Morikawa sensei

Morikawasensei.com

Yoh-koso! (welcome)

Welcome to our class website !! You can find out how we learn the Japanese language and cultures in this class and resources for students. You can also find more information about class events, extra curricular activities, summer trips to Japan, and ME! Arigato for your visit!

Dear Students & Families - Welcome to the Japanese class at George Washington High School! It is our commitment to provide your child the best educational experiences in his/her Japanese class this year. We believe your child's success depends on teachers and parents working together as a team. If you have any question, please contact me at morikawat@sfusd.edu.

Japanese 1 (2021-22)

Interested in taking Japanese?

JPN3H_AP_Course_Descrptions

Explore your opportunities with upper level Japanese!

Japan Trip 2025

22 members of our GWHS community enjoyed an unforgettable three and a half weeks in Japan! We stayed with host families in Saijō, Ehime Prefecture, visited our sister schools, and took part in fun exchange activities—cultural presentations, cooking, rice planting, and more. We also explored Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, and Tokyo, creating lasting memories and friendships along the way.

Curious about the next trip? Stay in the Japanese program at GWHS and find out how you can join this exciting exchange opportunity! Plus, become part of the Japanese National Honor Society to meet friends from Japan and expand your perspectives through fun activities with clubmates, the local SF community, and our partners in Japan.

Check out the JNHS page for more details!

Highlights from the 2024-25 school year

Another fun and exciting year is in the books! Students from Koshi High School visited us again, and we enjoyed so many great activities together. We also welcomed new friends from Osaka! Our students took on the annual Japanese Speech Contest—and they won! Omedetō! After the pandemic, it was wonderful to finally enjoy everything without restrictions, including celebrating our graduation ceremony right here on campus.

Okaeri, Saijo!

In March, 2024, we hosted 18 students from our "Tomodachi" city, Saijo! While staying with GWHS host families, Saijo students had great experiences at the school and San Francisco. This is a part of our ongoing exchange programs. GWHS students will visit Saijo in June 2025!

Konnichiwa!

Koshi High School

(Oct 2023)

Finally, we were able to welcome students from our sister schools in Japan! 12 students from Koshi HS came and had a great time with us! Arigato and See you again soon!

GWHS Exchange program is Bask!

Since 2019, we were forced to cancel all exchange activities due to the covid 19 pandemic. Finally, we started the program this year. A group of GWHS students spend over 3 weeks in Japan for our volunteerism projects. We also welcomed 12 students from our sister school in Fukui, Japan this October! Check all videos! Please join us for our next exchange program activities! We always look for host families for their visits to GWHS! Please contact me at morikawat@sfusd.edu if you are interested! (Your family members do not need to speak Japanese!)

Japan Trip (June 2023)

Koshi HS visit (OCT 2023)

Room 310 got a new look! Check the images here.

Arigato for all generous donations via DonorsChoose!

Come see it for yourself! Visit room 310

Arigato, Norris-san!

The Classroom Mural Project was just completed in May, 2022! It's so gorgeous and so joyful! The Blue Bear (Mr. Norris' famous icon) visits Japan and experiences Japanese cultures! We appreciate Mr. Norris' dedications and everyone's generous supports to make our dream come true! Arigato!!!

Want to know more about Mr. Norris' arts? Visit http://www.sirronnorris.com/

Arigato for your supports!!

Morikawa-sensei received the NBC All Star Teacher Award in July 2021.

About Morikawa-sensei

Mr. Tomokazu Morikawa is a native speaker of Japanese, educated in Japan as well as in the United States. After several years of working for a large advertising corporation in Japan, he decided to change his career and pursue a pathway of teaching to secondary level students. He started his teaching career with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) over 28 years ago and is currently teaching at George Washington High School.

His main interest is cross-cultural relations, particularly in the fields of education and business. He has created curricula with thematic and interdisciplinary approaches that promote the values of interculturality and empathy for students. He has developed international expedition programs for students and have established sister school relationships with high schools in Osaka, Fukui, Miyazaki, Sendai and Ehime while collaborating projects with other schools in Japan.

He is a moderator for the AP Japanese Language and Culture Teacher Community by the College Board. He also serves as a board member of the Japanese American Association of Northern California and other local organizations in San Francisco. He has created curriculum, lesson plans and projects for Asian Art Museum, College Board, the SFUSD, etc.. He has given workshops and presentations locally and regionally.

He is the recipient of numerous national and regional awards including the Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award, the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award by the California Language Teachers’ Association, the San Francisco Mayor’s Teacher of the Year and the Teacher Award by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese.

In July 2021, he received the NBC All-Star Teacher Award.

The May 2016 Breeze, a monthly newsletter by Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, features an article about him. https://www.jflalc.org/pub-breeze103-jleu30

Click here for his curriculum vitae.