Bio:
JD is one of TA’s veteran science and math tutors!
After graduating magna cum laude in Chemistry from Brown University, he did research at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital (Harvard Medical School affiliate) in Boston. There, he performed gallstone research in the Gastroenterology Department under Dr. Martin Carey, and after two years, he became published as a co-first author for a paper in the Journal of Physiology (PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22331417/).
In 2012, he decided to take a break from research and moved to Honolulu to pursue his passion in Taiko (Japanese drumming), after being awarded a fellowship to study under world-renowned Kenny Endo. While in Hawaii, he honed his teaching skills in math and science at a tutoring center for children and at the University of Hawaii as a tutor in Organic Chemistry.
His passion for music and teaching brought him to Tokyo, where he was a Chemistry teacher and Science Resource Center supervisor at ASIJ for two years. He ultimately decided to share his love for teaching and experiences with TA in 2016. Over the years, he has developed systematic approaches to problem-solving crucial to student success, and this is at the heart of his teaching philosophy at TA.
In addition to his work at TA, he is motivated to share his passion for traditional Japanese percussion with the expat community here in Japan. Also a part of a 5-person professional taiko troupe, Tsuzumi-Boshi, J.D. became the first foreigner of non-Japanese descent to ever be awarded a stage name or natori in hōgaku bayashi, or classical Japanese drumming. His stage name is Mukon Mochizuki (望月武懇). He has performed in notable venues such as Suntory Hall and the National Theatre of Japan. If you’re interested in checking out a performance, feel free to let us know!
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Curriculum Expertise
AP®/IB, IGCSE/GCSE, SSAT/ISEE, SCAT, SAT®, British Primary, Elementary School, Middle School
Subject Expertise
Science, Math