Meet the Teachers

Jeremy Seminoff: Mr. Jeremy is the preschool director and one of the teachers. He was born in California and graduated in 1994 from the University of California at Berkeley. He first came to Japan as a student in 1991 and became interested in Japanese education. In 1997, he moved to Japan long-term and learned about early childhood education while teaching at preschools in Nagasaki. He has also studied Japanese language and culture. He has been teaching children in Japan for  more than ten years. He and his wife Tomomi have three children: Timothy, Rina, and Daniel. His hobbies include reading, running and hiking.

Ellen Yamase: Mrs. Ellen is a preschool teacher and also runs our Mothers' English program. An American, she was born in Japan and has spent much of her life here. She graduated from the University of Hawaii and has more than twenty years of teaching experience. She is the mother of two teenage daughters. Mrs. Ellen enjoys baking (and eating) sweets.

Isaku Kato: Mr. Isaku is a preschool teacher and a pastor of New Hope Tokyo. He spent half of his life in the U.S. going to high school, getting a B.A. in linguistics at the University of Oregon and an M.A. in religion from International College and Graduate School. He met his wife Nozomi in Hawaii, got married there and returned to Japan five years ago. He became a father two years ago and is learning to be a better father every day. His passion is to see young people's dreams released and for them to be successful in whatever they do.

Eimi Shibata: Mrs. Eimi is a classroom assistant who studied broadcasting and communications at Spring Arbor University in Michigan, USA. She has over six years of experience teaching children. Her interests include drawing, acting, sports and being with children.

Aiko Onoda: Mrs. Aiko participated in gymnastics for several years, specializing in floor exercises, vault and balance beam. She graduated from Fukuoka University with a degree in English literature. She combines her English and gymnastics skills for us in a popular gymnastics class at the preschool. She enjoys baking bread.

Naomi Weaver: Mrs.Naomi studied music at Tokyo College of Music High School.  After graduating from Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages she moved to America. She and her husband Ed have two teenage daughters. She has played the piano as a church musician for over twelve years. She is also involved in children's ministry.  Since coming back to Japan in 2004, she has taught English to children from three to twelve years old.  She plays the piano at New Hope Narimasu and is also the director of children's ministry.  She teaches Mommy and Me,  the preschool music class and  Kids' English.