I'm Catherine Sachi Kikuchi (I go by ‘Sachi’), MA, TESL, (she/her) and founder of Kokoro Communications. I help bridge the culture and language gaps between Japanese and English speakers by providing communication services so they can use language to meet professional goals, with a clear understanding of cultural differences.
I was born and raised in a biracial, bicultural, bilingual family in Toronto, Canada. After working at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, I decided to start Kokoro Communications to support my international community while also doing what I love most - using, teaching, and exploring language.
Today, my team and I provide Japanese language instruction and translation services to academics and professionals from around the world. I also teach Japanese to Nikkei (a non-static term used to refer to people of Japanese descent) at Japanese for Nikkei Inc., which my childhood friend and I co-founded in 2020!
I take an academic, yet culturally informed approach to all work that I do. Here’s a brief summary of my achievements!
Presented at RootsTech 2026, the world’s largest genealogy conference, on Japanese family registries (koseki) and the cultural complexities surrounding family structure, adoption, and lineage
Guest speaking at the University of Alberta (Canada, 2021), Sultan Idris Education University (Malaysia, 2021), Toronto Metropolitan University (Canada, 2023)
Translated, interpreted, edited and proofread in a variety of areas, including Japanese family registries (koseki), experiences of disaster victims, medical documents and research papers, documentary productions, and in-house business magazines (2008-now)
Taught Communicating Across Contexts (Enriched) at Seneca College of Arts and Technology, Toronto, Canada (2019)
Curated curricula, taught a variety of classes, organized annual and monthly events at Tohoku University’s Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer (IDAC), Sendai, Japan (2013-2016)
Completed Interior Design Certificate, ICS College of Arts, Tokyo, Japan (studied in Japanese) (2016)
Passed JLPT N1 (2006, 2016)
Graduated MA Theoretical Linguistics, York University, Toronto, Canada (2012)
Completed TESL course, Seneca College of Arts and Technology, Toronto, Canada (2012)
Graduated BA Honours Double Major, Theoretical Linguistics & Children’s Studies, York University, Toronto, Canada (2010)
Here’s how we can work together:
Koseki Translation & Family Registry Support
Get help requesting and translating koseki (Japanese family register documents) with care and cultural sensitivity. We also offer family tree services for those exploring their Japanese heritage.
Japanese for Nikkei
Online Japanese courses designed specifically for Nikkei (people of Japanese ancestry) who want to reconnect with their heritage through language, culture, and community. Join live classes with access to resources and recordings.
Japanese Phonetics 101
A self-guided program to help you improve your Japanese pronunciation and pitch accent. Learn how Japanese sounds really work—with expert video lessons, real examples, quizzes, and live office hours.
Japanese for Flight Attendants
A self-paced, online course designed for current and aspiring flight attendants. Master the formal, professional Japanese expected by airlines and become a more confident Japanese speaker on Japan routes.
Words come from the heart.
Our focus is always on you. Through translation, teaching, and heritage support, we create personalized services designed to help you reach your goals with confidence and cultural understanding.
Whether you're improving your Japanese pronunciation, preparing to use Japanese professionally, reconnecting with your heritage, or exploring your family history through koseki, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
It’s the heart that uses words to communicate. Let’s give you those words so that you can share them with the world.
“I cannot recommend Sachi highly enough for her translation expertise and assistance in obtaining a Japanese koseki [family register]. From start to finish, she turned what could have been a daunting process into a seamless and stress-free experience—especially for someone who doesn’t speak or write Japanese.”
— Jace
“Sachi was an absolute pleasure to work with. When working with archival documents she was always clear, detail oriented and efficient, she was also open and sensitive to the project and priorities at hand. I look forward to working with her again.”
— Randall Okita, Director
“Japanese for Flight Attendants really understands the contents of our job and you really go into depths and details (are you a former CA?). It helps to have links and references to outside resources too. I do wish I had access to this when I first started as a Japanese FA.”
— Japanese for Flight Attendant member
Ready to get started?
Fun Facts
My obāchan (grandmother), Sachiko, was always one of my core motivations for continuing to improve my Japanese. She lived her entire life as a farmer in rural Iwate, surrounded by mountains, but she came to visit us in Canada once in the 1990’s. Spending time with her always brought me so much joy. My drive since childhood to communicate effectively with her is what has brought me to where I am today - teaching and translating!
In 2012, I moved to Sendai, Japan, a city in the Tohoku region which was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami the year prior. In Sendai, I was in charge of everything English at the Institute for Development, Aging, and Cancer (IDAC), at Tohoku University. I planned curricula, taught a variety of classes, edited and proofread, provided presentation coaching to those heading to international conferences, and hosted a variety of monthly and annual events. I loved my time at Tohoku University and still go back to visit when I can!
As a linguist, teacher, and translator, I’m constantly thinking about language and culture, word choice, and nuance, but I’m also passionate about human rights, environmental issues, and social justice. These interests not only impact how I run Kokoro Communications, but they also influence the second business I co-founded, called Japanese for Nikkei. They’re also what brought me to Voice Up Japan, Japanese Canadians for Social Justice, and other community groups and activities that I’ve been involved in over the years!
Because we know you can.
Let’s give you the tools to make your goals a reality.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We share informative videos about Japanese language learning and koseki (Japanese family registries)!