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Award-Winning Japanese Tutors

Certified Tutor
2+ years
This isn't Hyun's primary language, but his fluency in Korean and Chinese gives him a genuine advantage with Japanese — he already understands kanji readings, sentence-final particles, and the East Asian honorific systems that confuse most learners. He approaches Japanese grammar methodically, the s...
Cornell University
Bachelor's
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Studying linguistics at Carleton College gave Maika a deep understanding of how Japanese grammar actually works — why particles like は and が behave differently, how verb conjugation patterns connect, and what makes keigo (polite language) so structurally distinct. She has tutored Japanese at both el...
Carleton College
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Living and teaching in Japan gave Zane firsthand immersion in the language — not just textbook grammar but the pitch, politeness levels, and particle usage that trip up English speakers. He approaches Japanese by connecting hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji to real conversational contexts so that ...
University of Nevada-Reno
MS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Fifteen years of teaching Japanese means Lucy Je has walked countless students through the progression from hiragana and katakana to kanji recognition, verb conjugation groups, and particle usage. She holds a degree in Japanese and approaches the language structurally — breaking down sentence patter...
Pukyung National University
MS
University of Padova
MS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
As a native Japanese speaker who has also worked professionally as an interpreter, Sonya understands both languages from the inside — the particles, sentence-final expressions, and politeness shifts that sound natural versus textbook-stiff. Her bilingual preschool volunteering sharpened her ability ...
University of Alberta
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
Darin
Darin brings an analytical learner's perspective to Japanese, tackling the language's grammar patterns and writing systems with the same systematic approach he applied to his scientific training. For students working through hiragana, katakana, kanji recognition, or verb conjugation, he offers struc...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
PHD, Physical Chemistry
Tufts University
Bachelors, Chemical Engineering

Certified Tutor
3+ years
Andrew
Holding a degree in Japanese Studies, Andrew brings deep familiarity with not just hiragana, katakana, and kanji but also the cultural context that shapes how the language actually works — keigo politeness levels, sentence-ending particles, and the logic behind counter words. He connects grammar pat...
Carthage College
Bachelor in Arts, Japanese Studies

Certified Tutor
William
During his final summer at NYU, William traveled to Japan to study the language alongside traditional music and wartime film, grounding his Japanese in real cultural context. That immersive experience means he connects vocabulary and grammar to the situations where they're actually used — from readi...
New York University
Bachelor in Arts, History

Certified Tutor
14+ years
Lewis
A PhD in linguistics means Lewis doesn't just know languages — he understands how they work structurally, which is exactly what you need when Japanese throws you grammar that has zero English parallels. He applies that analytical framework to breaking down sentence-final particles, SOV word order, a...
Northwestern University
PHD, Linguistics
University of Oregon
Bachelor in Arts, French

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Hatsuki
As a native Japanese speaker with over fifty years of fluency in reading, writing, and conversation, Hatsuki teaches the language the way it's actually used — from particle usage and keigo (honorific speech) to the nuances between hiragana, katakana, and kanji in everyday contexts. She currently liv...
Asia University
Bachelor of Economics, Development Economics and International Development
Top 20 Languages Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.
James
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +55 Subjects
I am a graduate of SUNY University at Albany. I received my Bachelor of Science in Economics and Japanese with a minor in History in 2010. Since then (and even before as a sub) I have predominantly been teaching in the New York City public education system. I had worked as a substitute teaching assistant since 2008, moving between dozens of NYC public schools before finally settling in late 2011 at M.S. 216 George J. Ryan--an incredibly diverse middle school in Queens. During my tenure in the school system I have spent time teaching students from Pre-K to 12th grade, from all cultural background and socioeconomic statuses. Regardless of whom I have taught, I have always enjoyed it, partly because I often learn as much from my students as they learn from me. Regardless of the subject, I love teaching, and I find it to be one of the most rewarding and meaningful activities, which cliched as it may sound, really can make a difference in people's lives. Besides teaching, I am also keenly interested in the human body, specifically biomechanics, kinesiology, and rehabilitation through movement. I am currently enrolled in a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Washington University in St. Louis, which I should finish in 2018. Hobbies: art, books, sports, reading, music, writing
Briana
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +20 Subjects
I am a graduate from Michigan State University with a B.A. in English literature, a specialization in creative writing and minors in Linguistics and Japanese. I am currently pursuing certification as a teacher of mathematics, Japanese, and English literature at the secondary level. I have worked for the last year and a half as a tutor of students grades 4th-12th in math, English, reading skills, study skills, and English and reading ACT prep.
Jacob
Calculus Tutor • +26 Subjects
I'm New York City born and raised. I graduated from the University of Chicago last year with a degree in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. I am developing my own teaching methods to evolve traditional East Asian and French language acquisition, and to do this I need even more experience. My course of study has been directed at learning as much as I can about the culture, economy, and history of East Asia, China and Japan in particular. I view myself as someone who is entrepreneurial, collegial, individually motivated to produce high quality work, as well as foster a love of the subject which I teach. I am compassionate and enjoy working with both children and adults. I believe I have something to learn from everyone I meet.
Damien
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am an intelligent, creative education professional with a passion for Math, English, curriculum development, and intervention strategies. I am currently an Associate Teacher of Mathematics at The School At Columbia University, Columbia's independent K-8 school. Previously, I was an Academic Program Lead and Teaching Fellow at a middle school in East Harlem where I taught daily Mathematics Intervention classes and led daily Guided Reading instruction. I am also a trained and qualified SAT / SHSAT Tutor as well as a graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. When I am not at school, I love relaxing with my fiancee and our two cats - Biscuit and Pumpkin - at our home in Astoria, watching football, playing video games, going to the gym, and listening to all different kinds of music. I am really looking forward to helping you rise to your academic potential and getting you to the head of your class!
Emily
Middle School Math Tutor • +41 Subjects
I'm a state certified teacher with many years of experience teaching and tutoring both in and out of the classroom, and I look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your goals. I hope to get to know you in person soon, but until then, here are my qualifications and interests. See you soon! Qualifications: -Graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University with a BA in Classics, Greek focus, and a minor in Japanese. -Graduated with Merit (UK equivalent of a 3.0 GPA) from The University of Nottingham in England, Master's in Ancient History. -Texas state certified to teach English both level and advanced for grades 9-12. -More than a decade of tutoring experience in English language arts, foreign language, and study skills; five years of classroom teaching experience: one year at a private academy of students with learning differences and disabilities and four years in public school. -Have taught students as young as 8 years old and as old as 63 -Coached and ran academic clubs and extracurricular clubs such as state spelling and writing competitions and creative writing clubs. -My proudest accomplishments to date include teaching an elementary student to love classical literature and one of my Latin students going on to join and excel in college translation courses as only a junior in high school. Interests: -Reading and creative writing such as short stories, poetry, and even fanfiction! -Singing: I hope to resume voice lessons soon! -Jogging -Watching foreign television such as anime or BBC programs -And of course studying languages!
Sophie
Calculus Tutor • +22 Subjects
I am a Princeton University graduate ('19) where I majored in East Asian Studies. My academic interests center around language learning Chinese, Japanese, and Korean as well as history, anthropology, and media studies. I have worked as a college advisor for high school students in the United States and have also taught English in Japan to students of all ages. Beyond these academic interests, I enjoy playing cello and guitar, cooking, reading, and drinking all kinds of tea. I'm excited to know my students and look forward to working together with them!
Dylan
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +51 Subjects
I am a freshman Computer Science major enrolled in the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. I have a passion for teaching students, and I am experienced with having to give one-on-one guidance in teaching many concepts. Tutoring is very rewarding for me because I am driven to help others and give whatever knowledge I have gained over the years in every field. I also have experience dealing with situations in which students are not quickly or readily grasping concepts, and I have developed the patience to handle these situations. Teaching is just as rewarding for the student as it is for me, because I am thrilled when I see others achieve, and I would love to be part of the process. In addition to high school AP courses and test prep, I have taken college level multivariable calculus, linear algebra, physics electricity/magnetism and mechanics, computer programming (c++, matlab, LISP/Scheme), Dynamics of Systems, and Mechanics of Systems.
Brian
AP Statistics Tutor • +115 Subjects
I'm a recent graduate of the California Institute of Technology in Economics and Computer Science. I was also accepted at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford. I have a broad range of interests spanning science, math, engineering, social science, the humanities, the arts, and athletics (I also played on the Caltech basketball team). My background allows me to tutor general college prep, especially the SAT, ACT and the GRE. I love to teach analytical thinking, ranging from advanced Math and Physics to strategies for understanding literature and developing arguments.
Caitlin
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects
I am a rising senior at Duke University who is Pre Med and majoring in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. I was born and raised in Miami FL and went to public school until college (Sunset Elementary, GW Carver Middle and Coral Reef Senior High for those from Miami). I decided to start tutoring because I would not be on this path had I not had good teachers supporting me along the way. For that reason I want to be able to help others achieve their goals without academics being a huge hurdle.
Katharine
College Algebra Tutor • +32 Subjects
I am interested in helping you achieve your goals and see results. I can be strict but I am also gentle and encouraging. Hobbies: reading, music, art, books, writing
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning kanji is one of the biggest challenges for Japanese students—there are thousands of characters to master, each with multiple readings and meanings. A tutor can teach you strategic approaches like learning kanji by radical (the building blocks of characters), grouping characters by similar meanings, and using spaced repetition to lock them into memory. Rather than memorizing in isolation, tutors help you see patterns and connect kanji to vocabulary and real texts, making the learning stick faster than studying alone.
Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, formality level, and whether they're positive or negative—and there are irregular verbs that break the rules entirely. This creates a system that feels overwhelming at first. A tutor breaks conjugation into logical patterns, shows you why certain forms exist (like the difference between casual and polite forms), and gives you targeted practice with verbs you actually use in conversation. With 1-on-1 instruction, you can ask questions immediately when something doesn't make sense, rather than getting stuck on confusing textbook explanations.
In a typical classroom, students get limited speaking time—maybe a few minutes per class. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, you're speaking for most of the session, which means you build confidence and fluency much faster. A tutor can also tailor conversations to your interests and level, correct your pronunciation and grammar in real-time, and adjust the pace so you're challenged but not overwhelmed. This consistent speaking practice is essential for developing natural rhythm and accent in Japanese, which rarely happens in group settings.
Japanese native speakers speak quickly, drop particles, use casual contractions, and have regional accents—all of which make it much harder than textbook audio. Additionally, understanding context and politeness levels affects comprehension in ways that don't exist in English. A tutor exposes you to natural speech patterns, explains cultural context that affects meaning, and can slow down or repeat phrases as needed. They can also train your ear to recognize common listening patterns and help you develop strategies for understanding even when you don't catch every word.
Textbooks often teach grammar rules in isolation, but native speakers don't always follow textbook patterns—they use shortcuts, drop particles, and adapt based on context. A tutor teaches you the rules as a foundation, then shows you how real Japanese actually works through examples, conversation, and exposure to native content. This helps you understand when it's appropriate to use casual versus formal language, when particles can be omitted, and how to sound natural rather than robotic. You learn not just what's grammatically correct, but what native speakers actually say.
Japanese language is deeply tied to culture—politeness levels, honorifics, seasonal references, and indirect communication styles all carry cultural meaning that affects how you understand and speak the language. A tutor helps you grasp why certain phrases are used in specific situations, how to show respect appropriately, and what cultural references are embedded in everyday conversation. This context makes learning feel more connected and helps you communicate authentically rather than just translating words. Understanding culture also helps you remember vocabulary and grammar because it's tied to real, meaningful situations.
Japanese reading progresses through distinct stages: hiragana and katakana basics, simple kanji and grammar, newspaper and novel-level texts, and specialized materials. A tutor assesses your current level and creates a progression path tailored to your goals—whether you're aiming to read manga, news, literature, or business documents. They can introduce new kanji and grammar in context through actual texts you want to read, rather than isolated exercises, which makes learning more motivating and practical. This targeted approach helps you reach reading fluency much faster than working through generic textbooks.
Look for tutors who are either native Japanese speakers or have near-native fluency, ideally with formal teaching experience or certification. They should understand the specific challenges English speakers face (since your native language shapes how you learn), be able to explain grammar clearly, and have exposure to modern conversational Japanese—not just textbook language. A good tutor also understands different proficiency levels (from complete beginner through advanced), can teach all four skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening), and ideally has experience with Japanese cultural context. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can work at your level and pace.
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