What is
SYME?

SYME is a total immersion English, evangelism and discipleship ministry; targeting youth in their late teens and early twenties.

SYME Japan was started by the founder of Word of Life Japan, Yoshito Kato, in 2007 in the town of Karuizawa, which is in Nagano Prefecture. In 2019 SYME moved to the city of Himeji, in Hyogo Prefecture. SYME stands for ”School of Youth Ministries in English.” At SYME, we speak English for 11 hours a day, 4 days a week.

SYME is a ministry of Word of Life Fellowship, Inc., a leading youth training organization with youth clubs, youth camps and training centers in over 70 countries.

Our Goals

Most of life’s outcomes are determined by how confident you are in your expectation of preforming at a high level in every situation whether academically, socially, or professionally. For most Japanese, speaking confidently in English is just a pipe-dream and likely unattainable. Our goal with the SYME Program is to equip every student with the confidence to speak English in every situation, on any topic, in any country.  Don't just dream about having confidence to speak English; embrace the challenge and see how the SYME Program can build your future.

In the ever shifting world in which we live it’s nice to have security, routine, and stability. We teach students not only the ability to succeed in English but in life. Every life is built on a foundation. The truth we seek for purpose and meaning stems from the stability of the foundation. The SYME program will give you concrete principals that never change for a world that is ever-changing. Build your future on concrete principles giving you a solid foundation for life with purpose and meaning.

It has been said, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”  In today’s fast-paced, economic and educational world connection can make the difference. The SYME Program is a ministry of Word of Life Japan and associated with Word of Life Fellowship in Schroon Lake, New York. Word of Life Fellowship ministers in 70 countries world-wide and partners with many more organizations and institutions across the world. Studying one year at SYME can put you on the fast-track to connecting you to the world.