A Quest for Eternal Spirituality
The Waldorf Education was developed by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), an unique humanist and scientist, who gave profound insights, not only into the human condition, but also medicine, agriculture, the arts and the sciences, and education.

Rudolf Steiner's philosophy of child development places great importance on the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical nature of each age level. Furthermore, it encourages the development of a receptivity, an openness, to learning in addition to the development of healthy physical bodies. He realized that children must develop basic physical, social and creative abilities along with the nourishing of the spirit in order to be well prepared for greater intellectual learning.

For more in-depth information about the Steiner method of education please check these websites:

Waldorf Teachers
In the early years, children are just beginning to expand their experiences beyond home and family. The class becomes a type of "family" as well, with its own authority figure -- the teacher -- in a role analogous to parent. With this approach, the students and teachers come to know each other very well, and the teacher is able to find the best ways of helping individual children in their schooling.

The Steiner Waldorf holistic approach demands that teachers be especially talented in integrating academic, artistic and practical work requiring not only subject knowledge, but also inner resources such as imagination, empathy and objectivity. The teacher serves as the vital link between the ideals of Steiner to its practical application and effectiveness in the classroom.

The International House of Waldorf-Steiner is most fortunate having dedicated, Waldorf- trained teachers available through a long-term relationship with Stuttgart, Germany, England and United States.

Profiles of Our Staff
●Founder/Director/Coordinator: Tokue Nagashima

She recived her M.A. degree in Psychology form Aoyama Gakuin univerisy and M.A. in Special education (speech pathology) from Tokyo Gakugei University. After studying in Hokkaido University, she moved to Michigan and New York where she worked as an research assistant at SUNY. Returning to Tokyo,she has been working as a counselor and also a teacher for children with special needs, and/or school phobia, problems derived from family relations. From her experiences with severely retarted non-verbal multiple handicapped children, she became to believe that Waldorf education gives basic formula to any children not only regular children, but also special needs children.

●Kindergarten Teachers: Susan Hirakawa has been an educator of children in Tokyo for over 15 years. Originally from Florida, in the United States, she studied and practiced costume design for the stage in New York City for six years before coming to Tokyo. She obtained a Masters in Asian Art History at Sophia University and did educational studies at St. Josephs College. She is a member of the Association of Christian Teachers and holds certifications in the Humanities and Arts from the State of Florida. She comes to the Steiner School with skills on integrating art and literature in learning, using her experience in drama to support active learning. She also uses her knowledge of Asian cultural arts to create an intercultural teaching style. Susan has experience with students diagnosed with ADDS and mild Asperger's syndrome, actively attends workshops on the subject and studying all currents trends in special education, Japanese education and the expanding role of the small community school.
Mrs. Hirakawa says, "The Steiner method of teaching exactly matches my own experience and personal feelings about learning. I am looking forward to making our classes full of art, music and drama along with other quiet times of peace and thoughtfulness.

●Consulting teacher Aysha Mall has been a teacher for 20 years in Canada and United States. In addition to classroom instruction, she has had the personal experience of being a longtime Steiner home-schooling mother.

●Therapist Team:Yuko Tsubaki has been spending her life for children with special needs, and now she is enthusiastic to meet with new children.She is a certified special education teacher and a therapist.

Consulting occupational therapist Jun Kimura has been teaching sensory integration exercise classes for more than 20 years and has developed an original method that has been helping many children and parents of Tokyo. He has experience teaching autistic children, PDDA, ADHD, LD, mild Asperger, Dyslexia and many others. His training also helps those children who have limited physical movement and those who display an especially willful temperament.

Additional Support staff...
In addition to the main classroom teacher, Waldorf schools require support staff that are specialized in specific arts, eurhythmics, foreign languages and physical education.
●Tokue Nagashime
●Akinobu Hatada
●Team Willows: A group of talented graphic artists, They are the creators of the gnome characters that adorn our website, pamphlets and the classrooms.

In keeping with the Waldorf-Steiner philosophy, we have located the school in a traditionally-styled imperial grounds and parks that will allow the children to be surrounded not only by a truly Japanese atmosphere but also by abundant, healthy, greenery so scarce in an urban setting.

We are also pleased to announce that we have been availed the use of the spacious halls of the local Shogenji Temple for our movement classes, sensory integration therapy, or any activities that require a wider space.

Our Classroom Resources
As support for the teacher, the classroom setup and tools are especially important in a Waldorf school. Steiner believed that children need a constant connection with natural materials and thrive best in a gentle atmosphere with subdue tones and lighting.

Waldorf teachers use specially designed multi-purpose objects that encourage divergent thinking. Storybooks are selected for their inherent moral and cultural lessons.

A lyre and simple flutes are standard musical equipment along with the more traditional supplies needed for arts, handiwork and movement.

At the International House of Steiner we have appropriated furniture, toys, books, crafts materials, all the resources needed from the United States under the guidance of Steiner trained instructors.

In addition, we have spared no inconvenience in importing the necessary tools for the Sensory Integration Therapy