Japanese

About This Course: Bridging Care with Communication

​Empathetic care begins with a shared language. Our Japanese for Nursing Care (Kaigo) program is a specialized curriculum designed for healthcare professionals who aspire to provide high-quality, compassionate support within the Japanese elderly care system.

​Unlike standard language courses, this program moves beyond basic conversation to focus on the technical vocabulary, honorific etiquette (Keigo), and safety protocols essential for the Japanese healthcare environment. We don’t just teach you how to speak; we teach you how to connect with residents, ensure their safety, and collaborate effectively with Japanese medical teams. Whether you are preparing for the JLPT N4/N3 or the Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test, this course provides the linguistic tools and cultural insights necessary to turn your passion for caregiving into a successful career in Japan.

Moving to Japan as a caregiver is an incredible goal, but let's be real: it’s not just about learning "Hello" and "Thank you." You’ll be navigating delicate medical situations and building deep emotional bonds with the elderly.

​This course outline is designed to take you from zero to "care-ready," focusing on the JLPT N4/N3 level and the Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test.
​Phase 1: The Foundation (General Japanese)

​Before you can help someone into a wheelchair, you need the "skeleton" of the language.

​Writing Systems: Mastery of Hiragana, Katakana, and approximately 300-600 Kanji.
​Basic Grammar: Sentence structure (Subject-Object-Verb), particles (は, が, を, に), and polite form (Desu/Masu).
​Essential Verbs: To eat, to drink, to sleep, to go, to help, to wash.

​Phase 2: Caregiving Vocabulary & Expressions

This is where the course gets specific. You need to know the words for the body and the tools of the trade

1. Anatomy and Health

Body Parts: Koshi (Lower back), Hiza (Knee), Kansetsu (Joints).
​Symptoms: Itami (Pain), Memai (Dizziness), Benpi (Constipation).
​Vitals: Tayon (Body temperature), Ketsuatsu (Blood pressure).

​2. Equipment and Facility Terms

Mobility: Kuruma-isu (Wheelchair), Tsue (Cane), Tesuri (Handrail).
​Daily Living: Omutsu (Diaper), Pootaburu toire (Portable toilet).

Phase 3: Communication Skills (The "Heart" of Care)

Japanese culture places huge importance on Keigo (Honorifics). You aren't just talking to a "boss"; you are talking to an elder who deserves high respect.
​1. Interaction Rituals

Greetings: Standard greetings plus Shitsurei-shimasu (Excuse me) when entering a room.
​Asking Permission: "May I check your temperature?" or "Is it okay if we move to the dining hall?"
​Encouragement: Ganbare is too harsh; use Muri o shinaide kudasai (Please don't overdo it).

​2. Active Listening (Aizuchi)

In Japan, nodding and making "listening sounds" (Hai, ee, naruhodo) is vital to show the elderly you are truly present with them.

Phase 4: Documentation and Safety

Caregiving involves a lot of paperwork (even if it's digital).

Care Logs: Reading and writing shift reports.
​Safety Commands: Abunai! (Dangerous!), Tomatte! (Stop!).
​Emergency Responses: Calling for a nurse or reporting a fall.
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