About us

A Message from Our Teachers

Principal | Kaoru Takeuchi

Building the Power to Solve Problems Creatively

Head of School, YES International School / Science Author / PhD, McGill University

We are living through what many call the Fourth Industrial Revolution — a time of rapid advances in technology and AI. What children truly need is not the ability to memorize facts, but the capacity to identify challenges, collaborate, and create solutions.
At YES, learning is about experience, not storage. Through project-based learning, we ask not just “what do you know” but “how will you use it.” We build environments where every child’s talent is recognized, failure is part of the process, and trying again is always encouraged.

Odawara Campus Representative | Hifumi Seto

Bringing Diversity and Choice to Our Community

Odawara Campus Representative｜Vice President of Seto Construction (A 117-year legacy)

Odawara is a place rich in history, culture, and the natural gifts of sea, mountains, and open sky. For a long time, I carried a question: why do families have so many choices in early childhood, and then suddenly almost none when their child reaches elementary school? In regional Japan, that gap is especially visible.

The desire to bring more diversity and choice to education in our community is what gave birth to YES International School Odawara.
YES means yes to yourself, yes to others, yes to every challenge.
When your child’s eyes light up with a “Why?” — we are here to help that spark grow. We’d love to welcome you in.

Vice Principal | Bukhari

An Education Where Every Child Believes in Their Own Ability

MA Linguistics and TESOL, University of Portsmouth
BA Law and Politics, Queen Mary, University of London

Education at YES is not about simply delivering knowledge.
It is about helping children believe in their own ability to think, question, and act. Through dialogue and project-based learning, we nurture both critical thinking and empathy.

From the Classroom
— Teachers Who Nurture Daily Inquiry

Meet the team who walks alongside your children every day at YES.
We go beyond teaching knowledge — nurturing each child’s “Why?” and building the habit of thinking for themselves.

Ms. Akiko | Japanese Language

Through years of practice in international and alternative school settings, I’ve come to believe that every child has a moment when their unique qualities become their greatest strength.
Walking alongside each child through nature, culture, and conversation, I help them find their own questions and think in their own words.

Ms. Lindsay | English

English is more than a tool for communication. It is a gateway to understanding and respecting difference. At YES, I value the willingness to express ideas over being correct. Through shared dialogue and experience, children encounter diverse cultures and perspectives — developing empathy, critical thinking, and the confidence to speak up in a global world.

Meet Our Dedicated Support Team

• Mr. Anthony｜Science

  

  Through experiments, outdoor activities, and discussion, I guide children from curiosity to scientific thinking. My science class is a place where we explore the world through all five senses — and discover answers together.

• Ms. Emily | Math & STEAM

  

  M.Sc. Computer Science, Texas A&M University-Commerce

  Using songs, videos, creative games, and hands-on projects, Ms. Emily makes numbers and programming concepts click — and stick. She brings out the creativity and self-expression in every learner.

• Mr. Yostin | Tennis & Pickleball

  

  As a professional coach from Costa Rica, certified to train elite players, I bring passion and a unique training philosophy to every class. Through tennis and pickleball, I work to develop each child’s mind, skill, and body — as one.

• Mr. Shinnosuke Ishihara | Marimba

  

  Through rhythm and sound, I work to nurture each child’s ability to feel deeply and focus fully. Music is where thinking with the mind and sensing with the body come together — and that connection is at the heart of what I teach. More than anything, I treasure the moment a child lights up with “I get it!” and “I did it!“

• Ms. Akugawa | YES School Lunch

  

  Every ingredient, every seasoning, every drop of water chosen with care — YES school lunches are built to nourish both gut and brain. Each meal is a foundation for tomorrow’s learning.

• Ms. Kirari | Musical Theater

  

  Using music, movement, and language, I share the joy of self-expression — helping each child find their own voice and bring it into the world. Through performing, moving, and taking brave leaps, I help children build the power to communicate — with their whole body.

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