サマースクール②

Chizuko Nishida

Chizuko is a Japanese educator and specialist in psychological resilience, currently serving as the Representative Director of the Japan Resilience Education and Training Center (JRET). With extensive experience in early childhood and elementary education, she focuses on supporting children’s emotional wellbeing and healthy development through evidence-based educational practice.

Her expertise lies in SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) and Resilience Education, and she is widely recognized in Japan as a practitioner, trainer, and advocate in these fields. Through workshops, teacher training, and educational programs, Chizuko supports educators and communities in fostering empathy, self-awareness, emotional literacy, and resilience in both children and adults.

Patrick Newell

A prominent international educator for over 30 years. He is a specialist in future of learning and non-cognitive skills. Patrick has extensive experience in school accreditation and has worked in over ten countries. He currently lives in Shibuya while his youngest daughter attends Japanese school and is an advisor to the Shibuya Board of Education. Patrick is an MBA Professor at Shizenkan University specializing the the art of communication and leadership journeys. He is very curious about AI as a tool for learning and has spent the past five years researching this relationship. Patrick has a strong passion for finding synergy between nature, humanity and technology to prepare our children for their future.

Ren Yoshimoto

Ren is an English teacher at Utsuho Academy who is passionate about creating engaging and enjoyable learning experiences for children. With a particular interest in picture book-based English education, Ren explores how storytelling and visual literacy can support language development, imagination, and communication in the classroom.

Outside the classroom, Ren enjoys basketball, music, video games, and spending time with animals, interests that often inspire connections and conversations with students in everyday school life.

Rowaie Mohamed

English Educator with a Background in Medical Studies

Rowaie originally pursued studies in medicine before moving to Japan and later following her passion for education and language learning through English teaching.

She has experience teaching both preschool children and adults, and currently teaches English at Utsuho Academy. Rowaie enjoys creating positive and engaging learning environments where students feel encouraged to communicate with confidence and curiosity.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys trying new activities and embracing new challenges, although she humorously admits that swimming is still one skill she has yet to master.

Toru Tsuchiyama

Forest Interpreter and Kishu Binchotan Charcoal Craftsman

Toru is a forest interpreter and charcoal craftsman from Tanabe, specialising in the production of traditional Kishu Binchotan in the Nakahechi region. Deeply connected to the natural environment of Kumano, he is passionate about sharing local knowledge and creating opportunities for children and visitors to engage with nature through hands-on experiences.

For more than a decade, Toru has contributed to the local public elementary school community through activities such as rice paddy experiences, traditional mochi-making, and dodgeball. Through his work, he hopes to foster meaningful connections between people, nature, and local culture in rural Wakayama.

Riko Goto

Riko relocated to Wakayama in 2025 and now shares the daily life and educational values of Utsuho Academy with the wider community. With a background in education and a teaching license, she is passionate about the role of education and sport in fostering personal growth, wellbeing, and global community development.

Riko is also pursuing postgraduate studies at University of Tsukuba, specialising in international development through sport, while contributing to school life in Wakayama. Outside of education, she enjoys sports, reading, and international travel, and values creating connections through learning and cultural exchange.

Yoshitsugu Chishina

Forestry Practitioner and Forest Bathing Facilitator

Yoshitsugu is a sixth-generation woodland practitioner with a background in stage production and set construction. After the passing of his grandfather, who managed the family’s forestlands, he pursued studies in forestry, timber, and woodland management at Tokyo University of Agriculture, developing a strong interest in the future of Japan’s forestry industry and regional communities.

Yoshitsugu is also a certified Forest Bathing Facilitator®, creating opportunities for people to reconnect with nature through immersive outdoor experiences. Through his work, he hopes to promote the cultural, environmental, and wellbeing value of forests and rural landscapes.

Kataribe – Kumano kodo Guide

Kumano Kodo Storyteller is a local storyteller and cultural guide who shares the history, spirituality, and traditions of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. Deeply connected to the culture and landscapes of the Kumano region, they guide visitors and children through experiences that explore the relationship between nature, community, and Japanese spiritual heritage.

Through storytelling, walks, and cultural activities, they hope to pass on the values and wisdom of the Kumano area while helping younger generations and visitors develop a deeper appreciation for the history and natural beauty of rural Wakayama.