Meet Maho Yasuyama, a member of Coto World’s Product Development team who started out as a Japanese language teacher at our Coto Academy Yokohama school. In this interview, she shares how she made the leap from teaching Japanese to creating content, the character designs she’s most proud of, and what she’s learned about balancing lessons with behind-the-scenes work. Read on for her advice to anyone drawn to the “backstage” side of language education!
Please introduce yourself, and tell us about your day-to-day work in the PD (Product Development) department.
After working at a cram school for elementary and junior high school students, I passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test through self-study, and I’ve been working at Coto Academy since April 2024. I taught at Coto Academy Yokohama campus for about a year and a half, and then, through a fortunate connection, I joined the Product Development (PD) team.
While I still teach lessons as an instructor, my PD work involves creating content and products.
Tell us a bit more about what you did before joining Coto World!
I’ve loved language learning since I was a student, and I studied several foreign languages in high school and university.
After graduating, I taught at a cram school for elementary and junior high school students for about five years, mainly teaching English and social studies to help students prepare for high school entrance exams and school tests.
You first joined Coto as an instructor. What made you move to Product Development?
I’ve always liked making things, and I also enjoyed work that supports things from behind the scenes. Teaching lessons is fun, of course, but I was also interested in steady, detail-oriented work. There was a freelance opportunity to help with audio production, and I was recognized for my attention to detail. Enjoying that hands-on work is what led me here.
What exactly does “Product Development (PD)” involve?
maho yasuyama
Right now, my main focus is creating content for J-Standard, an e-learning site. I also work on materials and slides for the Institute, and on corrections to student files.
Some content I build from scratch, and some involves improving existing content.
What products have you developed at Coto so far?
I designed the characters that appear in the J-Standard dialogues and the characters used in Coto Institute’s teaching materials. I’ve also created JLPT-based practice questions, along with audio and images.
How does the PD department collaborate with other departments?
I think J-Standard’s creation and sales are connected through collaboration with the marketing and corporate divisions. I’ve also worked on materials for the Coto Institute opening in Kokubunji, sometimes taking the lead and sometimes supporting the creation process.
Among the projects or tasks you’ve worked on, is there anything you’re especially proud of?
Character design is what I’m most proud of. I never imagined that drawing, which is a hobby of mine, could become part of my job, so it makes me really happy, and it’s moving to see the characters actually being used and in motion.
What has been your biggest challenge so far?
I’d say balancing Japanese teaching with content creation work was difficult. When I first joined the PD team, I didn’t know how to prioritize tasks and felt confused. Also, the vocabulary control needed during lessons kept getting pulled toward the level of the content I was working on, so my head always felt scattered.
Now I’ve gotten better at switching between lessons and work, and I feel more used to being on the PD team.
How do you feel about Coto’s company culture?
At the Yokohama school, everyone is very kind, almost like family, and there’s a warm, welcoming atmosphere. When I get the chance to talk with staff, if I bring up an idea, many people respond positively, saying things like “that’s interesting” or “you should try it.”
What are your interests outside of work? Do you have any hobbies?
I’m more of an indoor person, so besides reading and drawing, I’ve always enjoyed watching anime and manga. I also like watching dramas and movies, and I watch a lot of Netflix. Language learning is another hobby of mine. Besides English, I’m studying French and Korean.
Do you have a message for people passionate about behind-the-scenes work in language education?
For both teachers and students to enjoy teaching and learning, you need the ability to think from the other person’s perspective. I believe it’s precisely because there’s a “backstage” that the “stage” can shine. Of course, there are hard parts, but if you’re interested in this kind of work, take that first step and just try it.
Come join Coto World and build something meaningful together!
At Coto World, you’ll help shape the tools and content that make language learning click for students around the world. Whether you’re building e-learning courses, designing characters, or crafting materials that bridge classroom and self-study, your work directly impacts how people experience Japanese language education.
If you’re passionate about marketing, sales, and language learning, join Coto World and build something meaningful together.
