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!
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:
Elevate your understanding of service Japanese and cultivate a skill set specific for flight attendants though this one-of-a-kind course.
Improve your Japanese pronunciation and pitch accent and open up a whole new world of personal and professional opportunities.
Translation with care and cultural awareness that brings you guaranteed satisfaction. We can also help you request koseki from Japan.
Words come from the heart.
Our focus is always on you. We create customized service plans, whether it’s through translation, teaching, or coaching. That’s why we’re able to share with you the tools you to meet your goals with confidence.
It’s the heart that uses words to communicate. Let’s give you those words so that you can share them with the world.
“[Sachi has] done both direct translation work from English to Japanese, as well as providing valuable feedback into the mentality of Japanese customers. Her feedback has helped us to understand how to better position our products and communicate with the Japan market. Her work is always excellent, delivered on time, and she goes above and beyond to ensure the end product is clear and ready for our immediate use.”
— Kate Firuz, Director, Digital Payments, Avanquest
“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
“Sachi worked as translator, live interpreter and provided additional consultation during pre-production for a shoot in Japan with the National Film Board of Canada. She was incredibly communicative, flexible, reliable and highly contributed to the success of the shoot. Sachi is highly skilled and is a pleasure to work with, I would absolutely recommend her services.”
— Jennifer Bertling, Unit Productions Manager, National Film Board of Canada
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!
