Safe, Supportive, and Respectful — The Culture of Ohanasi Kagawa[Message from Founder Aki

Hello everyone,

This is Aki, the founder of Ohanasi Kagawa.

Thank you, as always, for joining our events.

From now on, I would like to start writing a regular blog to share my thoughts and vision as the representative of Ohanasi Kagawa.

As more and more people begin using Ohanasi Kagawa, I’ve also noticed that many still feel hesitant to join our events, often experiencing anxiety or a sense of high barriers.

That’s exactly why I want to use this blog to share what kind of thoughts guide me in running Ohanasi Kagawa, and what kind of community I want to build.

People often say, “Why not start YouTube?” or “Why not post more on social media?”
But to be honest, I’m not very comfortable appearing in videos (laughs).

However, I do enjoy writing, so I thought I’d begin by expressing my thoughts through this blog.

For this first post, I’d like to talk about the kind of culture and community we aim to build at Ohanasi Kagawa.

After giving it a lot of thought, I realized there are three core values I want to prioritize:

“Safety & Security,” “Supporting Each Other,” and “Respect.”

Let me share my thoughts on each of these.

1. Safety & Security

This is something we already prioritize in our events, and it will always remain our top priority.

There are now many language exchange apps and communities around the world similar to Ohanasi Kagawa.

However, many of these platforms have unfortunately turned into dating apps, making them feel unsafe or suspicious for people who genuinely want healthy language exchange partnerships.

In fact, many of our members are women in their 30s to 50s.
I often hear that they previously tried popular language exchange apps but quit because of unwanted advances or inappropriate invitations.

So when they ask, “Where can I safely connect with people from other countries?” the options are often:

International bars
Social parties
Approaching foreigners directly

But these can feel intimidating or not entirely safe.

That’s why I want Ohanasi Kagawa to be a place where people feel truly safe—a final safe haven for those who genuinely want to connect internationally in a healthy way.

To achieve this, our staff are always present at events to manage the environment. If someone behaves inappropriately, we can immediately ask them to leave.

We are also planning to introduce systems such as reporting features to further strengthen safety.

2. Supporting Each Other

Everyone who participates in Ohanasi Kagawa is in the process of learning a language.

Regardless of level, no one here is perfect.

Japanese participants are learning English, and international participants are learning Japanese—everyone is still growing.

Because of that, supporting each other becomes essential.

I want Japanese participants to think about how they can help international participants improve their Japanese.

At the same time, I hope international participants can support Japanese learners so they can feel,
“I was able to speak English!” and gain confidence.

Through this mutual support, I believe truly meaningful relationships can be built.

That’s why people who think only,
“I just want to practice my English,” or
“I just want to speak Japanese for myself,”
may not align with the culture of Ohanasi Kagawa.

When you support others, you are also supported in return.

I want to build a culture where each person naturally thinks,
“I want to help and support others first.”

3. Respect

So far, people from over 50 countries have joined the Ohanasi Kagawa community.

With such diversity, differences in thinking and values are completely natural.

Our upbringing, environment, education—everything is different.
It’s actually rare for people to share the exact same perspectives.

That’s why it’s so important to accept and respect those differences.

Instead of judging others based solely on your own values and standards,
I want people to approach others with an open mind—listening, understanding, and accepting their perspectives.

By respecting and embracing differences, we can build truly meaningful relationships that go beyond borders.

These are the three core values I want Ohanasi Kagawa to uphold.

Of course, this culture may not suit everyone—and that’s perfectly okay.

Ohanasi Kagawa is not about increasing numbers.

What truly matters is creating a space where people genuinely care for one another,
and where meaningful relationships between Japanese and international participants can make the world just a little bit better.

Thank you again for reading this blog.

Through this series, I will continue to share my honest thoughts and vision for Ohanasi Kagawa.

We look forward to seeing you at our events and in our language partner service, Ohanasi Kagawa VIP.

For more details, please visit the links below: