Draft:Sakuraa Nihongo Resource Centre (SNRC)

Sakuraa Nihongo Resource Centre (Also known as SNRC) is a Japanese Language Services institution based out of Bengaluru. Started in the year 2000, It delivers a range of services including Japanese Language Training, Japanese language translation, Japanese language interpretation, Japanese language etiquettes coaching and bilingual staffing services. SNRC is known for sustained training with a superior pass rate for the JLPT exams. SNRC holds 1000+ google reviews with a consolidated rating of 4.8 on Google.

Founders

SNRC was started in the year 2000 by Mr.K. Ananthapadmanabhan & Mrs Srividhya. A. An Engineer by qulaification, Mr.K.Ananthapadmanabhan holds a rich experience in the areas of management, strategy & marketing. Prior to starting SNRC, he has worked with organizations such as Hinditron, Blue Star & Tata Elxsi. He, along with Srividhya.A, co-founded SNRC as an initiative to teach Japanese language to Indians in a approachable and easy format.

Srividhya sensei or Vidhya sensei as she is popularly known, co-founded Sakuraa Nihongo Resource Centre in the year 2000. Her expertise spans four major areas – Japanese Language Training, Translations, Interpretations & Japanese culture, and business etiquette coaching.

Srividhya sensei is a well known individual within the Japanese community and has worked for the spread and development of the language for over 20+ years. She has been the President of the Bangalore Nihongo Kyooshikaiand The chairperson of The Japan Habba in Bengaluru.

Services offered

JLPT / NAT Training:

SNRC specializes in training students for the JLPT (N5,N4,N3 & N2) and NAT (Q5,Q4,Q3 & Q2) examinations. With an optimum batch size, SNRC enhances the learning experience as students get individual attention. N5 batches are started every month with a focus to upskill students, working professionals, home-makers and entrepreneurs who wish to learn the language. Kanji, Grammar and Vocabulary is given adequate attention in a strategic manner from the exam perspective to students.

Top Corporates & Universities in India are part of SNRC's clientele for JLPT / NAT Training programme offered.

Apart from time-tested exam focus, SNRC's JLPT courses have 2 unique charcteristics:

1. Speaking ability is developed as per the complexity of the JLPT / NAT level by means of interactive teaching and customised learning modules.
2. For enhanced understanding, grammar patterns in the language are taught by drawing parallels to Indian Regional Languages. This methodology of SNRC ensures deep understanding and a better sense of direction among students.

JLPT courses have an upgrade rate of 47% and a pass rate of 84%.

Marugoto Training:

The Japan Foundation's course, focussed on developing speaking ability, Marugoto is taught at SNRC. Being developed basis the CEFR , Marugoto is one of The Japan Foundation's recent initiatives to enhance japanese speaking ability among its learners. SNRC is one of the first instituions in Bengaluru to provide training based on the same. The A1, A2, B1, B2 levels are taught by senior faculty and native teachers to improve business conversation among learners.

Business Japanese Conversation:

SNRC has a customised 20 hr Beginner / 30 hr Advanced Business Conversation Course targeted towards elementary and advanced learners of the language who wish to improve oral communication. Leaders and Working Professionals who communicate or wish to communicate with Japanese stakeholders are active students of this course.

With minimal focus on the script, enhanced attention is given to the development of japanese.speaking abilty.

Cultural Sensitization to Corporates:

Japanese Sensitization to Indians:

This is a custom programme by SNRC where Indian audience are introduced and made familiar with the Japanese style of interaction and workplace culture. Major activities include understanding Japanese mindset, discussion of case-studies to demonstrate japanese style of working and Indian mindset to grow in Japanese organizations,

Indian Sensitization to Japanese:

This is a flagship programme by SNRC, where Japanese natives are introduced to Indian culture and etiquettes. They are exposed to different cultures, festivals, food varieties, languages, across India. Japanese and Indian work styles have multiple points of confluence which are highlighted for streamlined working.

Bilingual Staffing Services:

SNRC provides placement / staffing services to learners of japanese language. Across varied domains ranging from automobile, clinical sciences, manufacturing, consulting, software development & IT, eager bilingual candidates are matched with company requirements and help to secure bilingual roles is done.

Shokuba (職場) is SNRC's flagship event that enables a platform for companies and students to get engaged and eventually hired.

Further details on this can be viewed here.

Translation & Interpretation Services:

As part of language services, SNRC offers Japanese-to-English & English-to-Japanese Translation & live Interpretation Services as part of its portfolio. Specializations include Automobile, Pharma, IT & General Business domains. SNRC has offered its interpretation services to JETRO, Indian Forest Department, JAXA to mention a few in its clientele.

Sakuraa Akira

Sakuraa Akira is SNRC's Culture and Etiquette Banner under which it conducts workshops, events and shows related to Japanese & Indian culture either free of cost or at a nominal fee. Major events under the Sakuraa Akira banner conducted include:

Kimono Fashion Show:

This included Indian learners & students of SNRC present a fashion show wearing the different Kimono's of Japan such as Yukata(ゆかた) Kimono, Seijin-no-hi(成人の日) Kimono and many more. The significance and usage of each Kimono explained in detail to the audience. It was attended by The Consul of Japan in Bengaluru, Kawai Sama

Caligraphy (Kakizome):

The new year was kickstarted with the Japanese custom of Kakizome (書き初め). It was taught by a Japanese native who explained the significance of Kakizome in Japanese culture.

Origami Workshop:

Origami, the traditional japanese art of paper folding was conducted and taught to students by a Japanese native faculty of SNRC. It received very good reception among students.

Tsukimi:

Tsukimi (月見), is one of the major events in japanese festivals honoring the autumn moon, a variant of the Mid-Autumn Festival. SNRC had a vibrant workshop with a native faculty who live streamed the moon watching festival from Japan for Indian audiences. It was a new experience for learners of the culture and language.

Hina Matsuri:

Hina Matsuri(ひな祭り),ls called Doll's Day or Girls' Day, is a religious (Shinto) holiday in Japan, celebrated on 3 March of each year. SNRC replicated the same and had a Hina Matsuri doll ceremony conducted which saw a massive footfall with audience ranging from Japanese homemakers to Language experts who visited the arrangement. It garnered immense praise for its authentic presentation.

Shinbun Yomitori:

Shinbun (新聞) referring to the Japanese newspaper is a classic document to identify and understand Japanese mindset and culture. SNRC organized a Shinbun Yomitori workshop and had many learners participate to read and understand contents of an entire newspaper in Japanese.

Other Services

Michi (道):

Michi (道), is a flagship programme under SNRC, wherein japanese industry experts and veterans are invited to give expert talks on different subjects about Japan, Life in Japan, Work Culture & Business engagement with Japanese. It is a FREE programme for students that SNRC conducts as part of its giveback to the Japanese community.

Kyoumi Corner (興味):

Kyoumi Corner (興味) is a platform of SNRC where-in the innate interests and talents of SNRC students are displayed. It includes paintings, music performances and caligraphy presentations to mention a few. This is a platform given free of cost to students to encourage them to develop their artistic abilities.

Model Japanese Exam (MJE):

Model Japanese Exam (MJE) is SNRC's flagship programme that allows learners of the japanese language and takers of the JLPT exam to take a mock test free of cost prior to the JLPT examination. This examination is conducted online with no charge and takers are given score reports. The unique feature of this programme is that, anyone who is a learner of japanese language can take up this test. It is not restricted to students of SNRC.

Blogs:

SNRC has an active blog community where frequent happenings of japan, japanese culture, lingusitic updates and suggestions are discussed and written about. This involves articles from students and learners of the langauge and culture thereby giving them an opportunity to present their ideas.