Meet Your Teachers

Tomomi Kinnard

Tomomi has over 25 years of experience teaching Japanese to children, teens, and adults in Japan, Australia, and the United States. In 2011, she co-founded “Asouboukai,” a community-based Japanese program in Arlington, Virginia, serving dozens of families seeking to deepen their connections to Japan. She has taught at Washington Japanese Heritage Center (Keisho Center) since 2013. She is known for her energetic, engaging teaching style that makes learning Japanese accessible and fun at every level.

Kazuko Kano

Kazuko holds a certified teaching license from Japan and brings 20 years of experience in both in-person and online Japanese language instruction. Her passion is creating a fun, engaging environment where children are excited to learn. She hopes that mastering Japanese will serve as a spark for their future growth and open new doors for them. As a mother of four,  she loves going on camping trips and enjoying outdoor activities with her family.

Kotomi Sterling

Kotomi is originally from Osaka, Japan. She truly enjoys working with children and loves helping them discover the joy of learning Japanese. She believes learning Japanese is also a way to learn about Japanese culture, values, and different ways of thinking. She feels grateful to be able to share these perspectives with students and support their curiosity about the world. Outside of teaching, she enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, spending time with her two cats, and hopes to visit many national parks in the future.

Tomomi & Sean

We created Hana Japanese Center to meet a need: kids in the D.C. area who were excited about Japan and the Japanese language had few places to continue learning in person. We wanted to give students the opportunity to learn Japanese as a second language in a small, in-person setting where they could deepen their skills and connect with others who share their interest.

Tomomi and Sean are experienced educators dedicated to helping students become confident, multilingual, and globally-minded learners. Tomomi has over two decades of Japanese teaching experience at all levels. Sean served as the General Manager of the Washington Japanese Heritage Center for over a decade and holds National Board Certification and an MA in Teaching. He teaches AP World History and AP Research at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia.

We believe language learning is strongest when it happens in a community. Japanese is not just grammar and vocabulary; it is culture, history, human connection, and belonging. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where learners of all backgrounds can build confidence, practice speaking, ask questions freely, and grow alongside peers.

Together, we are excited to continue supporting Japanese learners of all ages through Hana Japanese Center. Come learn Japanese with us!

– Tomomi & Sean

  • By the end of Year 1, students will be able to introduce themselves, count to 100, read basic hiragana, and recognize key Japanese cultural symbols. Advanced students will reach JLPT N5-level comprehension by Year 3.

    Seeing your child’s confidence and skill in Japanese grow is immensely gratifying. You won’t believe how fast they will learn!

  • Our Approach to Learning Japanese

    At Hana Japanese Center, we provide a supportive environment where students feel safe, known, and confident using Japanese.

    • A Positive Learning Community
      Classes are small, creating a welcoming space where students make friends and feel comfortable using Japanese together.

    • Strong Communicative Skills
      Our lessons emphasize speaking and listening so students improve their ability to understand and communicate in real-life situations.

    • Support for Multilingual Learners
      We help students develop confidence in their identities as multilingual, multicultural learners.

    • Cultural Understanding
      Language learning is integrated with cultural knowledge, helping students gain perspective and curiosity about Japanese culture.

    • Thinking Skills
      Learning another language encourages creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking—skills that transfer to other subjects and lead to a fulfilling life.

  • Our Mission

    Our mission is to provide small, in-person Japanese language classes for students in the D.C. area who want to deepen their interest in Japan and develop real communication skills in a supportive learning community.

    Our Purpose

    Our purpose is to help students grow into confident, globally-minded individuals who can engage meaningfully with Japanese language and culture throughout their lives.

  • As Hana Japanese Center grows, we welcome conversations with experienced educators who share our commitment to small classes and meaningful language learning. If you are interested in teaching or assisting, please contact us at info@hanajapanesecenter.com.