Your own meaning
A short answer that says what you think matters more than a polished sentence written for you.
ABOUT BORDERLESS · EST. 2020
It starts with
understanding someone.
I’m Shintaro, your Japanese teacher. I built Borderless to help you say what matters to you—and take that Japanese into your life.
Eight years of teaching. A background in product design. One connected way to learn.
SHINTARO YAMASHITA · FOUNDER & LEAD EDUCATOR
Finding a way
to explain it.
At university, I helped international friends follow classes taught in Japanese. My English was limited. I studied, searched for words, and tried explaining the same idea in different ways until we could understand each other.
That experience stayed with me. Language mattered because there was a person in front of me, and something I wanted to share.
Eight years of teaching experience. Borderless was established in 2020.
The lesson is part
of the design.
My background in product design taught me to start with the person: what are they trying to do, and what is getting in the way?
I ask the same questions when I teach. Every prompt, explanation and activity needs a reason. If something is not helping a learner understand or express themselves, I change it.
The app follows that thinking too. Preparation, conversation, feedback and review should feel connected. I want the space itself to make you curious enough to open it again.
WHAT MATTERSINSIDE AND OUTSIDE CLASS
Understanding the reason
A correction is useful when you understand why it helps, and can make that choice yourself next time.
More choices in life
Ask a question, explain a concern, share a joke, or contribute an idea. Those moments are the reason to learn.
What we mean by progress
Qualifications can open doors. We support JLPT goals while also paying attention to the language you use at work, in relationships and in everyday situations.
Attendance and completed materials are part of learning, but they are not the outcome by themselves. We look for growing understanding, clearer expression and the ability to use Japanese with other people.
YOUR FIRST LESSON
Meet your teacher.
Join a real class.
Join a real class with Shintaro. See how the explanations, conversation and feedback work for you.
Try a free lessonNo preparation required. No obligation to join.