The Naganuma School

by Hugo Dobson

The Naganuma School (officially called the Tokyo School of the Japanese Language) was established in 1948 by the late Naganuma Naoe, a pioneer Japanese language teacher. It is located about ten minutes walk from Shibuya station-a district that has become a Mecca for the youth of Japan and usually provides the accompanying imagery for many news reports and documentaries about contemporary Japan. The school itself is at the top of hill called dôgenzaka (probably more famed for the plethora of nearby love hotels) and is now housed in brand-spanking-new facilities. In my day, computer facilities were on a par with a ZX Spectrum and the buildings were slightly more rough and ready and reminded me of the US army hospital camp in MASH.

The school has come to be known for a teaching style known as the 'reformed direct method', which in layman's terms basically means you are thrown in at the deep end. From day one you are 'immersed in an intensive programme of communication practice to develop both written and oral skills using the school's own specialised textbooks'. A solid knowledge of grammar is of course provided, but the main emphasis is placed on interaction with others and adapting to various contexts and situations. The school's teachers insist strongly on the blanket enforcement of this method throughout the class and, although this can be frustrating at times, it does work. Believe me. I should know, I've been through it. Graduates of the Naganuma School are known for having much more than just a sound grasp of Japanese. In fact, I have found that having attended the Naganuma School can give you some kind of masonic credentials. On a number of occasions I have met fellow graduates, now in important positions, and the fact we both 'did time' at the Naganuma has broken the ice.

At any given time there are usually about 500 students registered at the school from a variety of nationalities and backgrounds such as business, diplomacy, education. The international atmosphere is striking with students from all over the world who have come together, of course, through their burning desire to learn Japanese. Alumni include Jorn Keck, Head of Delegation of the European Commission in Tokyo, and native Finlander/naturalised Japanese Marutei Tsurunen who has run for election to the House of Councillors. At the end of term students are often expected to put on a demonstration of their own country's culture in an end-of-year review. Faced with Thai nail-dancing, Korean folk songs and Peruvian pipe-playing, this provides the Brits with an opportunity to stand at the back while keeping low profiles and wondering whether the world is ready for Morris dancing.

The school also provides a social focus and organises extra-curricular activities, which in the past have involved trips to the NHK studios, Tokyo museums, the Kirin brewery in Yokohama and the National Theatre for Kabuki performances. Whatever your work placement there will obviously be certain demands, but if you want to make the school the focus of your time in Japan then opportunities do exist-both social and academic.

The term dates are as follows:

• 2001
  Spring Term: 9 April to 29 June 
  Summer Term: 9 July to 31 August 
  Autumn Term: 25 September to 14 December
• 2002 
  Winter Term: 7 January to 29 March 
  Spring Term: 8 April to 28 June 
  Summer Term: 8 July to 30 August 
  Autumn Term: 24 September to 13 December
• 2003 
  Winter Term: 6 January to 28 March 
  Spring Term: 7 April to 27 June 
  Summer Term: 7 April to 29 August 
  Autumn Term: 22 September to 12 December
• 2004
  Winter Term: 5 January to 26 March

Contact details 
Address: 16-26 Nanpeidai-machi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0036, Japan 
Telephone: 00-81-3-3463-7261

For more information, the school's homepage can be found at:
http://www.naganuma-school.or.jp/English/frame.html

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