Manabiya YOMi-KAKi
Japanese Reading and Writing Class for Multilingual Children
Manabiya YOMi-KAKi is a supportive and engaging learning space (‘manabiya’) where multilingual children build their Japanese reading (yomi) and writing (kaki) skills.
Designed especially for children aged 6 to 12 and older learners—the program offers weekly classes that focus on literacy through fun, meaningful activities.
By connecting literacy with creativity and curiosity, YOMi-KAKi nurtures a love for the Japanese language and helps children stay connected to their cultural roots.
Three Learning Approaches at YOMi-KAKi
Multilingualism
Supporting Your Multilingual Child’s Growth in Japanese
Original Methods
Learning That Sparks Curiosity and Expands Their World
At Own Pace & Level
Flexible, Personalized Learning That Fits Your Child
1. Multilingualism
At Manabiya YOMi-KAKi, we believe that growing up with multiple languages is a gift. It expands your child’s world and opens up new ways of thinking, connecting, and understanding others.
We also understand that learning to read and write in Japanese can be challenging—especially for children who don’t use it regularly outside the home. With three writing systems and a structure different from many other languages, Japanese takes time and support to master.
That’s why our program focuses on helping multilingual children strengthen their reading and writing skills in Japanese. Our goal is to build their confidence as Japanese speakers—so they can use the language with ease and pride, both at home and beyond.
2. Unique Learning Goals and Materials
Our Japanese language program takes a multilingual-based approach to developing literacy skills. By connecting Japanese with the linguistic systems and knowledge that children already possess, we support more profound understanding and the ability to express their thoughts and ideas in Japanese as confidently as in their other languages. The program also links students’ existing speaking and listening abilities in Japanese to reading and writing, enabling a smooth and meaningful expansion of their Japanese proficiency.
This approach lets students begin learning at any time and level, building on their existing strengths. Most importantly, it fosters a positive learning experience that builds confidence and motivation, empowering them without the pressure of comparison or the discouragement of perceived gaps.
3. Semi-individualized instruction tailored to each student’s learning progress
While many Japanese-language programs abroad are designed for families planning to return to Japan, Manabiya YOMi-KAKi offers a different kind of support—one focused on multilingual children growing up in diverse, international environments.
We welcome children to start learning Japanese reading and writing at any age, regardless of their school grade. This is especially helpful for children who speak Japanese as one of their languages, but haven’t had formal opportunities to develop their literacy skills or does not fit in the grade-based teaching system.
We draw inspiration from Japan’s curriculum, but adapt it to suit each child’s pace, interests, and language background—so they can learn in a way that feels meaningful and empowering.
Class Information
Classes at Manabiya YOMi-KAKi are held once a week on weekday afternoons, with each session lasting approximately 50 minutes.
The yearly schedule follows the school holiday calendar (Schoolvakanties) for the Central Netherlands region.
The tuition fee is €25 per lesson for all levels except Class D. Please pay the monthly fee based on the number of lessons scheduled for the following month.
Please note that we can’t refund class fees for missed lessons.
New to our classes? Please schedule a one-on-one intake (online or in person) before joining.
Class Levels and Contents:
YOMi-KAKi A
(No Japanese literacy required)
This class is designed for Japanese speaking young learners who are just beginning to read and write in Japanese. Through activities such as read-alouds, oral reading, word games, and writing practice, students become familiar with Japanese vocabulary and characters. The class focuses on developing foundational literacy skills in hiragana and katakana in a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment.
YOMi-KAKi B
(For students with basic kana knowledge)
This class strengthens reading skills through oral reading (with pronunciation guidance), creative writing, and exposure to various types of Japanese texts such as narratives and explanatory passages. Using our original “Listening & Reading Kanji” method, students work toward mastery of approximately 300 essential kanji commonly taught in Grades 1–3 in Japanese elementary schools.
YOMi-KAKi C
(For students at an upper elementary literacy level)
In this class, students continue building reading comprehension and writing skills by engaging with a variety of text genres, including descriptive, narrative, and expository writing. The class provides structured opportunities to explore more complex sentence patterns, kanji use, and text structure, while also encouraging students to express their ideas clearly in written Japanese.
YOMi-KAKi D
(For Middle-school level and higher)
This course develops advanced literacy skills through a combination of text analysis, discussion, and writing. Class will be in a combination of lectures and seminar format to help students develop advanced reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Classwork includes organizing and articulating ideas both in speech and in writing. Topics include history, culture, and language, supporting the development of a broad vocabulary and a deeper engagement with Japanese as a tool for learning and self-expression.
Marie Yasunaga
Dr. Marie Yasunaga, Ph.D. in interdisciplinary cultural studies from the University of Tokyo, is the curriculum director and lead instructor at Manabiya YOMi-KAKi, where she brings a passion for language, culture, and education to her work with multilingual children.
She is also the founding director of the registered cultural foundation Culturele Stichting Felis Catus, which promotes intercultural exchange through arts and languages.
Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Marie spent her childhood moving between cities in Japan—including Tokyo, Kamakura, Zushi, and Kyoto—as well as overseas in Düsseldorf, Germany. This diverse upbringing helped shape her deep understanding of multilingual and multicultural environments.
Marie has conducted research at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. She currently teaches Academic English at Tsukuba University (since 2022) and Japanese language and mathematics at the The Hague-Rotterdam Japanese Saturday School (since 2024).