Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 8, 2026

Kumon

Kumon Institute of Education Co. Ltd. is an educational network based in Japan and created by Toru Kumon. It uses his "Kumon Method" to teach mathematics and reading, primarily to young students.

Last revised
Jun 8, 2026
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Kumon Institute of Education Co., Ltd.
Native name
株式会社公文教育研究会
Company type
Private
IndustryEducation
Founded11 July 1958 (1958-07-11)
FounderToru Kumon
Key people
Hidenori Ikegami, President
ProductsKumon Math, and Kumon Languages (varies by country)
Websitekumon.org
A Kumon center source ↗

Kumon Institute of Education Co. Ltd. (株式会社公文教育研究会, Kabushiki gaisha Kumon Kyōiku Kenkyūkai) is an educational network based in Japan and created by Toru Kumon. It uses his "Kumon Method" to teach mathematics and reading, primarily to young students.1

History

Japanese mathematics educator Toru Kumon founded Kumon in 1958, when he opened the first Kumon Math Center in Moriguchi, Osaka. Before creating the Kumon franchise, Kumon taught at Kochi Municipal High School and Tosa Junior/Senior High School. Inspired by teaching his son, Takeshi, Kumon developed a curriculum focused on rote memorization.2

Kumon (the company) gained 63,000 students in its first 16 years. In 1974, Kumon published The Secret of Kumon Math, a book that led to a doubling of its size in the next two years.2 Kumon opened its first United States locations in 1983,3 and by 1985, it had 1.4 million students.2

Kumon attracted national attention in the U.S. after it was implemented at Sumiton Elementary School in Sumiton, Alabama.3 Sumiton continued to use the Kumon program through 2001.4

Kumon has over 26,000 centers worldwide with over 4 million registered students.56 In 2018, there were 410,000 students enrolled in 2,200 centers in the U.S.7 There are Kumon centers in over 60 countries and regions worldwide.6

In North America, Kumon began a "Junior Kumon" program in 2001, targeted at children aged from 2 to 5 years old.8

Kumon method

Kumon is an enrichment or remedial program, where instructors and assistants tailor instructions to individual students.9

All Kumon programs are pencil-and-worksheet-based, with a digital program that started in 2023. The worksheets increase in difficulty in small increments.1011

Psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek says that using such techniques for pre-kindergartners "does not give your child a leg up on anything".8 But a 1994 study by Nancy Ukai observed a high degree of efficacy.12

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Around the World in 80 Ideas". adamsmith.org. Adam Smith Institute. 2002. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  2. Davidson, Alex (31 October 2008). "Sticking to Basics". Forbes. Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  3. Rothman, Robert (17 May 1989). "Japanese Drills, Not U.S. Reforms, Make Math a Hit at Alabama School". Education Week. Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  4. Oakley, Barbara A.; Lawrence, Doreen; Burt, Walter L.; Boxley, Broderick; Kobus, Christopher J. (22 June 2003). "Using the Kumon Method to Revitalize Mathematics in an Inter-Urban School District" (PDF). Developing Young MINDs. American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Nashville, Tennessee: American Society for Engineering Education. pp. 8.1262.1–8.1262.13. doi:10.18260/1-2--12407. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  5. Written at Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. "Kumon Celebrates 50th Anniversary". Business Wire. San Francisco, California, U.S.: Berkshire Hathaway. 25 February 2008. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  6. "Our Global Locations – Kumon". Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  7. Written at Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. "Kumon Franchise Receives "Best of the Best" Recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine for the 20th Time". New York City, New York, U.S: PR Newswire. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  8. Zernike, Kate (13 May 2011). "Fast-Tracking to Kindergarten?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  9. Singer, Penny (14 March 1999). "Franchise Learning Centers Offer Mastery". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  10. "The Kumon Method". Kumon. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  11. "How do Kumon's Virtual and In-Person Classes Work?". Kumon. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  12. Ukai, Nancy (1994). "The Kumon Approach to Teaching and Learning". Journal of Japanese Studies. 20 (1): 87–113. doi:10.2307/132785. ISSN 0095-6848. JSTOR 132785.
External links