1.0Fukuoka Nowhttps://www.fukuoka-now.comfukuoka nowhttps://www.fukuoka-now.com/author/fukuoka-now-editor/Evan Kirby | Fukuoka Nowrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="VqzRU8Vy5V"><a href="https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/evan-kirby/">Evan Kirby</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/evan-kirby/embed/#?secret=VqzRU8Vy5V" width="600" height="338" title="“Evan Kirby” — Fukuoka Now" data-secret="VqzRU8Vy5V" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script>
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https://i0.wp.com/www.fukuoka-now.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/fn172-in-fukuoka-014.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1640427Ambitious, dare we say “genki”, Scotsman Evan Kirby runs GenkiJACS Japanese School in Fukuoka. At age eighteen Evan moved from his small hometown of Dumfries to Hawaii in search of warmer pastures. Five years and a university degree later he realized most of his friends were Japanese and decided to make another big move by coming to Fukuoka on the JET Program. After meeting his wife, then a teacher-in-training, the pair discovered a gap in the market for Japanese-language schools and launched GenkiJACS in 2004. Evan is now Director of the popular school, which caters to the needs of Western students who are mostly interested in Japan for cultural reasons. They organize up to ten activities weekly including tea ceremony, kimono-wearing, ikebana, as well as trips, film screenings and language classes. The school taught over 3,000 students to date - and they keep coming back, some as many as ten times! Evan finds it rewarding to have the opportunity to fulfil the dreams of his students, and enjoys working alongside his wife and dedicated staff members. Although the Fukuoka school will always be home base, GenkiJACS will soon expand with a new school in Tokyo later this spring! Read our full interview below to find out more...