Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Takahashi
Hi Sasha , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Japan and moved to the U.S. at the age of 18. When I was a child, I watched the American comedy show Full House, which made me dream of living in the U.S. one day. Determined to make that dream come true, I moved to the U.S. right after graduating high school.
However, my dream life in America turned out to be much tougher than I had imagined. During my homestay, I couldn’t communicate in English at all, even though I had attended an English conversation school for two years in Japan. I felt frustrated because nothing I had learned seemed useful in real-life situations. It took me a long time to acquire English skills on my own. For a while, I struggled to use English in daily life and saw no progress. I also realized that simply translating Japanese into English didn’t work because the way of expressing ideas and interpreting situations was different. Eventually, I came to understand that American culture and values play a huge role in how the language is used.
Once I became comfortable living in the U.S. and started seeing it as my second home, I met Japanese newcomers who were facing the exact same language struggles I had gone through. As I listened to their experiences, I found out that many other Japanese people were dealing with the same difficulties. That’s when I became confident that my own experiences could help Japanese people who were just starting their lives in the U.S.
In 2015, I launched an online coaching program called “English Coaching to Enrich Your Life in the U.S.”, where I teach practical and effective study methods tailored specifically for Japanese learners. I also help them understand the differences in perspectives between Japan and the U.S. and develop the right mindset for living in America. Today, I provide lessons to many Japanese people, especially those who are in the U.S. on work assignments.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I first arrived in the U.S., I struggled not only with the language barrier but also with cultural differences. One of the biggest challenges was understanding the different styles of communication. In Japan, there is a strong culture of reading between the lines, and people tend to communicate indirectly, expecting others to understand without explicitly saying things. However, in the U.S., people are expected to express their opinions clearly and directly. At first, I found it difficult to voice my thoughts, often just listening rather than actively participating in conversations.
I was also surprised by how friendly Americans are. They greet strangers with hugs or high-fives and casually ask, “How are you?” with a big smile. In Japan, such behavior is uncommon among people who are not close, so I initially felt confused, wondering, “Why are they acting so friendly when we barely know each other?” Even in stores, cashiers often engage in friendly small talk, and I wasn’t sure how to respond naturally.
Another major difference was the emphasis on individual opinions and self-expression. In school, participation was a crucial part of grading, and staying silent—even if I understood the material—was not an option. In Japan, silence can sometimes imply understanding, but in the U.S., I had to speak up to be acknowledged. At first, I lacked the confidence to express myself, but an American friend once told me, “If you don’t say it, no one will know what you’re thinking.” That encouraged me to start practicing speaking up little by little.
Adjusting to a new culture took time, but I learned the importance of being flexible and open-minded rather than clinging to Japanese norms. Through these experiences, I realized that learning English isn’t just about mastering vocabulary and grammar—it’s about understanding the culture and values behind the language. This awareness has helped me develop a more natural and confident way of speaking English.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In December 2015, I registered Online English Learning as a company in the United States and launched English Jam, an online English school. At the time of its opening, our mission was to help students in Japan experience authentic English while remaining in their home country.
One day, I had the opportunity to speak with the wife of a family on an overseas work assignment in the United States. She shared her struggles, saying, “I want to study English, but I have no connections or access to good resources,” and “I don’t understand how to manage life in America, and it’s so hard every day.” Her words reflected a deep sense of frustration, and they resonated strongly with my own experiences during my early days in the United States.
That conversation became a turning point, and I immediately launched classes specifically tailored to families on overseas assignments. These classes not only focused on English lessons but also provided guidance on how to effectively study English and practical support for navigating life in America. The ability to “ask questions and seek advice about life in America in Japanese” was a service that had been surprisingly unavailable until then. Word of this offering quickly spread through social media and word of mouth.
Today, English Jam is proud to have a growing community of students and graduates across the United States. I firmly believe that this initiative provides a smoother transition for families adjusting to a new country while giving them the tools and confidence to learn, grow, and thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://englishjam.jp
- Instagram: @englishjam.la
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JapaneseJam
