Is Language Learning Alone Enough? Learn Culture Thoroughly While Attending Japanese Language Schools in Tokyo!
Category： Information, Japanese Culture, Manga course, Tea Ceremony, Tourism
Introducing What Kudan Japanese Cultural Research Institute Can Offer!
Why is Cultural Experience Necessary for Japanese Language Learning?
First, some people might wonder, “Why learn culture together?” But this is really important.
For example, the word “sumimasen.” If you look in a dictionary, it says “sorry” or “excuse me,” but the actual usage is much more complex. It’s used not only when apologizing, but also when expressing gratitude, getting someone’s attention, and in various other situations. These subtle nuances cannot be understood without knowing the cultural background.
Taking tea ceremony as an example, it’s not simply about “making tea,” but encompasses the spirit of caring for others, feeling the seasons, beautiful movements – all Japanese values are packed into it. By experiencing this, you naturally come to understand the depth of the Japanese language.
Among the students I’ve observed, those who have experienced culture and those who haven’t show completely different speeds of Japanese language improvement. By knowing the culture, you become able to put emotion into your words.
Q: What’s Amazing About Kudan Japanese Cultural Research Institute’s Cultural Programs?
What makes our school different from other Japanese language schools in Tokyo is that we offer genuine cultural “learning,” not just cultural “experience.” It’s not just a brief touch-and-go experience, but you can learn deeply through solid programs.
With over 30 years of history since our founding, we can collaborate with genuine specialists and long-established businesses. Because we have an environment where students from over 70 countries study, we can convey Japanese culture from an international perspective.
Our location, 5 minutes on foot from Suidobashi Station in Chiyoda Ward, provides convenient access to cultural facilities. Because we’re in the heart of Tokyo, we can offer many programs that are only possible here.
【Tea Ceremony Course】Learning Authentic “Hospitality Spirit”
Tea ceremony is representative of Japanese culture that many foreigners think “I’d like to try once.” But our tea ceremony program isn’t just an experience.
The Appeal of the Short-term Tea Ceremony Course
First, let me explain the short-term tea ceremony course. This is a really popular program!
What Do You Learn?
In 8 lessons, you can master everything from tea ceremony basics to the formal “bonryaku temae” procedure. Since an assistant professor from the Urasenke school provides direct instruction, you can learn authentic tea ceremony.
Starting with orientation, you learn about tools, their handling, beautiful movements, and how to receive sweets and thin tea. As you gradually get used to it, you practice making matcha yourself, and finally become able to host guests.
What Are the Actual Classes Like?
With small classes (maximum 6 students), the teacher can properly watch each individual. Classes are held every Thursday from 6:30-8:00 PM, making it easy for people to attend after work.
Just recently, an American student said, “Sitting seiza was difficult, but I gradually got used to it, and in the end it was really enjoyable.” She was nervous at first, but at the completion ceremony she confidently made tea, which was truly moving.
Lots of Benefits!
Self-study materials come with English translations, and video URLs for practice exercises are distributed so you can review at home. When you complete all 8 sessions, you receive a certificate. This really becomes a wonderful memento.
Japanese People Are Also Welcome!
Not only foreign students but Japanese people can also participate, so you can enjoy learning while engaging in international exchange. There are many people who say, “I’m Japanese but a beginner at tea ceremony…”
Tea Ceremony Private Lessons for Deeper Learning
For those who want to learn more seriously, private lessons are recommended. These are incredibly comprehensive!
The Luxury of One-on-One
Adapting to each person’s pace, you can learn a wide range of content from tea ceremony history to the spirit of tea ceremony, Rikyu’s seven rules, and types of tea bowls from kilns across the country. You can even learn seasonal flower arranging, so you can deeply understand Japanese aesthetics through tea ceremony.
Trilingual Instructors
You can choose from Japanese, English, or Italian, so even beginners can feel secure. If you choose lessons in Japanese, it becomes both tea ceremony and Japanese conversation lessons – killing two birds with one stone.
Online or In-Person
Online lessons can be taken from anywhere in the world, while in-person lessons let you experience the authentic atmosphere in the school’s tea room. In-person lessons include sweets each time, making it truly a special experience.
You also receive video links for bonryaku temae practice exercises, so you can review anytime.
【Manga Course】Seriously Learning Japanese Pop Culture
This is a truly unique program! It’s a joint program with “Japan Manga Academy,” which has 23 years of experience, where you can learn Japanese language and manga techniques simultaneously.
The Luxury of Learning Directly from Professional Manga Artists
Authentic Curriculum
Starting with drawing character faces, you learn step by step: expressing emotions, drawing full bodies, original character design. From background drawing and panel layout techniques to digital manga creation (CLIP STUDIO PAINT), you can learn the techniques that professional manga artists use directly.
Safe for Beginners
Even people who say “I’ve never drawn anything” are fine. I’ve seen many times students who could only draw stick figures complete wonderful original characters after 3 months.
Just recently, a French student who said “I love Japanese manga and always wanted to try drawing myself” took the course and completed a truly wonderful work. When I saw the work at the completion ceremony, I was moved too.
Extracurricular Activities in Akihabara Too
A visit to Akihabara, the holy land of manga and anime, is also planned, so you can experience Japanese otaku culture firsthand. Actually visiting manga shops and seeing the latest anime goods is a valuable experience you can’t learn from textbooks.
Duration and Cost
There are 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month courses, so you can choose according to your convenience. Since Japanese lessons and manga lessons are combined, you can study efficiently.
Upon completion, you receive a completion certificate and the works you drew, making it a really nice memento.
【Sushi Course】Authentic Techniques Through Collaboration with Ginza High-end Restaurants
The sushi course is also very popular at Kudan Japanese Cultural Academy! It’s a joint program with the high-end Ginza sushi brand “Ginza Onodera,” where you can learn techniques directly from active sushi chefs.
Learning Authentic Techniques from Professional Sushi Chefs
Practical Curriculum
Starting with making sushi rice, you can learn professional techniques practically: how to prepare seafood, nigiri sushi and maki sushi techniques. In 8 lessons, you can master basic sushi chef techniques including making shari (sushi rice), forming gunkan, three-piece filleting, preparing horse mackerel and salmon, and rolling thick sushi rolls.
No Cooking Experience Needed
Even students who say “I’ve never held a knife” can properly make sushi by the end. Since it focuses mainly on learning movements, even those whose Japanese isn’t advanced yet can take the course with confidence.
Careful Instruction in Small Classes
With a maximum of 8 students (minimum 3 to open), you receive careful individual instruction. There’s also a presentation session in the final class where you can feel your technical growth.
Just recently, an Italian student who said “When I return to my country, I want to make sushi for my friends” practiced very hard. At the final presentation, she made truly beautiful sushi and received praise from the chef.
One-Month Intensive Program
The structure includes Japanese lessons in weekday mornings and sushi lessons on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. You can efficiently master techniques by concentrating your learning in a short period.
Upon completion, you receive an original completion certificate with 80% or higher attendance. This is really a qualification to be proud of.
【Kintsugi Course】Experiencing Japanese Aesthetic “Wabi-Sabi”
One Japanese word I really love is “wabi-sabi.” I think wabi-sabi is a uniquely Japanese word, and I think it’s a wonderful word. The kintsugi course is a program where you can learn exactly the spirit of wabi-sabi. It’s not just a repair technique, but you can learn Japanese aesthetics and philosophy.
The Philosophy That “Broken Things Can Be Beautifully Reborn”
Hybrid Kintsugi Technique
This is a traditional technique of bonding cracked or chipped ceramics with urushi and decorating with gold or silver powder. In our program, we learn “hybrid kintsugi” which uses adhesive to save time and finishes with urushi and real gold.
What’s wonderful about this technique is that the finished product can actually be used for eating and drinking. You can take it home and actually use it.
Learning the Spirit of “Wabi-Sabi”
Kintsugi isn’t just a repair technique. It embodies the uniquely Japanese aesthetic of not hiding flaws but transforming them into new beauty. You can understand the spirit of wabi-sabi – “finding beauty in imperfect things” – by actually experiencing it.
Just recently, a German student said, “This way of thinking doesn’t exist in my country. It’s very interesting,” and worked on it enthusiastically. When the work was completed, her words “It’s beautiful…” really touched my heart.
Masterable in a Short Period
You can master basic techniques in 3 lessons. In the first lesson, you prepare and bond cracks and chips; in the second, you do grinding work and apply black urushi; in the third, you apply bengara urushi and complete the decoration with gold and silver powder.
Since lessons focus on practical work, it’s a learning-by-watching style. English materials are also prepared, so even Japanese beginners can take the course with confidence.
Special Souvenirs Included
Participants receive an original hybrid kintsugi kit that can be used multiple times at home. Even after the course ends, you can enjoy kintsugi at home.
Upon completion, you receive original completion certificates from both the Japanese language school and the kintsugi course. The condition is 80% or higher attendance, but since everyone works seriously, most people obtain them.
Amazing Synergy Effects with Japanese Language Learning!
What’s wonderful about these cultural programs is that they don’t just teach culture, but have great effects on Japanese language learning too.
Vocabulary Naturally Increases
In tea ceremony, you learn words expressing uniquely Japanese concepts like “wabi,” “sabi,” and “omotenashi.” In manga courses, you memorize technical terms like “koma-wari” (panel layout), “fukidashi” (speech bubbles), and “tone.” In sushi courses, you acquire food-related vocabulary like “shari,” “neta,” and “wasabi.”
Words that are hard to memorize in regular classes can be naturally remembered when experienced hands-on.
Keigo and Polite Language Are Acquired
Especially in tea ceremony courses, you can naturally learn beautiful keigo and polite language. Expressions like “otemae choudai itashimasu” and “osore irimasu” are learned while actually using them in real situations, so you don’t forget them.
Cultural Background Can Be Understood
“Why do Japanese people say this?” “What’s behind this expression?” – these things can be understood through experience. This is something you absolutely cannot learn from textbooks alone.
Confidence Builds
The sense of accomplishment from “experiencing Japanese culture” and “acquiring skills” leads to confidence in overall Japanese language learning. Being able to say to friends “I can do tea ceremony” or “I can make sushi” is also delightful.
Proving Skills with Completion Certificates
All programs provide original completion certificates upon completion. This serves as proof that you studied Japanese culture, which is useful for future job hunting or when returning to your home country.
Especially the tea ceremony completion certificate is proof of receiving direct instruction from an Urasenke assistant professor, so I think it has great value.
Authentic Experiences Only Possible in Tokyo
These programs are possible because of our Tokyo location. We can provide authentic cultural learning by collaborating with genuine Tokyo resources: high-end Ginza sushi restaurants, Akihabara manga culture, long-established kintsugi workshops.
Because we’re in Chiyoda Ward, the heart of Tokyo, we have good access to these cultural facilities and specialists, enabling us to provide high-quality programs.
Finally: Language and Culture Are One
I’ve talked at length, but what I most want to convey is that “language and culture cannot be separated.”
While becoming able to speak Japanese is important, by understanding Japanese culture, you can understand Japanese at a much deeper level. And your relationships with Japanese people become much richer.
From “foreigners who can speak Japanese” to “international people who also understand Japanese culture.” We want to support this kind of growth at our school.
There are many Japanese language schools in Tokyo, but schools with such comprehensive authentic cultural programs are rare. If you feel that language alone isn’t enough and want to learn Japanese culture deeply, please come visit us sometime.
I’m sure you’ll experience the joy of learning Japanese through culture. I look forward to meeting you all!
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2025年8月4日 月曜日 10:12 AM Category: Information, Japanese Culture, Manga course, Tea Ceremony, Tourism.