“There Is No Single Path to Becoming Bilingual” Founder of Kikokushijo Academy Publishes New Book 'Pathways'

Charles Knudsen, founder of Kikokushijo Academy (KA) and a leader in bilingual education in Japan for more than 20 years, has published his new book 'Pathways: Celebrating Japan’s Bilingual Youth'.

Through the real-life stories of 12 young people from diverse educational backgrounds, including returnee students, international school students, and students who developed their English proficiency while living in Japan, the book explores the evolving landscape of bilingual education and the educational choices available today.

■ The Changing Landscape of Bilingual Education

Historically, the journeys of returnee students who lived abroad and maintained their English proficiency have served as a model for many families. In recent years, however, the landscape has expanded significantly, with more children developing their English skills while living in Japan and successfully challenging themselves through overseas university applications and international learning opportunities.

Despite the wider range of choices, many parents struggle with questions such as, "Which path is best for my child?" or "Can a student without overseas experience still aim for an overseas university?" This book was created to address those very questions.

■ How English Can Be Utilized

The book introduces the stories of 12 young individuals from varied backgrounds:

- Students who transitioned from Japanese schools to overseas universities.
- Students who progressed from international schools to overseas boarding schools.
- Students who leveraged research and extracurricular activities to achieve admissions through comprehensive selection or overseas university applications.

■ Expanding Options: Overseas Universities, Boarding Schools, and Comprehensive Selection

What kind of paths exist after learning English, and how can children expand their possibilities?

The book provides hints on connecting English proficiency to future options, while introducing information on entrance examinations for returnees, English-based admissions, comprehensive selection (formerly AO admissions), overseas university applications, boarding schools, the IB program, and scholarship systems.

■ About the Author

Charles Knudsen
President and CEO, Global KA Holdings. Founder of Kikokushijo Academy (KA) and KA International School (KAIS). With over 20 years of experience in returnee and bilingual education in Japan, he has helped graduate over 16,000 students since the founding of KA in 2000.

■ Book Overview

Title: Pathways: Celebrating Japan’s Bilingual Youth
Author: Charles Knudsen
Publisher: Nan'un-do
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Price: 2,420 yen (tax included)
ISBN: 978-4523266204