Our Teachers

For the 2025–2026 school year, our teaching staff remains the same, but we have reorganized our classes so that each teacher will be strictly focusing on one level. Below are the backgrounds and qualifications of our wonderful teachers!

Maki Kawakami, Book 1 & 2 Teacher

• BA in Social Welfare from Japan Women’s University

• National certification for social work in Japan

Chiyoko Furukawa, Book 3 Teacher

• BA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College

• MA in Pastoral Studies from the International School of Theology

• Certificate of Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language from the World Japanese Language Centre

• Learned Japanese calligraphy for 16 years in Japan

Makoto Ishita, Book 3 Co-Teacher

• Lived in Japan until fifth grade in elementary school

• Currently a junior at Biola University pursuing nursing

• Likes to paint watercolors in her free time

• Been with SGPUMC Japanese Language School since August 2023

Joyce Mitamura, Book 4 Teacher

• BA in Psychology from Stanford University

• Completion of Certificate Studies in Japanese Language from Keio University

• MA in East Asian Languages and Cultures, emphasis in Japanese linguistics from UCLA

• Been with SGPUMC Japanese Language School since 2014

Yumi Balthazar, Book 4 Co-Teacher

• BAs in Psychology and Cognitive Science from Case Western Reserve University

• Minor in Japanese Language and Culture

• Been with SGPUMC Japanese Language School since January 2023

Erica Hayashi, Book 5 Teacher

• BA in English from Dokkyo University

• MBA from Cal Poly Pomona

• Teaching credential for middle and high schools in Japan

• CPA

Evelyn Sumi Goto

• Over 20 years experience performing taiko

• Member of LA Taiko Ichiza, based out of Nishi Temple in Los Angeles

Chiaki Toda

• Over 25 years experience performing taiko

• Former member of LA Taiko Ichiza, based out of Nishi Temple in Los Angeles

• Taught taiko in the Glendale School District at Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School and Dunsmore Elementary School for more than 10 years