyable way. Although I have a busy work schedule every week, Arai sensei is very good at tailoring the lessons to my lifestyle and interests and keeping the lessons engaging and interesting so that I feel steady improvement all the time.

You can try the lessons and see how much you like Japanese. The basics can be picked up fairly
quickly but it takes a lot of practice to become proficient. It helps if you have an interest in
some Japanese media or content so you can use this for practice.

Learning from Arai san was engaging and fun. Beyond teaching the Japanese language, I was also able to learn the culture and hear tips for staying and working with its people. The combination of structure and customisation in her lessons worked well to help me learn with interest.

Mineko Sensei is truly the most well-prepared and supportive teacher you can hope for. She has an outstanding pedagogical approach which is only second to her patience and kindness. Her lessons are always of the highest quality and I have learnt so much every single time. I tried learning Japanese many times over the last 20 years, but it was only when I became one of Mineko Seinsei's students that I made true, steady, and considerable progress! I am also a teacher (Maths and Physics) and have been in education, both Higher and Secondary, for the last 11 years and I can say without any doubt that Mineko Sensei is a truly sensational professional and human being! The best you can hope for!

Arai-sensei and her academy have completely transformed the way I approach learning Japanese, particularly business Japanese. Having had the pleasure of working with Arai-sensei and her academy for nearly two years, I cannot recommend her services enough.

Arai-sensei is not only a wonderful teacher with deep knowledge in her field, but she also leads a professional network of instructors catering to various levels of Japanese proficiency. She exudes enthusiasm for each of her students and has been incredibly supportive of my goals and aspirations in Japanese learning. Her courses and website are meticulously organized, and she communicates all expectations upfront, making for a very smooth introduction.

After discussing my goals to continue advancing in business Japanese, she introduced me to another excellent teacher, Yamamoto-sensei. I am thrilled to have met Yamamoto-sensei through Arai Academy. Having lived, studied, and worked in Japan for about five years, I set a goal last year to improve my business Japanese and enhance my reading and writing skills to confidently lead business strategy meetings and communicate more effectively with Japanese clients across various industries.

My experiences with both Arai-sensei and Yamamoto-sensei have been exceptionally positive. Their supportive and approachable teaching styles have made a significant difference in my learning. Yamamoto-sensei, in particular, has been fantastic to work with; she meticulously curates homework and study materials that enhance my understanding of the Japanese language. She focuses on vocabulary and uses real-life examples to ensure that her students are learning and not just memorizing the material.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Yamamoto-sensei in person in Japan, and I am immensely grateful for both our online and in-person interactions. I am excited to continue advancing my Japanese skills at Arai Academy, where I have noticed significant improvements in my confidence in speaking and writing Japanese.

Studying online can be challenging, but with the right motivation, teacher, and resources, it can be as effective as learning in a traditional classroom. I highly recommend Arai Academy to anyone looking to improve their business Japanese, especially those living outside of Japan who find it difficult to practice the language daily. Thanks to Arai-sensei's lessons, I now feel more confident navigating the Japanese corporate environment with greater ease and have more resources at my disposal.

If you are seeking a motivated and encouraging community of Japanese language teachers to not only practice but also learn and grow, look no further than Arai Academy's Japanese courses!

I highly recommend to sign up because you can learn efficiently with 1 on 1 classes at Arai Academy. You can always request whatever you want to learn because each lesson is tailored for your needs.

Arai-sensei is a not only a great Japanese teacher, but she’s also fantastic at explaining the culture and immersing you in the experience of communicating in real life. Thanks to her lessons, I felt much better equipped & less daunted when I moved to Japan. In short, she’s a committed, fun & experienced teacher that will help you understand the language beyond the textbook!

I had the pleasure of studying under Arai Sensei for about a year, focusing on business Japanese, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. Her impressive academic background, combined with her entrepreneurial mindset, truly sets her apart in this field. Arai Sensei tailors her teaching methods and content to align perfectly with each student's unique goals, ensuring steady and meaningful progress.

Throughout our lessons, she designed a comprehensive and effective learning path that focused on mastering formal Japanese. Her use of realistic scenarios, such as mock email exchanges with Japanese clients, made the learning experience both practical and engaging. Arai Sensei’s enthusiasm and energy made our weekly lessons a highlight of my week.

What truly distinguishes her is her deep curiosity and genuine commitment to understanding what can help you succeed in a Japanese business context. Her insights into Japanese business culture are invaluable, providing not just language skills but also the cultural acumen necessary to thrive. If you're looking to enhance your business Japanese while gaining a deeper understanding of Japanese corporate culture, Arai Sensei is who you need.

If you are starting new to learn Japanese, or want to improve your Japanese, Arai Sensei is the person you need to go to. For me the best things are, with her tailor made lessons we can easily adjust the pace of learning, and I learn the language with learning the culture as well! With learning the culture, the language is far more understandable.

I was always fascinated about Japanese culture and wanted to learn the language one day. Learning a new language, especially Japanese is a long and rough path. That’s why before I started learning Japanese, I researched about the language learning ways and talked with some people. However, after speaking and had a demo lesson with Arai Sensei, I was fascinated about the way of her unique teaching and we directly started our lessons. The lessons are fun, interactive, made of using everyday language and material, and I always learn new cultural aspects in every lesson. I am able to expand my knowledge both in the language and in the culture as well. Arai Sensei can find different interesting ways to steer the lesson and engage me to the conversation. 

I highly recommend Arai Sensei to learn Japanese and the way of the culture.

R.G.

She. Is. Amazing! Not only does she do her one on one lessons and is ALWAYS available whenever you have questions, but she also provides the power point lessons and has YouTube videos you can go back and review on. Would absolutely, 100% recommend Mineko San to every single person.

I struggled with learning Japanese by myself for years. It was a very frustrating cycle of learning and forgetting and constantly trying new apps, textbooks and methods. However, when I started lessons with Mineko, I quickly found that I was able to fully understand and remember grammar points that she'd taught me and use them in daily conversation. Mineko took the time to understand my goals and my current level. She carefully explained her methods and her process, so I always know why we're doing what we're doing. Her lessons are completely tailored to my level, and I've quickly gained both confidence and language ability. I'm learning faster than I have in years, too! Her experience as an educator at some of the UK's leading universities is second to none and her kindness and patience is also a huge help. I would recommend Mineko to anyone who is serious about permanently getting better at Japanese and who wants to break the cycle of ineffective self-study.

If you want to learn Japanese, then I can absolutely recommend Mineko. I have known her for over 7 years and the standard of tuition she provides and the support she gives are both excellent. If you study with her, you can be sure you'll be in good hands.

I speak several European languages, and a few years ago decided to also learn Japanese for the intellectual challenge and to get a better understanding of the Japanese culture, which fascinates me. I started as a self-taught student, and I have been a student of the Arai-sensei for almost four years, an experience I continue to find most enjoyable and rewarding. My knowledge of Japanese has improved enormously, and I have gained confidence in speaking and understanding the language. Arai-sensei taught me to appreciate the importance of balancing multiple ways to absorb the language, through talking and listening, as well as through reading and writing. I particularly enjoy having the ability to dig deep into any topic, whether it is the reason behind the apparent oddity of a grammar rule or the connection between apparently unrelated words and their kanjis. Moreover, learning the language with Arai-sensei is an insightful way to gain a more nuanced understanding of cross-cultural differences, and appreciate more in-depth the wonderful peculiarities of Japanese culture. Learning Japanese has become a source of never-ending discoveries and pride in my achievements, despite the consciousness of how massive the road ahead still is for me.

Miss Mineko is a very straightforward, hands on, and kind teacher who pays attention to detail and growth of the student. Her services are very beginner friendly and definitely anyone who wishes to learn the Japanese language should consider Arai Academy.

I had the pleasure of having a language exchange with Mineko which allowed me to experience her unique teaching style and see how much she cares for her students’ progress. High quality teaching which I warmly recommend.

Before, I couldn't find a textbook or a course that suited my learning style. It was annoying that I had to waste lots of money on books and classes that didn't help my studies.

But Arai Academy provided me tailor-made lessons where the teaching staff really understood my level and pace. So I was able to pass several Japanese exams and have become confident enough to speak with Japanese natives living in my local area.

Now I feel much more confident when communicating in Japanese and I'm also able to read articles in Japanese without too much difficulty.

For someone who has tried the beginners course and for anyone who has a lot of interest in the language and or culture or need to study for travel or business, 1-on-1 lessons are essential to get that experience talking with someone who speaks fluently in the language. The lessons are fun and informative.

I have known Mineko for 20 years. She not only understands the subject matter she knows how to teach it. Her preparation is very thorough. She is also a very positive person and her energy boosted my learning and motivation.

For all Japanese learners- I would probably class myself as an upper intermediate to advanced speaker of Japanese but far from perfect. I have tried online courses, tons of textbooks and ebooks, apps and in person classes and nothing has even come close to what I have achieved and learned with Arai Sensei and the Arai academy.. If you’re stuck in a Japanese learning rut, or the teacher you do have, leaves you thinking am I actually getting better. A real teacher will be praising you when you deserve it and telling you when you’re wrong and fixing and filling the gap.. and not avoid the uncomfortable part of being the bad guy.. as for me at my level and all the holes in my speaking ability, no teacher stopped me and fixed my bad habits until I met Arai sensei. If you want your goals and dreams to come true, I would recommend to upgrade your learning experience and get onboard with the Arai Academy for personalised plans and a different view and method of teaching and learning.. you won’t regret it.. but of course you have to put in the work.. cos if you don’t .. you can’t just blame your teacher..

Mineko Arai has been my Japanese teacher for more than seven years. At first she was my professor at SOAS (London University) when I did my MA in Japanese. Since then she has been my private teacher. I have continued to improve and am now able to use my Japanese during business trips to Tokyo.
Her approach to teaching Japanese is highly sophisticated and professional. She strongly believes that the key to unlocking language skills is to gain a deep understanding of both culture and language. I could not recommend Mineko more highly if you want to become a confident Japanese speaker.

Herman
Private equity professional

I attended one to one tuition with Mineko for around 5 years as part of my own interest to study Japanese. I started out with a grasp of the basics and became much more competent over years of casual study. This was helped by Mineko’s passion for teaching which I think is really important and sometimes difficult to find in a personal tutor. I found that very motivating when I was studying and without that I might have stopped studying completely. Whilst I was learning Japanese grammar and vocabulary, she also shared some of the nuances of how the language relates to Japanese mentality and culture. This made learning the language more enjoyable as I was also learning a lot about Japan. Overall I really enjoyed studying Japanese with Mineko and I would highly recommend her as a tutor.

I was lucky to be part of a group of Dentsu staff who were taught some basic Japanese by Arai sensei. Arai san's enthusiasm for teaching her native language was infectious. We all felt that Arai san really liked her job and it made us all try harder to learn. Arai san teaches Japanese by using real life situations together with some self prepared materials rather than rushing through a textbook. She puts an emphasis on culture, trying to explain why Japanese say what they say and explain what they think. Of all my teachers to date, Arai san has been one of the best. I can only recommend using Arai sensei if you want to learn Japanese in an efficient and pleasant way. Big thumbs up from me. Christoph

I would highly recommend Arai-sensei to any prospective students who want to learn Japanese, or improve their Japanese skills. She is highly qualified and explains things in a very clear way. The YouTube videos are great with a good mix of photos and drawings to help you learn too.

Arai-san (Mineko) is an excellent Japanese tutor, very patient and combines the teaching of the Japanese language alongside the culture and traditions of Japan.

I thoroughly enjoy her lessons which are delivered via different mediums to suit my needs / diary which is greatly appreciated.

Arai-san comes highly recommended for all those who wish to study Japanese, no matter how experienced.

Graham: Finance Director

I have been studying business Japanese with Arai sensei since 2017. She is a fantastic and dedicated teacher who will tailor your lessons to meet your needs and goals. I always enjoy our lessons and have made great progress since I started. If you live in London, you can also join the monthly conversation group to meet Japanese people and practice your Japanese. I couldn't recommend her enough.

Arai Sensei has been my private tutor for four years and has helped to explain many useful things about the language. She has also helped me to learn about Japanese culture and society. I enjoy her lessons and her enthusiasm. Duncan Bartlett, Japan Story.