The popular interview podcast blog, hosted by Emi Kamiya, a language coach and educator, has just expanded its reach with the addition of English summaries and highlights.
The blog features in-depth interviews with Japanese natives who learned English as a second language and are now fluent. Each guest shares their unique learning journey, struggles, achievements, and messages to current learners who aspire to follow a similar path.
Until now, the blog was available only in Japanese, serving as a rich resource for language learners and educators in Japan. With the release of English summaries, the insights and experiences of the guests are now accessible to a global audience—including language teachers, learners, and enthusiasts worldwide.
Readers can still enjoy the full interviews in Japanese, while the new English content allows non-Japanese speakers to engage with the guests’ stories. Beyond inspiration, the interviews share practical strategies for learning English, from building confidence and developing effective study habits to overcoming common challenges. These actionable insights can be applied directly to learners’ own language journeys.
With this broader accessibility, the blog has grown into a resource not just for language learners, but for anyone interested in learning and personal growth. The interviews highlight strategies for tackling challenges, maintaining motivation, and achieving goals — lessons that extend far beyond language learning. By following the journeys of individuals who mastered English, readers can discover approaches to effective learning, resilience, and mindset that are valuable across all fields of study and lifelong pursuits.
Emi Kamiya, M.A., M.S., Ph.D., is the founder of Kamiya English Coaching, an online coaching service for Japanese learners of English. She is also the first language coach from Asia to be accredited and certified by the International Coach Federation.
With extensive teaching experience in both the U.S. and Japan, she has worked with learners of all ages and backgrounds. Her coaching emphasizes building the confidence and skills that enable people to continue learning independently.
She created this interview project to share authentic stories of language learning, believing that the experiences of real learners can provide meaningful insights and encouragement for others—whether they are studying English or pursuing learning in any field.
Note: All information in the interviews reflects the date when each article was originally published.
#01. Yumiko Murai, Postdoctoral Associate at MIT Media Lab
#02. Rié Hiramatsu, Conference Interpreter
#03. Kenichi Shimada, Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School
#04. Tomoko Matsukawa, Innovation Manager at Acumen
#05. Yusuke Isotani, PhD candidate in Art History at City University of New York
#06. Eri Shimomukai, Educational Creator
#07. Sakura and Ran Isei, Flight attendants of US airline companies
#08. Marika Gunji-Yoneoka, Hardware Engineer
#09. Misato Noto, TED translator
#10. Ryo Tateishi, MBA student at Stanford University and Employee at Mitsubishi Corporation
#11. Atsuhisa Shinomiya, Actor, Dancer and Stage Director
#12. Nana Yasuda, Translator and Certified Public Accountant
#13. Daisuke Sekine, Athletic Trainer
#14. Mika Iwano, Pediatric Emergency Physician
#15. Shima Iuchi, Contemporary Artist and Art Educator
#16. Mizuho Ota, PhD student in Biological Sciences at University of California San Diego
#17. Mayuko Umeda, Employee at a Japanese Optical Device Manufacturer
#18. Yuko Hashimoto, Adjunct Lecturer and Physical Education and Dance Instructor at Ochanomizu University
#19. Shinichiroh Yamamoto, Human Resources Business Partner at a US Conglomerate
#20. Naoko Sakaeda, Assistant professor in School of Meteorology at University of Oklahoma
#21. Mio Yamamoto, Representative Director of World in Tohoku
#22. Ayano Kimura, Professional Ballet Dancer
#23. Kaori Mizukoshi, CEO of EdVisage and Developer of Global Leadership Programs
#24. Kento Maruyama, Corporate Planning Manager at a Japanese Precision Equipment Manufacturer
