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Kodomo SchoolSoroban, Calligraphy & Art
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Art class | Grades 1–6

Draw, be appreciated,
and grow into who you are.

More than “drawing well,” we value the fun of expressing yourself and the joy of being appreciated. An art class that builds self-esteem through art.

Soroban classCalligraphy classArt classThe benefits of sorobanThe benefits of calligraphy
A boy showing his drawing A girl holding her artwork Children drawing flowers A child’s artwork
  • ForElementary Grades 1–6
  • LessonsOnce a week, 80 min (42 lessons a year)
  • Monthly tuition¥6,500 (tax included)
  • Trial lesson40 min, ¥1,000

Apply for a trial lesson

A teacher and children presenting their artwork

“Draw yourself,” not just “draw well”

Each child’s own way of expressing
matters most.

Choosing a favorite color. Drawing a shape the way you feel it. Trying to turn an idea into something real. Experiences like these, one after another, give children the reassurance that “it’s okay to value the way I feel.”

During lessons, there are many moments when teachers and classmates say things like “What an interesting idea!” or “Those colors are so you!”

What we hope to grow in art class

3 strengths

01

Expressing yourself

By freely drawing what they “like” and what they “want to do,” children learn to value their own feelings and ideas. Presenting their work gives them the confidence of “I did it!” and “I got my message across!”

02

Seeing the good in others

At the end of each lesson, children show each other their work and say what they like about it: “This part is really nice!” Enjoying differences and appreciating others helps kindness grow.

03

Thinking skills (art × philosophy dialogue)

Looking at famous paintings by artists such as Van Gogh and Monet, children take their time talking about “How did it make you feel?” and “Why do you think so?” Putting things into their own words and listening to others builds thinking skills.

An 80-minute lesson

How a lesson goes

  1. Today’s themeA seasonal topic, a famous painting, and so on
  2. Plenty of time to createDrawing, crafts, paper clay, and more
  3. Showing our workThe teacher helps children who find presenting hard
  4. Sharing “nice points”Let’s find the good in each other’s work
  5. A quick look backSuch as “my favorite part today”
A child’s artwork A child’s artwork A child’s artwork Wakuma (our bear mascot) with children in class

42 lessons a year

A year of lessons (example)

From seasonal art and crafts to color play, paper clay and looking at famous paintings. (Content may change.)

First termApril–July

  • Color play, color-bleed painting, paper cutting, paper collage
  • Let’s draw our own face
  • Spring flowers (tulips and more)
  • Making mini animals from paper clay
  • Art philosophy dialogue ①: Van Gogh, “Sunflowers”
  • Pictures on the theme of rain, Tanabata wish strips and decorations, summer foods, and more

Second termAugust–November

  • Painting on paper fans (uchiwa), torn-paper art
  • Let’s draw our own home
  • Making insects from paper clay
  • Art philosophy dialogue ②: Matisse, “The Dance” / ③: Rousseau, “The Dream”
  • Moon-viewing (tsukimi) art, memories of sports day, autumn-leaf stamp art
  • Making Halloween masks, a pretend school festival (exhibition), and more

Third termDecember–March

  • Making Christmas cards and wreaths
  • Art philosophy dialogue ④: Monet, “Water Lilies” / ⑤: Picasso, “The Weeping Woman” / ⑥: Chagall, “The Flying Lovers”
  • Drawing the zodiac animal of the year, a watercolor + salt experiment, winter scenes
  • Origami-and-drawing art, Setsubun (bean-throwing festival) masks, animal parents and babies
  • Graduation and moving-up cards, free paper-clay creations, collage art, flowers waiting for spring
  • Art exhibition and presentation day, looking back on the year, and more

Classrooms

Where our art classes are

Okazaki竜美台アート教室 (Tatsumidai)

Every Wednesday
竜美ヶ丘高根山公民館
岡崎市竜美台1-9-3

Okazaki針崎アート教室 (Harisaki) NEW

Every Thursday
針崎町公民館
岡崎市針崎町2丁目3-2

Toyohashi牧野アート教室 (Makino)

Every Wednesday
牧野町公民館 (across the street from 豊橋市牧野町165-2)

Hamamatsu広沢アート教室 (Hirosawa)

Every Friday
西部協働センター (3rd floor, art room)
浜松市中央区広沢1-21-1

Times (80 min) First session 16:00–17:20 / Second session 17:30–18:50

Monthly tuition¥6,500/month (tax included)
Facility fee (incl. insurance) & materials fee¥1,500/month

Is it right for your child?

Recommended if…

  • Your child loves drawing and crafts
  • Your child finds it hard to put their thoughts into words
  • You’d like your child to gain experience presenting in front of others, little by little
  • You want your child to gain confidence
  • You hope your child will grow up caring about how others feel
Is it okay if my child isn’t good at drawing?

Not a problem at all. The goal is not to “draw well”; we value the experience of giving shape to what children feel. Children who feel they are “not good at art” are exactly the ones we hope will feel safe to give it a try.

Can my child bring their artwork home?

Yes. Throughout the year, children take home many kinds of work: paintings, paper-clay pieces, seasonal crafts and more. We also plan to hold an exhibition once a year.

Can a child who doesn’t like presenting in front of others still join?

Your child can go at their own pace. When presenting feels hard, the teacher can introduce the work for them, or they can write on a card to share it. They can take part in a way that feels comfortable.

Can my child do this alongside other activities?

With an easy once-a-week pace, many children also attend soroban, calligraphy or other activities. Please feel free to ask us about days and times that work for you.

Our art teachers

Teachers who stay close to each child’s
“This is it!” moment

Wakana (わかな先生)

Kodomo School Art class (supervising teacher)

Wakana (わかな先生)WAKANA.M

Contemporary artistCertified instructor, Art Self-Esteem Method

Master’s degree in Fine Arts (Sculpture course), Graduate School of Art and Design, Musashino Art University

Artwork by WakanaArtwork by WakanaArtwork by Wakana
What made you love art?
From a young age, my family took me to art museums, and I had chances to experience music through lessons. Art felt like a part of everyday life, and I naturally began to express myself in ways other than words.
Hobbies and days off
Hunting for coffee beans, walking, cooking, fashion
A message to students and parents

I feel that art has a special power.

When you draw or make something, your true feelings deep inside, or a sense of “This is it!”, can suddenly appear. I think of this as the moment you meet yourself just as you are.

When we notice the feelings born from within, we slowly begin to live as ourselves. And as we gain the wisdom to give shape to those feelings, I believe we can live more freely and with a richer heart.

Through art, I hope each child will notice their own feelings and gain the confidence to say, “This is who I am.” I want to stay by their side and help each child’s own personality shine freely.

Tomoko Iwatsuki (岩月ともこ先生)
Okazaki area

Tomoko Iwatsuki (岩月ともこ先生)TOMOKO.IWATSUKI

Certified instructor of the Art Self-Esteem Method. Teaches at an art and craft school; aromatherapy instructor; certified medical herb instructor.

What made you love art?
My art teacher in elementary school valued free ideas, and that made me love drawing and making things.
Hobbies and days off
Camping, gardening, and walks with my dog
A message to students and parents
A child’s sensitivity is a one-of-a-kind treasure. Feelings that can’t be put into words show up just as they are in their artwork, and expressing them helps calm the heart. Because art has no right answers and no failures, children can accept themselves as they are and learn to respect their friends’ expression too. I treasure that kind of time.
Toyoko Takeuchi (竹内とよこ先生)
Hamamatsu area

Toyoko Takeuchi (竹内とよこ先生)TOYOKO.TAKEUTI

Certified instructor of the Art Self-Esteem Method. Children’s education specialist; children’s philosophy adviser.

What made you love art?
When I was little, I was once absorbed in drawing pictures on the ground, and my mother praised me. I was so happy that I started drawing. I still remember getting lost in my own world and having fun drawing illustrations.
Hobbies and days off
Looking at paintings, reading, and visiting cafés
A message to students and parents
In art, there is no “one right answer.” I gently watch over the time your child spends absorbed in drawing, and warmly accept every kind of expression. I also value the experience of feeling, with the heart, the thoughts and strength of painters through looking at famous paintings. Through art, I want to nurture a rich heart, full of “fun” and “kindness,” together with each child at their own pace.
Kazuko Otani (大谷かずこ先生)
Toyohashi area

Kazuko Otani (大谷かずこ先生)KAZUKO.OTANI

Certified instructor of the Art Self-Esteem Method. Ceramic artist; silver clay instructor; certified interior coordinator.

What made you love art?
In high school, something led me to start going to a painting class. I came to love the time and space when my mind was completely absorbed in painting and emptied of everything else. That’s how I came to love art.
Hobbies and days off
On my days off, I watch volleyball games and go to wind band concerts.
A message to students and parents
I have raised three daughters myself. Even as sisters, each one is different, and I have truly felt that there is no right or wrong. In art class, I want to have fun creating, together with everyone, “a time to enjoy that to the fullest,” “art with no wrong and no right answers,” and “a time to express yourself.”

Parents’ voices

From families at our art classes

Translated from Japanese.

“I can’t wait for Wednesday every week!” she says, and she goes to class looking truly happy. In art class, my daughter has discovered the joy of expressing herself, and I can clearly see her self-esteem growing.

ArtGrade 2 · Okazaki area

Since starting the class, my child has naturally been spending more time drawing at home, too. (…) I feel that art has taken root in our everyday life.

ArtGrade 3 · Hamamatsu area

My child used to be very shy, but in class has changed so much that they now proudly and confidently present their own artwork. The class is helping their heart grow, too.

ArtGrade 1 · Toyohashi area

※ Comments we received from parents (personal impressions). Read more

Trial lesson sign-up

Why not come and feel
the class atmosphere first?

The trial lesson is 40 minutes and costs ¥1,000 (paid in cash on the day; if you apply to enroll within one week of the trial, ¥1,000 is taken off the first fees). There is nothing special to bring. We use acrylic paint, so please come in clothes that can get dirty.
At the 竜美台 (Tatsumidai), 広沢 (Hirosawa) and 牧野 (Makino) art classes, trial lessons start at ① 16:20 or ② 17:50.

Wakuma

Kids who take soroban or calligraphy
can try art, too!

Please feel free to ask about taking art together with soroban or calligraphy. If your child already attends Kodomo School, please write the classroom name in the “現在お通いの教室名” (current classroom) field of the form.
針崎 (Harisaki) art class: trial event on Thursday, October 29Making things is fun! Please apply using the special form (Google Form).

    お子様のお名前（必須）

    ふりがな（必須）

    性別（必須）

    男女

    メールアドレス（必須）

    電話番号（必須）

    お子様の学年（必須）
    ※現在の学年

    小１小２小３小４小５小６

    お子様の生年月日（必須）

    体験希望教室名（必須）

    体験希望日

    ※こどもスクールの会員の方は、現在お通いの教室名を記入

    ご質問など

    ※こどもスクール事務局から後ほど返信させていただきます。

    Questions by phone: 0120-39-3836 (Kodomo School head office)

    Parents-only pageSee photos and videos from class (password required)