Language & learning foundations
Centred on children and young people, while welcoming adults learning Japanese for the first time, lessons develop skills from first characters and daily expressions to reading and writing.
COCOROWHAT WE DO
Support shaped by lived experience and real voices
A founder-led study with Japanese-speaking young people of Nepali heritage and their parents revealed needs that remain even when language is no longer the most visible barrier. COCORO responds to those voices while also supporting children in Japan and abroad who are building the language and confidence to imagine a future in Japan.
Belonging & well-being
Through conversation and learning across generations, create space for identity, emotional safety, and connection.
Schools, JLPT & future pathways
Through lessons, articles, and individual guidance, make school systems, JLPT, exams, interviews, careers, and future choices clear.
Family & community bridges
Through opportunities for families to explore shared topics and future community activities, connect learners, families, schools, mentors, and communities.
AFTER EVERY LESSON
See what was learned—and what comes next.
A learning report records participation, homework, progress, and the next task. A family reply space keeps communication connected beyond the lesson.
- Check in
- Learn
- Use it
- Next step
WHAT THE STUDY FOUND
Japanese fluency does not always mean a child is doing fine.
The study combined questionnaires with 20 young people of Nepali heritage and 20 parents, and semi-structured interviews with 6 young people and 7 parents. It examined language, school life, roots, parent-child relationships, educational expectations, connections, future pathways, and support needs, then explored the meaning behind those experiences through interviews.
Read the full research paper (PDF) ↗YOUNG PEOPLE
Support young people said they needed
PARENTS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN
Support parents wanted for their children
PARENTS THEMSELVES
Support parents said they needed
FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION
Three spaces shaped by what families told us.
The needs revealed by the study inform both COCORO’s services and its guiding principles. We turn the findings into practical opportunities to learn, connect, and stay close to one’s roots.
Learn about education in Japan—together
Children and parents can participate together to understand Japanese schools, learning, exams, and future pathways.
Meet peers and learn as a group
Group lessons give children opportunities to meet and learn alongside peers with similar experiences.
Learn Nepali language and culture
We are preparing opportunities to learn Nepali language and culture while strengthening connection to one’s roots.
Want to talk it through?
Start with whatever feels unclear. We will sort through it together.