New to all this?
Choose with confidence.
Joining, how the learning works, tuition and registration, the company behind the school: here are honest answers to the questions families ask TOMODACHI JAPAN most. Anything still unclear is explained in far more detail in our free school guide.
Joining us: what families ask first.
What ages is it for?
Most of our students are between about 5 years old and the final year of high school, with elementary and middle school ages the largest group. What matters more than age is how much your child can say right now: classes are grouped by conversation level, so every child learns alongside peers at a similar stage.
Does my child need to speak Japanese already?
Not at all. Children who cannot yet read hiragana, and children starting from absolute zero, are genuinely welcome. Because we group by speaking level, nobody is left behind and nobody sits bored. We begin from one small win: I said something in Japanese, and it worked.
Where can we join from, and does the time difference work?
Anywhere in the world, as long as the timing fits. In Australia and New Zealand the gap from Japan is close to zero, so classes slot straight into after-school hours. In the Americas, Saturday morning in Japan falls on Friday evening where you are. Families posted overseas, international families, and families settled abroad are all welcome, and if you move countries your child simply stays in the same class with the same friends.
What do we need to take part?
A computer or tablet with an internet connection is all it takes. There are no expensive materials and no special equipment to buy. A working camera and microphone make conversation and making friends much easier, so we do recommend them.
How the learning works, and who teaches.
What are the classes actually like?
Small groups of eight students, built around conversation. Rather than memorising grammar tables, the talking itself becomes the learning: a question as simple as what was fun today can carry a whole lesson. Around 100 live classes run every month, and students choose freely from them by interest and schedule, as often as they like.
Who teaches the classes?
Currently practising teachers from Japan, each acting as a homeroom teacher for their own class. Our acceptance rate is roughly 2%, so every teacher has come through a demanding selection process. Our parent company, NIJIN, has a long track record of training teachers across Japan, and that same teaching quality goes straight to your child.
Can children really make friends online?
Yes, and it does not stop when the lesson ends. Our campus is a metaverse space where students can spend time with Japanese children their own age after school too. It feels less like studying Japanese and more like having friends in Japan. We measure growth not by test scores but by how many friends a child has made.
We already attend a Saturday Japanese school. Can we do both?
Absolutely, and the combination works beautifully. You can join only after school, or only at weekends. There is no driving anyone anywhere, and it adds the one thing a Saturday school can rarely offer: unhurried time with Japanese friends the same age. This is not about which option is better; we will help you find the mix that fits your family.
Tuition and registration, answered honestly.
How much is tuition?
We share exact tuition, and the scholarships available, in the free school guide. Because we also offer scholarship support based on your family circumstances, the simplest first step is to request the guide here. There is never any pushy follow-up.
What do I receive when I register?
The school guide itself, plus first word on opening news and invitations to trial sessions. Tuition, scholarships and the opening schedule are all explained in detail inside that guide. Registering is free and takes about a minute.
Is registering free? Will I be chased with sales calls?
Registering is completely free. We do not make sales calls and we do not send pushy follow-ups, and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click. If you would rather just have the information for now, that is genuinely fine with us.
Who runs the school, and why families trust us.
Who runs TOMODACHI JAPAN?
The school is run by NIJIN Inc. NIJIN operates NIJIN Academy, one of the largest online schools in Japan, with more than 1,000 students enrolled to date. It has received awards including the Prime Minister Award for Encouragement and the Kids Design Award, and has been featured by NHK, TV Asahi and other national broadcasters. The bridge to Japan is real: the children who learn at NIJIN Academy every single day.
Still curious? Start with the school guide.
Our pilot school opens in December 2026. Register today and you will be first to receive the school guide, opening news and invitations to trial sessions. Tuition, scholarships and the opening schedule are all covered in the guide.