Press Release

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

Looking Beyond Returnee Students: What 12 Real-Life Stories Reveal About Children's Educational Pathways

Jun 9, 2026

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 in June 2026.

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 many pathways available to today's students.

The Changing Landscape of Bilingual Education

Returnee students with overseas experience have long played an important role in shaping the conversation around bilingual education in Japan.

In recent years, however, the landscape has expanded significantly. With the growth of international schools, online learning opportunities, and diverse pathways to overseas universities, increasing numbers of students are achieving high levels of English proficiency while growing up entirely in Japan.

As educational options continue to expand, many families find themselves asking questions such as, "Which pathway is right for my child?" and "Is it possible to pursue an overseas university education without being a returnee student?"

Pathways was written to help families explore these questions.

Twelve Unique Journeys to Bilingualism

The book introduces 12 students from a wide range of educational backgrounds, including returnee students, international school students, and students who developed their English skills within Japan.

Among them are:

Students who progressed from Japanese schools to universities overseas
Students who moved from international schools to overseas boarding schools
Students who leveraged research projects and extracurricular activities to gain admission through comprehensive selection admissions or overseas university applications

While each story is unique, they share a common thread: each student took ownership of their learning and actively shaped their own future.

Overseas Universities, Boarding Schools, and Comprehensive Selection Admissions: Expanding Opportunities

What educational pathways become available through English proficiency, and how do students use those opportunities to broaden their horizons?

In addition to student case studies, the book introduces a range of educational options and admissions pathways, including returnee admissions, English-based admissions, Comprehensive Selection Admissions (formerly AO Admissions), overseas university applications, boarding schools, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, and scholarship opportunities.

By doing so, it provides practical insights into how students can turn English proficiency into meaningful future opportunities.

Charles Knudsen speaking about the diverse educational journeys featured in Pathways, the central theme of the book.

The Inspiration Behind the Book

Regarding his motivation for writing Pathways, Knudsen commented:

“In recent years, we have seen growing numbers of students not only from returnee backgrounds, but also students in Japan who are developing strong English skills and using them to pursue opportunities around the world. I wanted to share their stories with both parents and students.

Through this book, I hope parents will discover new possibilities and pathways for their children, and that students will feel inspired to think, ‘Maybe I can do that too.’

Bilingual education is not something reserved for a select few. I believe it is an educational pathway that should be accessible to many more children, and I hope this book helps convey that message."

— Charles Knudsen

About the Author

Charles Knudsen

Charles Knudsen is the CEO of Global KA Holdings and the founder of Kikokushijo Academy (KA) and KA International School.

For more than two decades, he has been involved in the development of bilingual and internationally minded education in Japan. Since founding KA in 2000, the organization has supported and graduated more than 16,000 students.

Born in Seattle, Washington, to an American father and Japanese mother, Knudsen began his career teaching English at schools including Shibuya Kyoiku Gakuen Shibuya and Chuo University High School before founding KA.

He is also the author of Welcome Home: A Practical Guide for Parents of Returnees and has contributed educational articles to publications including The International School Times, Shukan NY Seikatsu, and Edusun.