[April Dream] "Sorry for being this kind of dad" -- The Dream of a Local Cram School Director, a Jobless Man with a Chronic Illness, Who Achieved Commercial Publication: "Changing Japanese Education from Inae, a Small Rural Town in Shiga!"

※Our company supports April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day to express dreams. This press release is the dream of "Sogo Gakushu Kyoshitsu Bridge."

In Inae-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture. In this small town, where the number of children in one grade is less than 100, I operate a cram school called "Sogo Gakushu Kyoshitsu Bridge," which is attended by over 100 students.

I adhere to a unique teaching policy of "not hindering student growth by not over-instructing," and have produced numerous successful applicants for top-tier junior high schools such as Nada Junior High, Todaiji Gakuen, and Kobe College, as well as difficult universities.

In 2015, I introduced Japan's first online self-study room utilizing Zoom, and have been active as a pioneer in future-oriented education.

Despite being a small, private cram school in a rural area—an "environment where it's difficult to create prominent achievements"—I continue to pursue commercial publishing nationwide. Behind this lies a rock-bottom past of panic disorder and repeated layoffs, and a fervent desire to "leave a living legacy."

And now, I have set forth a grand dream: "Changing Japan from Inae."

■ Rock-bottom unemployment era. The wish to "live" was the desire to "leave behind"

My dream of publishing began with the birth of my first child, my eldest daughter.

Due to a chronic illness, I moved from job to job, was laid off 4-5 times by the age of 30, and welcomed my daughter's birth while at rock bottom, unemployed.

"I'm sorry you were born to a father like this... But I'll work hard from now on and become someone you won't be ashamed of..."

At that time, I strongly felt that way.

In my inadequacy, unable to be proud of myself to my daughter, I began to think, "I want to leave some form of proof that I lived." The desire to "publish" was, for me at that time, a desperate wish to "live," and directly a strong desire to "leave behind my thoughts (to my daughter and my unborn grandchildren, what their father or grandfather thought)."

■ Building a cram school as a regional infrastructure that "doesn't incite anxiety"

Overcoming repeated adversities, I opened a cram school in my hometown of Inae to realize my childhood dream of "raising children in my hometown."

Bridge has no "fixed classes."

It adopts a thorough self-study style where "students can come to the cram school whenever they want and study whatever they want, as long as they contact us by 11 PM the day before."

I provide an environment where students confront their own lives and teach and nurture each other, rather than teachers unilaterally imparting knowledge.

Currently, it has become a cram school attended by a wide range of students from preschoolers to graduates, but what I aim for as a "regional infrastructure" is to create "a sense of security where all study-related matters can be completed in one place from preschool until high school graduation."

I absolutely do not say things like, "If you don't start now, you won't make it to your target school!!" which are common in the cram school industry and exploit anxiety.

I wish to be a place that can offer something similar to the "dreams" children see when they play sports, and I face each day with that in mind.

■ Following in the footsteps of Mr. Tanabe of "Ringo Juku," commercial publishing with "Japanese language" as the focus

Approximately 16 years after my daughter's birth, I finally realized my dream of commercial publishing.

A major driving force behind my writing activities was the presence of Mr. Toru Tanabe, the representative of "Ringo Juku" (a cram school specializing in mathematics that has produced many Math Olympiad medalists), which I joined as an FC member.

Inspired by Mr. Tanabe's extensive publishing activities and his stance on openly sharing know-how, I decided to "compete with 'Japanese language,' my own area of expertise, something other cram school teachers cannot do."

Following the publication of "Kokugo 'Kaitoryoku' to Develop from Age 10," a new book, "A Book to Understand 'Kokugo Ryoku' for Surviving the AI Era: Tips for Reading Comprehension, Expression, Thinking, and AI Dialogue for Junior and Senior High School Students" (Mates Publishing), was released in 2026.

In today's world where AI is becoming commonplace, this book clearly explains the truly necessary skills of "reading comprehension, expression, thinking, and AI dialogue" from the perspective of a local educational setting.

Without using the challenging environment as an excuse, I continue my writing activities nationwide, leveraging my strengths.

■ April Dream

"Changing Japan from Inae. Towards becoming a regional infrastructure."

"People might think, 'It's impossible from such a rural area!?' But if you say it's impossible, it is. However, I believe it can be changed. That's why I decided to live in this place."

The challenge of a father whose "publishing = wanting to live (wanting to leave behind my thoughts)" is now connected to a grand dream of changing Japanese education from a small town in Shiga.

From now on, I will continue to encourage children nationwide, delivering "dreams, not anxiety," both as a cram school instructor and as an author.

---

【Related Media: Introduction via YouTube Video】

Mr. Tanaka's proposed "Japanese language answer comprehension" is also introduced in the following popular YouTube channel, receiving a great response.

Video Title: 【Junior High School Entrance Exam】Children with high Japanese language scores have abnormally high "answer comprehension"!? Thorough explanation of how to train it!! Channel:  Child-rearing channel for junior high school entrance exams

【Hirotada Kikuchi, Shingakukai】

---

【Publication & Author Information】

Author: Rikima Tanaka (Representative of Sogo Gakushu Kyoshitsu Bridge, Director of Ringo Juku Inae School)

Latest Book: "A Book to Understand 'Kokugo Ryoku' for Surviving the AI Era: Tips for Reading Comprehension, Expression, Thinking, and AI Dialogue for Junior and Senior High School Students" (Mates Publishing / Released March 5, 2026 / Price 1,892 yen including tax)

Previous Book: "Kokugo 'Kaitoryoku' to Develop from Age 10: A Book to Understand Tips for Deriving Answers and Communicating Correctly"

Cram School Information: Sogo Gakushu Kyoshitsu Bridge (311-5 Inae-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture)

Official Website: https://www.rikima81.com/

Official Blog: https://ameblo.jp/rikima81/

note: https://note.com/rikima_81/