I am fortunate to have an understanding husband and a bright, creative daughter who keeps me up-to-date with the latest technology trends. My career is diverse and fulfilling; I split my time between teaching at a Japanese school and working as a preschool teacher. My true passion is early childhood development, as the energy and curiosity of young children keep me feeling lively and joyous. Outside of teaching, I cherish moments spent with my family and love gyoza and penguins.

Miwa sensei grew up in Yokohama, Japan . and moved to Los Angeles where she has been living for the past 30 years. Now that her children are grown, she enjoy weightlifting as a hobby. Now she has the opportunity to become a teacher and learn with children.

Shannon is originally from Canada but moved to Japan in her early 20s to study Japanese. She eventually attended Sophia University and started her career in Tokyo after graduating. During her five years in Japan, she had many unique and amazing experiences, including flying a plane, having lunch with geishas, and even shaking the prime minister’s hand!

After moving to Los Angeles 20 years ago, she has continued to use her Japanese throughout her career. She has also taught both English and Spanish to students in several countries and is now enjoying teaching her SFVJLI students.

Shannon’s idea of fun is dancing, scuba diving, traveling and playing the guitar!

Hi, my name is Shigeko Hanada. I was born and raised in Tokyo. After completing two years of college, I studied psychology in Boston, Massachusetts. I then moved to California and began working in the media field where I spent nine years. After that , I dedicated my time to raising my three children. Currently, I work at an elementary school in Burbank as a school aide, a role I've held for 13 years. I also teach origami at my school and am always pleasantly surprised by how much the students enjoy it. I've been teaching origami for 8 years from kindergarten through 5th grade. Teaching Japanese can be challenging, but it also brings me great joy to share my experiences and knowledge. I am truly excited to be part of the San Fernando Japanese Language Institute family.

Hello, I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and graduated from Meiji Gakuin University with a degree in International Relations.
I volunteered at a US military base in Japan teaching language and cultural activity to youth.
I have built my career in people - focused in educational roles working as a tour conductor and as an educational counselor for a study abroad organization.
My passion is creating welcoming and unique learning environments where students feel comfortable connecting through warm, open communication.
I have two daughters who are also ocean lovers.
I love spending time at the beach and in the water, surfing and going on fun drives.
I can't wait to support students who are interested in learning Japanese and discovering its rich culture in a positive , fun and supportive environment.

Hello, My name is Rie Taylor. I am currently teaching the Teen class and the adult beginners class. I am so happy to see people who have interest in Japan and Japanese culture. Through teaching Japanese, I also discovered Japan from a different perspective. I love animals, especially dogs. I have one daughter and one son. See you all in the SFVJLI classroom!

Hi everyone! I’m from Kobe, Japan, and I moved to the US when I was 20. I studied Fashion Merchandising, Business Management, and Interior Architecture Design, and spent over 10 years working as a senior designer and project manager at an interior design firm. After taking some time off, I'm excited to start a new chapter teaching Japanese here at SFVJLI! Outside of class, you'll find me hiking, adventuring around National Parks, exploring new restaurants and cafés, or driving around in my Jeep with a hot oat latte always chasing sunshine and ocean views.

I came to Los Angeles in 2008 when I got married. I have two sons, ages 16 and 14. I enjoy going to live concerts and love thrifting. Since I really enjoy working with children, I also work at local schools in the community. I will do my best to contribute in any way I can at this Japanese school.

Hi, my name is Azumi Yamashita. I was born and raised in Gifu, Japan, and I moved to the United States after graduating high school. I recently earned my B.S. in Interior Design from Cal State University Northridge in 2024, graduating cum laude. I work as an interior designer during weekdays. I'm very extroverted and love meeting new people, building connections, and sharing cultural experiences. I'm excited to be here at SFVJLI to connect with everyone and help improve language skills. I look forward to getting to know you all better and sharing our interests and backgrounds.

Nina Kato was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. She has also lived in Brazil, Mexico, NYC and California. She has B.A. in Languages (Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese),and M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from the UC Riverside, and M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the CSULA. Currently, she lives in San Fernando Valley with her family and teaches at local colleges and universities, and on Saturdays she enjoys working with children and adults at SFVJLI. Her adult conversation classes focus on business/corporate conversations as well as casual speeches. She loves music and dancing too!