The UK’s Only 100% Certified Japanese School
From a single student request to the UK’s leading Japanese language school. Nihon GO! London is the only school in the UK where every teacher holds official certification from Japan’s Ministry of Culture.
Our Journey
How a former student’s request sparked a mission to transform Japanese education in the UK
Industry Analysis & Quality Concerns
Drawing from her experience as a Japanese language instructor overseas, Ayaka conducted thorough research into the UK Japanese education landscape. Her analysis revealed critical gaps: inconsistent certification standards, varying curriculum quality, and insufficient authentic cultural education. This comprehensive evaluation confirmed the urgent need for industry-wide reform.
Nihon GO! London – The Beginning
When a former student reached out asking for Japanese lessons, founder Ayaka Uchida decided to start small – right from her London home. What began as helping one person learn Japanese would soon become the UK’s only fully certified Japanese language school.
Building Quality Standards
We established our strict hiring criteria: government certification from Japan’s Ministry of Culture, minimum 2 years teaching experience, fluency in multiple languages, plus professional work experience. Only 1% of applicants meet our standards.
Expansion to Manchester
With growing demand outside London, we expanded to Manchester, bringing the same quality standards and certified teachers to the North of England. Online lessons also became available worldwide through Nihon GO! World.
The Challenge We’re Solving
The Industry Challenge
Across the UK, Japanese language schools were often run with inconsistent standards. Many teachers lacked proper government certification, relying instead on dubious private qualifications or no credentials at all.
This compromised both language learning effectiveness and cultural authenticity. Students deserved better – they deserved certified, professional instruction from native speakers.
Our Solution
100% government-certified teachers from Japan’s Ministry of Culture. Every instructor has professional work experience, speaks multiple languages fluently, and undergoes our rigorous 6-stage vetting process that only 1% pass.
We’re not just teaching Japanese – we’re sharing authentic culture, building international bridges, and setting new industry standards for quality education in the UK.
Our Quality Standards
Why we maintain a 1% teacher acceptance rate
Government Certification
Official certification from Japan’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, Science and Technology – not private certificates. This means 420+ hours of pedagogical training and proven teaching methodology recognized by the Japanese government.
Professional Experience
Minimum 2 years teaching experience plus real professional work experience in Japan. Our teachers understand both language intricacies and business culture, essential for comprehensive learning.
Multilingual Expertise
Fluency in at least 2 languages besides Japanese. This ensures clear communication, cultural bridge-building, and deep understanding of the challenges international students face when learning Japanese.
Rigorous Selection Process
6-stage vetting process with only 1% acceptance rate. We evaluate teaching methodology, cultural knowledge, communication skills, and professional background to ensure exceptional quality.
Meet Our Founder
Ayaka Uchida – Founder and CEO
Ayaka is a government-certified Japanese teacher and CEO of A-Digital Works Ltd, specializing in localization for Japanese companies entering global markets.
With international experience across Singapore, LA, London, and Cologne, she combines business expertise with authentic language education. Currently learning Spanish and French, she understands the challenges of language acquisition from a student’s perspective.
Her mission: Bridge global markets and communities through authentic Japanese education that meets modern professional needs.
Ready to Experience the Difference?
Join students across the UK learning Japanese with the only school offering 100% government-certified teachers.
