About Akari
I'm your teacher, Akari
Hi! I’m Akari Piotrowski (Matsuda), a certified Japanese language teacher and the founder/creator of Mochifika.
My lessons are completely different from school.
I help independent learners build confidence in speaking Japanese through clear structure, practical resources, and realistic learning goals.
Resume
Certificate
- Sapporo City University (Bachelor of Design)
- Seisa University (Japanese language education & Intercultural Communication with distinction)
- 120 hour TESOL Certification
- Certification of Teaching Japanese as a foreign language (The World Japanese Language Centre)
Experience
I have worked as a Japanese language teacher in a variety of educational and professional settings, both online and offline.
I have taught Japanese at private schools and through online programs, focusing on conversation-based courses as well as general and academic Japanese.
In Sweden, I worked as a Japanese Language Teacher at GMS International, where I taught general and business Japanese to professionals.
My work included teaching government-related professionals, employees of Swedish companies, and leading Japanese language and culture workshops for corporate settings.
In addition to formal teaching, I have volunteered as a Japanese language tutor for travelers, helping them communicate more confidently during their stay in Japan.
I also have experience in film subtitle translation.
Through these experiences, I have developed a practical, learner-centered approach that connects real-world communication with clear structure and guidance.
Me and languages
My foreign language life has started when I was 3 years old. The experience at that time has always been the driving force behind my teaching: We have fun and we learn!
Learning languages has always been interesting to me and I have made new discoveries. And when I traveled to various European countries as a backpacker in 2015, I realized the importance of language learning again … Communication!
At that moment, I was learning Spanish and Italian, which could be said to have changed my life.
I started to help learning the Japanese language as a volunteer for tourists and language exchanges from 2016. Around the same time, I became absorbed in learning Italian, and started learning Arabic and German.
Since 2020, I’ve taught Japanese to more than 300 learners worldwide, supporting students from complete beginners to advanced levels through structured programs and guided practice.
My teaching focuses on interactive, program-based learning rather than traditional only-one-to-one classes.
Instead of correcting every mistake, I guide learners to notice important patterns and understand why something doesn’t work, so they can build confidence and improve their speaking skills through reflection and practice.
Are you ready to start?
Enjoy a fun and beneficial time with me and a coffee or tea, just like you would with your friends!
Approach
My teaching approach is based on the communicative method and the CEFR framework.
I focus on helping learners use Japanese in real-life situations rather than memorizing grammar rules in isolation.
Through guided practice and active participation, students build practical communication skills and stay motivated.
Random things about me
- I love film! When I was a student, I watched films at the cinema at least 4 days a week.
- I’m also a filmmaker, composer, and photographer.
- I respect 4 “David”: David Lynch, David Cronenberg, David Fincher, David Bowie
- I also love music! I love metal & experimental music much!
- I’ve been taking Urbex (urban exploration) photography for more than 6 years
- I speak Japanese as my native language and also use English, Italian, German, Swedish, Spanish, and Polish at different levels.
I’m currently learning Greek and enjoy the process of being a language learner myself. - When I see & meet animals, I’m so happy!
- Maybe as you noticed, I love Japanese sweets such as mochi, manjū, yōkan, dorayaki, dango e.t.c. + drinking matcha / green tea / coffee with them! Mmm!!
Contact me here for Japanese lessons, collaborations, … and more!
Book a Discovery Call
During the call we can get to know each other and will discuss and analyze your specific learning style, and much more!
Please tell me your reasons and motivation for learning Japanese, your strengths and weaknesses e.t.c.