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話
NIHONGO BREAKTHROUGH · 40-HOUR INTENSIVE

Arrive in Japan
already speaking
the language.

An immersive 40-hour intensive for newcomers to Japan—relocating staff, families, and professionals. Live group lessons with native instructors take complete beginners from survival phrases to real, everyday conversation.

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50+YEARS TEACHING
40 hrsINTENSIVE PROGRAM
Max 10PER SMALL GROUP
FREE STUDY RESOURCE · 無料

Nihongo Board — 日本語学習ボード

Full hiragana & katakana charts, 100 kanji, 100 proverbs & basic grammar — every item with click-to-hear audio. Free for everyone.

Open the board →
WHAT WE OFFER

Everything you need for a confident arrival

A complete 40-hour program built around the realities of settling in—not a phrasebook, but the working language of daily life in Japan.

Native, experienced instructors

Live, interactive sessions with instructors who have guided newcomers to Japan for years—not recordings.

Practical, real-world language

Vocabulary and key phrases for the situations you'll actually face—transit, dining, shopping, and everyday errands.

Cultural fluency & etiquette

Customs, manners, and the unspoken rules that help you blend in and build trust quickly.

Role-play from day one

Your own group of up to 10—invite colleagues, friends, and family to join you—built around role-play so every learner gets real speaking time each session.

Exclusive learning portal

Curated resources, session notes, and practice materials you keep access to throughout the course.

Onsite, at our school, or online

Delivered at your company, our school, or online—on a schedule we set with you to fit your move.

Tokyo Tower rising over the city
THE 40-HOUR JOURNEY

From survival to real conversation

Forty hours of flexibly scheduled lessons, working through everyday situations in order. This is the standard syllabus—we adjust the content and the balance to your level and goals.

  1. 01Sounds, greetings & classroom JapaneseGetting your ear in, plus reading practice with kana.
  2. 02Introducing yourselfSaying who you are and exchanging phone numbers.
  3. 03Saying where you are goingGiving a destination and following directions.
  4. 04Ordering by quantityGiving your name and address to arrange a delivery.
  5. 05At a restaurantAsking for a table, asking about the menu, ordering.
  6. 06ShoppingPrice, where it is from, which floor, and asking for an alternative.
  7. 07Time & schedulesClock times, opening hours, days of the week.
  8. 08Getting therePlaces, how to travel, and how long it takes.
  9. 09Review & role-playLinked scenes end to end, plus a progress check.
  10. 10Your routine & your weekCore verbs for daily life, plans and weekends.
  11. 11InvitationsInviting, accepting, declining, and saying what you prefer.
  12. 12Talking about the pastDescribing what you did and how it went.
  13. 13ConsolidationA full check of -masu forms, past tense and invitations.
  14. 14Review & next stepsFeedback on what you achieved and where to go next.

Course text: NIHONGO Breakthrough (J-Presence Academy, Ask Publishing), with CD and supplementary booklet.

THE FORMATHow it runs — 40 focused hours, built to keep you talking.

SPEAK WITH CONFIDENCE

Real situations, from day one

Order at a restaurant Ask for directions Navigate public transit Small talk with neighbors Everyday greetings Shopping & payments
OUR COURSES

Two ways to learn

Our flagship NIHONGO Breakthrough intensive takes newcomers from beginner to conversational in 40 hours. Prefer a lighter start? The 4.5-hour Pre-departure cultural primer is also available, from around $200.

MOST POPULAR
A newcomer to Japan smiling in the city
① 40-HOUR INTENSIVE · NEWCOMERS

NIHONGO Breakthrough

Our flagship intensive—40 hours that take complete beginners from survival phrases to real, everyday conversation.

FROM$1,600/ 40-hour course
  • 40 hours across the year, on your schedule (e.g. 1 hour × 40 lessons)
  • Up to 10 people — colleagues, friends & family welcome
  • Speaking & listening first (script optional)
  • In-person or online
  • Ideal for newly arrived staff & families
Inquire about Breakthrough
Japanese culture — a traditional garden viewed from a tatami room
② OPTION · 4.5-HOUR CULTURAL PRIMER

Pre-departure Japanese

Prefer a lighter start? A concise, culture-first primer for anyone heading to Japan—even a first holiday.

FROM$200/ 4.5-hour course
  • Just 4.5 hours, before your trip
  • The three scripts & reading basics
  • Kanji you'll see everywhere
  • Temple & shrine origins & etiquette
  • Live native instruction
Inquire about Pre-departure

Prices are approximate (USD) and vary by format, cohort, and start date—confirm details in your inquiry. Intensive course: 40 hours + course-management fee. Corporate and group programmes are quoted separately.

GETTING STARTED

Four simple steps

01Send an inquiry

Tell us your timeline and destination using the form below.

02Complete the questionnaire

A short form helps us tailor your program.

03Schedule with your tutor

Our staff arranges sessions around your calendar.

04Begin your lessons

Start speaking—from your very first lesson.

QUESTIONS

Frequently asked

Who is this course designed for?
Both courses welcome complete beginners. NIHONGO Breakthrough, our flagship 40-hour intensive, is for newcomers to Japan—relocating staff, families, and professionals—who want practical conversation for daily life. The optional 4.5-hour Pre-departure primer is a lighter, culture-first introduction for anyone heading to Japan, even for a first holiday.
How are the lessons delivered?
NIHONGO Breakthrough runs as live group lessons—at your company, our school, or online—with native instructors and a role-play focus. Your group can include up to 10 participants, and you are welcome to invite colleagues, friends, and family to join you. The Pre-departure primer is delivered live as well. Both include access to our exclusive learning portal and resources.
How flexible is the schedule?
Very. NIHONGO Breakthrough is 40 hours in total, and the lesson plan is fully customizable—for example, one hour per lesson for 40 lessons in all, or longer sessions if you prefer—on a schedule we set together, in person or online. The optional Pre-departure primer is just 4.5 hours, easy to fit in before you go. We build both around your dates and pace.
How long is each lesson?
It's flexible. The 40 hours of NIHONGO Breakthrough can be split into sessions of anywhere from 1 to 3 hours each—we arrange the length and frequency to fit your schedule.
Do I need to know hiragana or kanji first?
No. NIHONGO Breakthrough is built for complete beginners and puts speaking and listening first—the written script is optional, with romaji and kana provided alongside. No prior Japanese is needed for either course.
What's the difference between the two courses?
NIHONGO Breakthrough is our flagship: a 40-hour group intensive for complete beginners that moves from survival phrases to real conversation across 40 hours of flexibly scheduled lessons—ideal for newcomers settling in. Pre-departure is a lighter, optional 4.5-hour cultural primer—the scripts, kanji, and the stories behind Japan's temples and shrines—suited even to tourists.
How do I get started?
Send an inquiry using the form on this page. Our team replies within one business day, sends a short questionnaire, and helps you schedule your first session.
GET IN TOUCH

Start your Japanese program

Tell us a little about your move. Our team will reply with next steps and help you pick the right format.

  • Reply within one business day
  • No obligation—just a conversation
  • Programs tailored to your schedule

We'll only use your details to respond to this inquiry.

Interlang Service Co., Ltd.
Ermanos Akasaka 2F, 8-4-3 Akasaka
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052