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4th Japanese Language Learners Gathering in The Hague | SJW

Business Japanese Training for Professionals

Some news we've been excited to share for a while: Sakura Japanese Workshop is returning to Amsterdam this autumn. When we paused our Amsterdam classes, we kept hearing the same question — "When are you coming back?" Honestly, it came up more often than we expected. Amsterdam learners kept joining our online lessons and even travelling to The Hague, and every time, we felt we owed the city a proper classroom again. So here it is. Starting Tuesday 29 September 2026, our Beginn

Studying Japanese for work? We've updated our business site — Europe–Japan execution advisory in The Hague, plus a free 20-question Japan readiness self-assessment.

Why do meetings with Japanese teams stay silent? Read our seminar report to discover how Dutch CEOs and local managers unlocked the secrets of Nemawashi and Ringi.

3rd Sakura Student Gathering in The Hague We are thrilled to share the highlights from our 3rd Student Gathering Event at TOWNHOUSE hotel The Hague, which took place yesterday at the beautiful Townhouse Hotel Den Haag! Bringing language learning out of the classroom and into a relaxed, social setting is one of our favorite traditions at Sakura Japanese Workshop. Yesterday, our passionate students and teachers from various levels came together for a fantastic afternoon of conn

Learning Japanese can be a rewarding yet challenging journey. Whether you are just starting to explore nihongo or have been studying for years, connecting with others who share your passion can make a big difference. That’s why our 3rd gathering event for Japanese language learners is the perfect opportunity to boost your skills, meet new friends, and immerse yourself in the culture. What to Expect at the Gathering This event is designed to bring together learners of all leve

Imagine you're listening to a Japanese colleague explain a decision. They speak for thirty seconds. You catch some words. You think you understand where it's going. Then the last word arrives — and it's the verb. The action. The entire point of the sentence. And it changes everything you thought you'd understood. This isn't a translation problem. It's a structural one. Japanese sentences are built differently from English — and once you understand how, the language starts to

You're in a meeting with a Japanese colleague. You present your proposal. They nod. They say "はい" (hai) after every point you make. The meeting ends on what feels like a positive note. Then nothing happens. No follow-up. No decision. No next step. This isn't a communication failure. It's a language misunderstanding — and it's one of the most common ones that professionals working with Japan encounter. What "はい" actually means In English, "yes" signals agreement. When someone

Last Saturday, March 21st, we stepped out of the classroom and into a cozy cafe in The Hague for our Sakura Community Event. It was a wonderful afternoon where the Japanese language truly came to life, and we are still buzzing from the energy everyone brought to the table! Student Gathering Event | Sakura Japanese Workshop From Classroom Lessons to Real-World Memories Our goal for this event was simple: to transform Japanese from a "subject" into a "living language." While te

For many busy professionals in The Hague and across Europe, the journey to learning Japanese begins with a fundamental choice: Should I learn through the Direct Method (Japanese-only), or the Indirect Method (using a bridge language such as English)?

Does "Kento-shimasu" mean Yes or No? Understand the logic behind Japanese indirectness and improve your business communication. Our experts in The Hague decode the "three layers" of this common phrase to help European executives build stronger professional relationships with Japanese clients.

As a professional navigating the business landscape of the Netherlands and wider Europe, you already know this: language is more than a communication tool—it is a strategic asset for building trust.