“We were not disappointed and were acquainted with all the above and more, including meetings with many schoolchildren and their mothers, by hosts who were very keen to practice speaking English and to know about our way of life and looked after us extremely well. Had we visited Japan in a normal tourist way, much of this would have been missed, and if we did have some difficulties in communication and with some of the food it only added to the challenge and fun. A most enlightening and enjoyable trip”.

“It was lovely to meet you, and thank you so much for an interesting lecture. It is fascinating to learn about the differences between Japanese and English culture, but so heart-warming to discover the similarities as well”. “Thank you for arranging for us all to wear kimono as well. I have two yukata at home, but I have always been confused about the correct way to wear them, and so I have more confidence to try now”.

“We had not considered a trip to Japan until hearing Akemi speak at our Rotary Club. We decided to join her group on the March 2005 visit and looked forward to seeing the cherry blossom, Mount Fuji, temples castles and the Shinkansen (bullet train) and to learning about many Japanese customs such as Tea Ceremonies, washing arrangements, shoe removals and many other customs which make the Japanese way of life so different from our own”.

“The session I attended was much appreciated and I would recommend anyone visiting Japan to attend, even if they are seasoned travelers”. “I had never been to Japan before and had no idea what to expect. Just learning from you made me relax so much. The small amount of vocabulary you taught us came in really useful, as did how to bow properly and accept and give your business card. All in all, the seminar was absolutely fabulous, well targeted and informative”. “I would also strongly recommend the services that you offer once you arrive in Japan. Without that initially, life…

“Dear Akemi, I think I will be making a cultural tour of Japan every year with you, because I love the country, the people and the way of life so much. I especially enjoyed my stays with my host families and I have started regular contact with them – I learned so much in just a short space of time. Thank you for making the trip so informative and enjoyable”.

“Dear Akemi, Thank you once again for a phenomenal trip to Japan. You did a fantastic job and organised so many wonderful things for me to do. I could not have asked for more. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Japan who wants to get under its skin, rather than just be a tourist”.

“Dear Akemi, I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful time I had in Japan. I still cannot believe that I actually was there only four months ago, as I cannot wait to go back. I have kept in contact with my host family and look forward to seeing them again. Thank you so much for helping me achieve one of my dreams in life”.

“Lucky rarity! At AmeCon 2006 I won a competition to spend a two-week holiday in Japan. I was very grateful but also happy to know I would get to travel with a group from the UK. We met up in Tokyo and each of us got to stay with a Japanese family (or two) in the North. Endless hours of anime-watching and manga-reading could not have prepared us for many of our experiences”.