There is a river
God is within her,
she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Psalm 46:4-5
1.
A 2-year curriculum
focused on worship
with outstanding instructors!!
2.
Learn at your own pace
from anywhere in the world
with online lectures!!
3.
Q&A sessions and
interactive workshops
for practical skills!!
4.
Over 70 sessions
per year at an
affordable price!!
News
Feb 10, 2026 [Enrollment Information]
Welcome to RIVER Worship School! Starting with the 2026 academic year (May 2026), we will offer an English member portal and lectures with English subtitles. Applications for the 2026 academic year begin on March 1st. The registration period ends on March 31st.
2026 Academic Year Schedule
2026 Entrance & Opening Ceremony
May 9, 2026
－1st Semester－
May 9, 2026 –
July 31, 2026
－2nd Semester－
Early September 2026 –
November 30, 2026
－3rd Semester－
Early January 2027 –
March 31, 2027
Application Period
March 1st, 9:00 AM –
March 31st, 8:00 PM (JST)
Registration may close early
if we receive a large number of applications.
Weekly Lectures
Approx. 60 min × 34 sessions
Updated every Tuesday
This is a required course taught by four regular instructors. You will learn the foundations of worship and praise from the Bible—exploring the grace, blessings, and power that praise brings. The lectures also cover the proper attitude, mindset, and qualities needed as a worship servant. Lectures are posted to the members’ page every Tuesday. You can study at your own pace and review by watching as many times as you like. There are 34 lectures per year.
All weekly lectures are provided with English subtitles.
2026 First-Year Regular Instructors
Takafumi Nagasawa
“Worship and Praise”
“Qualities of a Worship Minister”
“We were created to love and worship the Lord. When we firmly stand in our true purpose and grow, God’s promises and plans unfold before us. So what is the worship God desires? What is the essence of praise? In this lecture, we will learn from the Bible the foundational aspects of being a worshiper. Let us together aim to become true worshipers who love the Lord wholeheartedly!”
Graduated from Kansai Bible Institute in 2007. He has launched various youth and worship ministries, and his worship songs are sung around the world. He travels domestically and internationally as a preacher, sharing the Gospel across generations.
In 2021, he established River Worship School, an online school for worship servants, to train praise and worship leaders. Currently, many students from Japan and abroad are enrolled. Originally from Hokkaido, he serves as Senior Pastor of Canaan Praise Church and Principal of River Worship School. He is an Ambassador Artist for World Vision Japan (International Cooperation NGO) and a domestic missionary. He has a wife and five children.
Yuta Nakayama
“Worship Leading”
“Songwriting”
“We will study both the internal and practical aspects of being a worship leader and praise servant who builds up the church. I also hope to share ideas about songwriting.”
He composes worship songs and has produced numerous worship albums. He leads worship services throughout Japan and teaches worship servants. After serving for 8 years in Tohoku at Tohoku Central Church and Praise Station, he moved to Fukuoka in 2015 and was appointed pastor of Jesus Christ God’s Love Church. He is currently planting a branch church. He lives with his wife, son, and daughter. Senior Pastor of Shine Church. Graduate of Extension Missionary Seminary.
Koichi Ikehara
“Teamwork for Worship Servants”
“To offer powerful worship filled with the Lord’s glory, the worship team must grow. However, what matters is not a single outstanding individual, but combining the strengths of the team. The key is recognizing that the worship team is also part of the church team, and working together as one. When the church team unites, the result is not just 1+1=2, but holds the potential to witness the infinite glory of God. Let us learn together about a worship team that grows as part of the Body of Christ.”
Born and raised in Okinawa. Graduated from Okinawa Practical Theological Seminary in 2009 and appointed as Youth Pastor of Okinawa Praise Church that same year. He has been involved since the early days with “Fire Typhoon,” a cross-denominational youth ministry in Okinawa that started in 2003, working hand in hand with Okinawan youth in worship gatherings and raising up the next generation. He also participates in worship ministries such as Acts 2:44 and OPEN GATE, and has written songs including “From Glory to Glory.” He lives with his wife, son, and daughter.
Michiya Tanaka
“The Heart and Practice of the Tabernacle”
“Before each weekly worship service, shouldn’t our prayer be ‘Lord, what worship songs do You want to hear?’ rather than ‘Lord, please bless the worship set I’ve prepared’? The worship we want to offer is not what we desire, but what the Lord desires. The Tabernacle is a great help in knowing the Lord’s heart, which remains unchanged from ancient times to today. The Bible says it is ‘a copy of heavenly things.’ Let us learn from the clear worship order shown to Moses, so that the worship done in heaven may be done in our churches. With the goal of ‘fellowship with the Lord’—the essence of worship—let us learn the Lord’s heart shown in the Tabernacle and apply it to our praise today. (You’re sure to fall in love with those Tabernacle passages!)”
Studied Worship & Youth Ministry for 3 years at Christ For The Nations in Texas and graduated. Drummer for Night de Light and Pastor of Sapporo Shinsei Christ Church. Lives with his wife, daughter, and son.
*Second-year curriculum and instructors
can be viewed after enrollment.
Special Lectures
Each instructor: approx. 45 min × up to 2 sessions
To provide a comprehensive study of worship and praise, we offer special lectures by distinguished guest instructors from Japan and abroad. Seeking the Lord’s presence, we grow together as worship servants and receive the Word with a desire to see this nation transformed through praise. Like weelly lectures, these can be viewed anytime on the members’ page.
Special Guest Instructors
Workshops
(1st & 2nd Year Combined)
Approx. 60 min × once per month (Elective) *Additional fee
Each class has limited capacity.
These are elective courses taught by seven regular workshop instructors. Choose the areas you want to study and participate in live, hands-on sessions each month. This is not merely musical skill training—it nurtures the heart of a worship servant while teaching the meaning and role of singing and playing instruments based on the Bible. Practical performance techniques are then taught on that foundation. Classes are held via Zoom. If you cannot attend in real-time, archived videos are available.
Please note: Workshops are conducted in Japanese. If you are comfortable participating in Japanese, you are welcome to join.
2026 Workshop Instructors
Daisuke Yokoyama
Vocals (Male)
1st or 2nd Thursday 7:00 PM
“Let’s use the voice and breath God gave us for worship. What is diaphragmatic breathing? This vocal workshop covers the roles of vocalists and backing singers, the difference between Christian artists and worship leaders, evangelism and praise, singing the Word, and how to release the power of bold worship.”
Profile
Gospel singer, songwriter, music missionary, worship leader, and vocal trainer. He travels the world sharing God’s message of love, hope, and healing—the Gospel of Jesus Christ—through guitar and vocal worship. He has released 7 solo albums. He serves as a lay missionary at Cumberland Presbyterian Church Koza Church. He graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in Liberal Arts from the Music Department.
Mitsuru Tomita
Vocals (Female)
Thursdays 8:00 PM (Week varies by level)
“As a worshiper and worship servant, have you ever felt unsure whether you’re doing the right thing? I have experienced many of those struggles myself. This class is designed to resolve such doubts and help you serve with biblical, spiritual, and technical confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or have served for many years, let’s together offer worship that opens the windows of heaven—worship filled with the Lord’s presence.”
Profile
She studied violin at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, USA, and at Stuttgart State University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany, majoring in classical music. She served as first violin in the Heidelberg Orchestra. Currently, she serves as Worship Pastor at Shinjuku Shalom Church and as an intercessor at S.H.O.P. (Shalom House of Prayer). She has written many worship songs including “Glory to Jesus” and dedicates herself to raising young worship servants as a team leader.
Tsuguru Nakayama
Piano
Mondays 8:00 PM (Week varies by level)
“In Japanese worship music, I believe the piano plays a significant role. The piano can also fulfill the roles of various instruments depending on how it’s played—it’s an instrument full of expressive possibilities. Just as you need to learn vocabulary to speak a new language, you need vocabulary to play piano freely. I hope we can learn that foundation and then offer our unique sounds as fragrant worship and prayer to the Lord.”
Profile
Born to a pastor father, he grew up in the church. From an early age, he was exposed to worship music and began teaching himself piano in elementary school. Shortly after, he started serving in church and playing for gospel choirs, and has since participated in over 10 worship and gospel albums as a pianist and vocalist. He also writes songs and has produced his own piano EP. He serves as pastor of Shine Church and is a graduate of Extension Missionary Seminary.
Isamu Nishida
Electric Guitar
1st Tuesday 7:30 PM
“When I started playing electric guitar, it had a strong rock image and was often avoided in churches. But today, electric guitar has become an essential instrument for church band sounds. It can be good or bad depending on how it’s used, but with the right knowledge and ideas, it can add momentum to the band or create beautiful atmospheres. In the Electric Guitar course, we’ll learn equipment setup, tone shaping, appropriate techniques for songs, and daily practice methods. I can also suggest equipment for those who don’t yet own effects pedals, but what’s most important is not the gear—it’s the ideas. Let’s aim to become players who can respond optimally with whatever we have. Above all, let’s enjoy learning together!”
Profile
After various band activities, he served as a temporary guitar instructor at WCC High School in Oklahoma during his 2002 visit to the U.S. Specializing in smooth jazz, he currently supports various artists in live performances and recordings, while also demonstrating his talents as a composer, arranger, and producer for TV, commercials, and other media. He has also released 5 albums with saxophonist Hiroaki Yasutake as the unit “Yasutake Isamu” and is active nationwide.
Hironori Nagasawa
Acoustic Guitar
3rd or 4th Tuesday 7:30 PM
“There are so many people who can play acoustic guitar—it’s one of the most accessible instruments. But it’s also a deep instrument. The charm of acoustic guitar is that you can lead worship with just that one instrument, but that also comes with great responsibility. Often-overlooked chord knowledge, dynamics through picking technique, tone shaping when going through a line—learning these can significantly improve your worship team’s quality! Let’s build a solid foundation as acoustic guitar players to strum all six strings to the fullest!”
Profile
Leader and bassist of rock band Night de Light. After graduating from Kansai Bible Institute (KBI) in 2011, he has been involved in nationwide band activities and worship teaching. After serving as a music missionary at Canaan Praise Church, he is now planting Lightful Church, a branch church, in Eniwa City, Hokkaido. His notable worship songs include “Changed Song,” “More Than That Love,” and “Not by Power.”
Hironori Nagasawa
Bass
2nd or 3rd Tuesday 7:30 PM
“‘Bass is a boring instrument, isn’t it?’ That’s a misconception! Without bass, the band sound doesn’t hold together—the bass is the backbone of the band! Understanding this role is crucial for the entire team. Beyond technical improvement, we’ll also cover tone shaping with just an amp, monitoring techniques, and other practical topics to help elevate your entire worship team’s skills. Let’s dedicate ourselves to the growth of the whole team!”
Michiya Tanaka
Drums
3rd Thursday 7:00 PM
“Playing drums to offer worship to the Lord and serving as a drummer to lead people into the Lord’s presence—we’ll cover everything I’ve valued as a worship drummer. The focus is on practical learning you can apply to your next worship service. We’ll set a target ‘song’ and introduce the necessary rhythms, fills, exercises, and practice pad routines. Let’s share your challenges and needs from serving at your church and create a progress record together where you can feel you’re ‘moving forward.'”
Profile
Studied Worship & Youth Ministry for 3 years at Christ For The Nations in Texas and graduated. Drummer for Night de Light and Pastor of Sapporo Shinsei Christ Church. Lives with his wife, daughter, and son.
Minoru Endo
Keyboard/Synth
1st Thursday 8:00 PM
“This class aims to make worship deeper, richer, and more pleasing to the Lord through keyboard and synthesizer. I want to answer questions like ‘How do I create that atmosphere?’ in a clear and easy-to-understand way. The theory and techniques we cover are all essential for overall chord theory and arrangements. Feel free to bring any questions or difficulties in this class.”
Profile
Born and raised in Asahikawa in 1967. After working as a high school music teacher, he worked as a composer and arranger at a music studio, contributing to many TV programs, commercials, games, and other productions. He then studied at Bible Seminary (Japan Bible Seminary) and has served as pastor of Toei Gospel Christ Church since 2002. Since 2003, he has taught Church Music Theology at Hokkaido Bible Institute. He has participated in the theme song for the TV program “Lifeline” and Night de Light recordings.
Instructors and schedules are subject to change.
Thank you for your understanding.
Special Workshops
These are workshops led by special guest instructors. You can learn band-wide clinics and music theory for performers. Workshop students can view these for free. Those not enrolled in workshops can also register and participate for a fee per session.
Previous Special Workshops
Minoru Endo
Chord Theory & Arranging
Isamu Nishida
Band Clinic
Koji Kobayashi
Church Sound Seminar
GRP
Composition & Arrangement
Ruah Worship
Vocal Arranging
Online lectures alone can become one-way learning. That’s why we divide all students into multiple classes and provide time to learn together with regular instructors via Zoom. This includes brief teachings, discussions in small groups, and Q&A on lecture content—a space to deepen your learning. Archived videos are also available, so you can watch later even if you can’t attend live.
English-language classrooms will be offered when there are enough enrolled students from English-speaking regions.
We hold live worship gatherings 6 times per year. These also serve as entrance ceremonies, opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies, and graduation ceremonies for each semester—a time to turn our hearts to the Lord and worship freely at each milestone. The program includes worship, messages from regular instructors or guest speakers, and times of corporate prayer. On-site participation is also available. Archived videos are available for those who cannot view in real-time.
Please note: These gatherings are held in Japan and conducted in Japanese. Unlike other lectures, English subtitles are not available for these live-streamed events.
An in-person summer conference where we gather
to learn, pray, and worship together.
Held annually in Sapporo, Japan.
Instructors travel to various regions
for fellowship and learning with River students.
We hope to hold gatherings in the U.S. someday!
Previous locations:
Kyoto, Nagoya, Kanazawa, Kochi, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka
*Enrollment fee is only for the first year.
*International tuition includes the cost of English subtitle translation and the provision of a dedicated English member portal.
*Workshops are conducted in Japanese. If you are comfortable participating in Japanese, you are welcome to join.
*We may ask for documentation
confirming you share the same address.
*We may ask for student ID verification.
*No other pricing options are available
(e.g., group discounts).
Thank you for your understanding.
※Payment method:
Wise transfer (One-time payment) only. Payment details will be provided after your application is confirmed.
※Each student must register individually.
Team or family group registrations
are not accepted.
From Application
to Enrollment
1. Apply via Website
After completing the application form,
you will receive a confirmation email.
Application Deadline:
March 31st, 8:00 PM (JST)
2. Payment Information
You will receive an email with
the first-year fee and bank transfer details.
3. Registration Complete
After payment confirmation,
you will receive a registration completion email.
4. Start Learning
Log in with your ID and password
and begin your studies
starting in May.
*A stable internet connection is required. Please check before classes begin to ensure a comfortable learning experience.