Lisa Tsukamoto, Kindergarten

Teaching in the JBBP has been a wonderful experience. I enjoy teaching the children the core curriculum as well as Japanese language and culture. I have had the pleasure of working in collaboration with Morioka Sensei and Tanaka Sensei, integrating Japanese into aspects of the core curriculum and teaching the students to use daily expressions in Japanese throughout the day. This is my 8th year of teaching in JBBP and my 5th year of teaching kindergarten. My love for Japan and the Japanese language has its roots right here in the JBBP. I am a native San Franciscan and a graduate of the program. I majored in Japanese language in college and also worked part-time teaching Japanese language and culture at Malcolm X Elementary School in Berkeley.

My first trip to Japan was on a summer study program in 1989. I had such a great experience that I went back to study again for a whole semester in 1991. After graduating from college, I applied to teach English in Japan and received an offer from the Nagoya YMCA English School.

I lived and worked in Nagoya for two-and-a-half years from March 1995 until October 1997. My students ranged in age from 4 to 77 years of age and I taught everything from beginning conversational English for children to a preparatory class for college students taking the TOEFL. I also traveled quite a bit within Japan and was lucky enough to visit about 25 different prefectures.

Misaye Abiko, Kindergarten

Greetings to all. My name is Misaye Abiko, kindergarten teacher at JBBP West. My Earliest teaching experience involves five years of teaching fifth graders, directing the school chorus and coaching the girls' volleyball team at Knightsen Elementary School which housed K-8 grades. It was the same school from which I graduated. In fact, I even found my old desk with my name still inscribed in it! After moving to the south bay and starting a family, much of my time was spent caring for my family, volunteering at my children's school and their extra-curricular activities and directing and managing the Jr. Choir at the San Jose and Palo Alto Buddhist temples.

As my children developed into responsible citizens, I reentered the education arena as an instructional aide for kindergarten, a tutor for Japanese ELL students and a substitute teacher in the Palo Alto Unified School District. I was offered a full time kindergarten position and taught in Palo Alto for one year before moving to San Francisco with my husband's transfer to the Buddhist Church of San Francisco.

I am extremely fortunate in having the opportunity to teach kindergarten in the JBBP. I can fully appreciate the interdependent, collaborative work and challenges met by the founders, parents, senseis and staff, who have brought the JBBP to its fruition and its expanding potential for over thirty years. The warm and supportive atmosphere of the JBBP is only one of its many attributes that I enjoy and I am looking forward to new and exciting experiences awaiting all of us at our JBBP West site.

Arunan Kono-Soosaipillai

whooooo!  busy summer!  my daughter aasnha, wife yuka and i spent 6 weeks in tokyo hanging with the family, and it was hot!  now that i've acclimated to the bay area, i'ts hard to believe i lived in tokyo for ten years.  harder still to believe that i grew up in texas!  i got to play with  aashna and play the drums and guitar a lot, too. but i didn't get to go on my motorcycle trip because my riding buddy broke his foot (ouch!!)

i have moved from bungalow 21 to the new ROOM 13, and am super excited about this  school year!  my class and i had such a great time last year - thanks so much to everybody for welcoming me so warmly!    i hope that this coming year is even better.   gambarimasu!  oenshite ne!    go!   

Raymond Lum

Hi! I teach 3 rd grade at JBBP West. I received my teaching credential from San Francisco State University . I’ve taught 2nd, 4th and 5th grades at Francis Scott Key Elementary in San Francisco and 3rd grade at JBBP West. I was born and raised in San Francisco , grew up in the Mission district, and attended Hawthorne Elementary (now Cesar Chavez), Marshall and Marshall Annex Elementary, Everett Middle School and Mission High School .

I have many years of experience as a parent in the SFUSD with my own children having attended Second Community and JBBP at Clarendon, West Portal and Alice Fong Yu elementary schools, Horace Mann Middle School , School of the Arts and Lincoln High School .

It’s been unbelievable having been the sole 3 rd grade teacher at JBBP West, and I’m looking forward to having my wonderful friend and colleague, Ms. Yamawaki to work with as the other 3 rd grade teacher this year!

Cindy Mar

Hello. My name is Cindy Mar. I completed San Francisco State University's credential program in May, 2000 and have a Multiple Subject Clear Credential. In my undergraduate studies at SFSU, I majored in Japanese and Liberal Studies and minored in Asian American Studies. This will be my third year teaching 5th grade at the JBBP.

Before coming to the JBBP, I worked at Nihonmachi Little Friends for two years as an Afterschool teacher. I also spent the past three summers working at their preschool sites. I have also worked at Soko Gakuen in their children's classes, and at Kinokuniya Bookstore.

I feel fortunate to be teaching at the JBBP because it presents me with the opportunity to share my knowledge of Japanese culture and language with my students.

David Nagle

I am very happy to be here at JBBP this year. I started teaching in 1997, when I moved to Japan to teach English. I lived in Gunma for one year and then moved to Tokyo for two years. I taught small and large-group children's classes, adult conversation classes, exchange student and travel-abroad seminars, and at Mamanomori Yochien ("Mother of the Forest Kindergarten") in Tokyo. When not teaching, I traveled as much as I could and tried to absorb myself in Japanese culture. My three years in Japan seemed to fly by and in the spring of 2000 I set out to explore more of East, Southeast, and South Asia.

After nine months traveling, I returned to the States and got my teaching credential at SFSU. Originally I'm from Oregon, but I've been in San Francisco for 4 years now and enjoy the diversity and excitement of this city. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

Taeko Morikoa, Sensei

I am a native of Tokyo, Japan. My daughter and son are both graduates of the JBBP. I have been with this program for 20 years teaching the 1st through the fifth grade. I also teach at the San Francisco Hoshuko, a Japanese government sponsored Saturday school which teaches math, science, language arts and social studies in Japanese. I have been teaching there for the past 20 years where I currently teach the 6th grade. In addition, I also work at Halsted N. Gray-Carew & English, Inc. as a funeral coordinator for the Japanese community , and am a California licensed life and health insurance agent. I have a strong belief in our program.

Yoko Tanaka, Sensei

I've been teaching at JBBP since 1977 and Japanese Language School (Saturdays) since 1983. I worked at Hoover Middle School for 5 years, Kinmon Gakuen (a Japanese Language School) for 8 years, and John Adams Child Development Center for 7 years. Not only do I love teaching the Japanese language and culture, but I also love Japanese art, songs, plays and natural science. My two children are graduates of JBBP.

Kyoko Inoue, Sensei

I grew up in a town on the shores of the Sea of Japan and graduated from a university in Kyoto with a degree in Japanese linguistics. After graduation, I spent a year in Australia and an additional year traveling throughout Asia. I've been teaching Japanese to children and adults in San Francisco for 15 years. I believe that children learn best when language instruction is coupled with activities such as games, songs and art projects.

Kaori Waki, Sensei

Before coming to San Francisco 4 years ago, I worked as an elementary teacher in Shimane prefecture Japan for 12 years. The last 2 years in Japan I was a teacher for special education. I am very excited to be a part of the JBBP West. I started as a substitute for the program and this will be the first year as a Sensei for the 3rd grade. In addition to the JBBP West, I also teach 3rd grade at the San Francisco Japanese Language School on Saturdays.

Satoko Watanabe, Student Advisor

Hello! My name is Satoko Watanabe and I work here at JBBP West as a Student Advisor. Previously, I worked as an ES substitute teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District while finishing my credential courses. Then I taught for 4 years in Hamburg, Germany. I am happy to be here at the JBBP West with its excellent staff and parent community. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.