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Languages

Mori no Ike
森の池

Japanese Language Village

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About the Village

At Mori no Ike 森の池, our Japanese Language Village, you can experience both traditional and modern Japanese culture—even trend-setting Japanese lifestyles—all while learning and practicing your new language skills. You’ll experience an array of authentic cultural activities at Mori no Ike, from traditional music and crafts like taiko (drumming) and shodo (calligraphy) to martial arts and sado (tea ceremony). You’ll dine on traditional foods like udon and soba (noodles), tempura (battered meat, fish and vegetables) and gohan (rice). At Mori no Ike, you’ll be immersed in the culture of Japan while studying the unique language of Japan’s 130 million people.

Our Japanese Location
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Calligraphy
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Culturally Appropriate Cuisine
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Pottery Making
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Origami (Paper Folding)
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Friendships Form in the Great Outdoors
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Custom Birchwood Nametags
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Traditional Desserts
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Mealtime Community Building
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Kakigori (Snow Cones)
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Maneki-neko (Lucky Cat)
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Outdoor Language Learning
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Experience

Mori no Ike | 森の池

A Lifetime of Learning

From our flagship summer youth camps to family programs and adults-only sessions, Concordia Language Villages provides a lifetime of language learning and cultural adventure. Find the program that’s right for you!

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Youth Overnight

Season: Summer

Duration: 1 Week | 2 Weeks | 4 Weeks

Our flagship Language Village camps where language comes to life. A fully immersive cultural experience.

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High School Credit

Season: Summer

Duration: 2 Weeks | 4 Weeks

Earn a semester's worth of language credit in just two weeks or a year’s worth of language credit in just four weeks. Accredited by Cognia.

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Family Weekends

Season: Year-round

Duration: 2 Days | 3 Days

Fun and learning for the whole family (and friends)! Enjoy culturally immersive activities, meals and tailored learning.

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Upcoming Japanese Camps & Programs

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Government & Corporate Programs

A global outlook is important for success in the domestic and international arena. Concordia Language Villages offers customized corporate, government and military training programs to meet the specific needs of our clients.

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LEARN ABOUT

scholarship

OPPORTUNITIES

Need-based scholarships are available for Japanese summer youth immersion sessions through the Passport Fund. Scholarships are based on a family’s adjusted gross income, number of dependents and the length of the session.

Additionally, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education offers a $1,000 stipend for Minnesota students who qualify for free or reduced lunch at school.

Find Additional Information Here

Our Location:

Mori no Ike

Two Locations, One Village!

Mori no Ike will be held at our Russian Village, Lesnoe Ozero for the first half of summer 2026. Located on the North side of Turtle River Lake, this site is a former resort featuring rustic architecture with modern amenities.

During the second half of the summer, we'll be at Camp Potmos in Hackensack, just a stone's throw away from our Turtle River Lake villages. Camp Potmos sits on 200 acres along the shore of Stony Lake and features cozy rustic cabins, modern facilities and a beautifully groomed beachfront.

First Half (Through July 18)
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Second Half (July 20 - August 22)
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meet

OUR

team

Read more about our professional staff at Mori no Ike, our Japanese Language Village.

Meredith Koyomi Hanson

Dean

Koyomi began learning Japanese as a villager at Mori no Ike, and has worked at Concordia Language Villages since 2003 in the Japanese and French Language Villages, as well as providing professional development to staff members from all languages. For her master's degree in Second Language Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Koyomi conducted research with villagers at Mori no Ike. During the school year, she teaches English, ESL and Japanese at a boarding school in the Northeast.

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Jack Tamaki Shimuzu

Dean

Tamaki has worked with Concordia Language Villages since 2009 and has served as our Dean for Japanese programming during the second half of the summer since 2016. He holds a bachelor’s in East Asian Studies and Psychology from The College of William & Mary and a master’s in Japanese Linguistics from the University of Hawaii. During the school year Tamaki works full time as a Japanese language immersion teacher at a public elementary school in his home state of Virginia.

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Kaylene Hideko Ruwart

Kaylene Hideko Ruwart is co-dean of Mori no Ike (first half), the Japanese Language Village. Hideko started learning Japanese in the late 90s armed with a dictionary, highlighters and a whole lot of Sailor Moon songs. Through the years, she has been a villager, counselor, credit teacher, credit facilitator and assistant dean, as well as the unofficial Official Graphic Designer for Mori (and creator of mascot Kouta). Outside of the Concordia Language Villages, she works for college readiness programs AVID and TRIO Upward Bound and occasionally does graphic design and illustration work. When not working, she’s usually found reading sci fi-fantasy novels, writing one or drinking tea.

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Work at Concordia Language Villages

Concordia Language Villages staff may speak a Village language, creatively teach culture, work and play hard. They also develop skills and qualities that will make them excellent employees in any field.