Founder & CEO · Japan Language Factory
Terumi Kai
甲斐輝美 — Japan Language Factory 代表 ／ バイリンガルコーチング協会 代表
Japanese language coach and the founder of Japan Language Factory and the Bilingual Coaching Program Association. Since 2015, more than 5,000 learners have learned to speak Japanese with the Terumi Method — speaking first, without textbooks, kanji study or grammar drills.
The organizations I founded
Two schools, one idea: people learn a language by speaking it — with a real person, about their real life.
Japan Language Factory
ジャパン・ランゲージ・ファクトリー
Online Japanese speaking coaching for English speakers who live in, move to, or work with Japan. Learners come from Amazon, Google, ANA, Mitsubishi, Lufthansa, the U.S. military, embassies and many other walks of life.
- 1-on-1 coaching with certified bilingual Japanese coaches
- Group speaking sessions and lifetime access to materials
- 100% focused on real-life conversation and listening
Bilingual Coaching Program Association
バイリンガルコーチング協会（日本語コーチ養成講座）
A certification program that trains Japanese speakers around the world to become professional Japanese language coaches, using the same speaking-first method. Graduates who pass the certification exam can coach learners at Japan Language Factory.
- Video-based training modeled on working coaches
- No teaching license required to start
- Certification exam and ongoing coach training
From zero English to coaching the world
Born in Yamanashi, Japan, and raised across three prefectures after her parents’ divorce, Terumi Kai chose at 22 to skip university and move to Tokyo, where she built a cooking school from scratch and published a cookbook.
At 28 she walked away from all of it and moved alone to Europe — with no English, no contacts and no plan. She learned Greek and English from zero by inventing her own way of learning: speak first, the way a child does, and let grammar follow.
“I built this school to give people what languages gave me. Not a certificate. Not a passing grade. A life that doesn’t fit inside one country.”
That method became Japan Language Factory in 2015. Later she founded the Bilingual Coaching Program Association to train Japanese speakers worldwide as coaches. Today she lives between Greece and Japan, is learning German with the same method, and writes about language, culture and identity on this site.
Read the full story →The Terumi Method
A speaking-first approach to Japanese — designed around how people actually acquire a language, not how schools test it.
Speak from day one
Sessions are 100% speaking and listening. No textbooks, no kanji drills, no grammar tests.
Conversation Flow
Learners practice the real conversations of their own life — work, family, travel, neighbors — until they can hold them naturally.
Muscle Memory
Short daily audio practice turns phrases into reflexes, so Japanese comes out without translating in your head.
Media & TV
Featured on national television in Japan and Greece, and on podcasts about language and life abroad.
Writing
The Founder Letters — notes on language, Japan and building a life across borders.
Official channels
These are the only official websites and accounts of Terumi Kai, Japan Language Factory and the Bilingual Coaching Program Association. If you see information about us elsewhere, you can always confirm it here or by email.
- Personal siteterumikai.com
- Japan Language Factoryjapanlanguagefactory.com
- Bilingual Coaching Programbilingualcoachingprogram.com
- Emailinfo@japanlanguagefactory.com
- LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/terumi-kai
- Instagram@terumi_kai
- Facebookfacebook.com/terumikai525
- YouTubeJapan Language Factory
Frequently asked questions
Who is Terumi Kai?
Terumi Kai (甲斐輝美) is a Japanese language coach, the founder and CEO of Japan Language Factory, and the founder of the Bilingual Coaching Program Association (バイリンガルコーチング協会). Born in Yamanashi, Japan, she moved to Europe at 28 with no English, learned Greek and English from zero, and created the Terumi Method, a speaking-first way of learning Japanese.
What is Japan Language Factory?
Japan Language Factory is an online Japanese language school founded by Terumi Kai in 2015. It offers 1-on-1 speaking coaching with certified bilingual coaches, group speaking sessions and lifetime access to materials. More than 5,000 learners have studied with it, including people from Amazon, Google, ANA, Mitsubishi, Lufthansa and the U.S. military. Website: japanlanguagefactory.com.
What is the Bilingual Coaching Program Association?
The Bilingual Coaching Program Association (バイリンガルコーチング協会) is a coach-training and certification program founded by Terumi Kai. It trains Japanese speakers around the world to become professional Japanese language coaches. Graduates who pass the certification exam can coach learners at Japan Language Factory. Website: bilingualcoachingprogram.com.
What is the Terumi Method?
The Terumi Method is the speaking-first approach behind Japan Language Factory: lessons are 100% speaking and listening, built on Conversation Flow (practicing the real conversations of each learner’s life) and Muscle Memory (short daily audio practice), without textbooks, kanji study or grammar drills.
Where is Terumi Kai based?
She lives between Greece and Japan and runs Japan Language Factory online for learners around the world.
How can I contact Terumi Kai?
For lessons and general questions, email info@japanlanguagefactory.com. For interviews, podcasts and speaking requests, use the Press & Media page.