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Kumon Milestones
Here we describe how Kumon progressed from its humble beginnings as a learning method designed by a father for his child to become a globally accepted method of learning.
Kumon’s History
Timeless and borderless,
Kumon does its all for each and every individual.
Kumon’s aspiration, which began with a parent and a child,
is to maximize the potential of each individual through learning.
The Kumon Method is now reaching people all around the world.
Japan
1950
- 1954
- Toru Kumon, a high school math teacher, began providing education-based on the concept of self-learning to his son, Takeshi, then a second grader in elementary school. He wrote numerous calculation problems on loose-leaf paper for his son. This was the origin of the Kumon Method.
- 1955
- The first Math Center using Kumon Worksheets is opened in Moriguchi city, Osaka.
- 1958
- The office of the Osaka Institute of Mathematics is established in Osaka, Japan.
Toyonaka Uenozaka Center where Toru and Teiko Kumon instructed students together (circa 1965).
1960
- 1962
- The Osaka Institute of Mathematics Ltd. is established. The first Kumon Center is opened in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
From 1959 to 1962 the Kumon office was located in a rented room inside this residence in Osaka.
- 1963
- Kumon’s Tokyo Office is opened.
- 1969
- The total number of subject enrollments exceeds 10,000.
1970
- 1972
- The company name, Osaka Institute of Mathematics, is changed to Osaka Kumon Institute of Mathematics. The Tokyo Kumon Institute of Mathematics Ltd. is established.
- 1974
- The Secret of Kumon Math (published by Koseido Publishing) becomes a best seller.
The Kumon Method became widely known through the publication of this first book written by the founder, Toru Kumon. The book officially introduced the aims and theory of the Kumon Method for the first time, and included numerous concrete cases of instruction and learning effectiveness. The book generated a tremendous response and the company was flooded with inquiries.
- 1977
- Kumon begins publishing workbooks for preschoolers.
- The total number of subject enrollments in Japan exceeds 200,000.
- 1979
- The first Kumon Instructors Conference is held in Osaka, Japan.
Kumon began holding the Instructors Conference annually from this year to provide Instructors with an opportunity to share the results of their instruction and voluntary study group activities with their colleagues from around Japan.
- The total number of subject enrollments in Japan exceeds 500,000.
1980
- 1980
- The Kumon English Programme (for native Japanese speakers) is launched.
- 1981
- The Kumon Japanese Programme (for native Japanese speakers) is launched.
- The first Instructors Conference on Learners with Special Needs is held.
At this annual conference, Instructors develop their understanding of how to instruct students with special needs and receive practical advice for how to apply what they learn in their Centers.
- Both the Osaka Kumon Institute of Mathematics Ltd. and the Tokyo Kumon Institute of Mathematics Ltd. are restructured from limited liability companies into joint-stock corporations.
- The total number of subject enrollments exceeds 1 million.
- 1982
- The Osaka Kumon Institute of Mathematics Co., Ltd. and the Tokyo Kumon Institute of Mathematics Co., Ltd. merge to become the Kumon Institute of Mathematics Co., Ltd.
- 1983
- The company name, Kumon Institute of Mathematics, is changed to Kumon Institute of Education.
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The first Kumon logo is created.
- 1984
- The Kumon Japanese Learning Program (for foreign learners) is launched.
- 1985
- The Kumon Penmanship Program is launched.
- 1986
- The Kumon French and German programs (for native speakers of Japanese) are launched.
- 1988
- Kumon Publishing Co., Ltd. is established.
- 1989
- The total number of subject enrollments in Japan exceeds 1.5 million.
1990
- 1995
- Company founder Toru Kumon passes away.
- 1996
- Kumon Lifelong Integrated Learning Co., Ltd. (Kumon Penmanship and Calligraphy) is established.
- 1997
- Kumon President Takeshi Kumon passes away.
2000
- 2000
- Kumon is reorganized into a group management structure.
The Kumon Toru Research Institute of Education Co., Ltd. is established.
- 2001
- Joint research into the effects of learning therapy on senile dementia begins.
- The first Kumon World Leaders’ Seminar is held.
Held under the theme, “Kumon in the 21st century and my personal mission,” this training session saw Kumon staff in key positions from around the world gather together to discuss topics such as The Kumon Way and how best to share Kumon’s values. - The first English Immersion Camp is held.
The children who participate in this camp take on the challenge of total immersion in English. The camp was initiated with the intention of fostering capable people who can contribute to global society by joining together with people from different countries around the world. -
The new Kumon logo is created.
- 2003
- All Kumon signboards are replaced with the new Kumon logo signboards.
- 2007
- Activities for child-raising support begin.
- 2008
- Kumon celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding.
2010
- 2010
- Kumon begins offering its educational services to universities.
- 2011
- Global Communication & Testing Co., Ltd. (GC&T) is established.
GC&T is in charge of promoting the TOEFL Junior® and TOEFL Primary® tests in conjunction with its partner ETS (Educational Testing Service), the world’s largest nonprofit test development organization.
- 2012
- The Baby Kumon Program is launched.
- 2014
- This is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Toru Kumon.
- 2018
- Kumon celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding.
2020
Worldwide
1950
1960
1970
- 1974
- The first overseas Kumon Math Center opens in New York.
- It was with the opening of a Kumon Center in New York in 1974 that the provision of Kumon Method study outside Japan first began. Initially, most students at this Center were the children of Japanese expatriates. However, as the effectiveness of the Kumon Method became more widely known, local children began to enroll. Today, Kumon has established itself as a provider of quality education for local children through local Instructors in many countries around the world.
- 1975
- Centre opens in Taiwan.
- 1977
- Centre opens in Brazil.
- 1979
- Centre opens in Germany.
- The number of Kumon students in Taiwan topped 1,000.
1980
- 1980
- An affiliated company is established in São Paulo, Brazil.
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The Kumon South America head office building is completed (August 1994)
- An affiliated company is established in Düsseldorf, Germany.
- 1982
- An affiliated company is established in Los Angeles, USA.
- 1983
- The total number of overseas subject enrollments exceeds 10,000.
- 1984
- An affiliated company is established in Sydney, Australia.
- 1988
- An affiliated company is established in Hong Kong.
- An affiliated company is established in Toronto, Canada.
- A public elementary school in the United States implements Kumon Math.
When the vice principal of Sumiton Elementary School in Alabama saw a TV program about Kumon she became convinced of the efficacy of the method and felt that it could really help her students to get over their aversion to math. This was the first time that the Kumon Method was utilized in regular school classes outside of Japan. The results were even greater than expected and this achievement was hailed as the “Miracle of Sumiton” in a variety of media. This publicity led to greater awareness of Kumon and the establishment of more and more Centers around the world.
1990
- 1990
- The Kumon English Program (for native English speakers) is launched in Australia. The Kumon English Program is currently provided in 24 countries and regions around the world.
- An affiliated company is established in London, UK.
- 1991
- An affiliated company is established in Madrid, Spain.
- The total number of overseas subject enrollments exceeds 200,000.
- 1993
- The Kumon Chinese Program (for native Chinese speakers) is launched in Taiwan.
- The Kumon Chinese Program is currently provided in six countries and regions around the world.
- The total number of enrollments in the world exceeds 2 million.
- 1994
- The Kumon Portuguese Program (for native Portuguese speakers) is launched in Brazil.
- 1995
- An affiliated company is established in Singapore.
- An affiliated company is established in Santiago, Chile.
- An affiliated company is established in Mexico City, Mexico.
- An affiliated company is established in Shanghai, China.
- The total number of overseas subject enrollments exceeds 500,000.
- 1996
- An affiliated company is established in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- An affiliated company is established in Manila, the Philippines.
- 1997
- A Kumon Office is established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- 1998
- An affiliated company is established in Bangkok, Thailand.
- An affiliated company is established in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- The total number of overseas subject enrollments exceeds 1 million.
2000
- 2000
- An affiliated company is established in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- 2001
- The total number of enrollments in the world exceeds 3 million.
- 2003
- The total number of overseas subject enrollments exceeds 2 million.
- 2004
- The Kumon EFL Program (English as a Foreign Language) is launched in Brazil. The Kumon EFL Program is currently provided in 30 countries and regions around the world.
- The Kumon Spanish Program (for native Spanish speakers) is launched in five countries in South America. The Kumon Spanish Program is currently provided in eight countries around the world.
- An affiliated company is established in New Delhi, India.
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Up to this point, Kumon’s overseas development had proceeded by receiving offers from local parties.
In this case, however, Kumon established an affiliated company in India in order to provide learning opportunities to as many children as possible.
In India we continue to seek out the optimum manner of providing the Kumon Method.
- An affiliated company is established in Bogotá, Colombia.
- 2005
- The Kumon CFL Program (Chinese as a Foreign Language) is launched in Korea.
- An affiliated company is established in Guangzhou, China.
- 2006
- An affiliated company is established in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- The total number of enrollments in the world exceeds 4 million.
- 2008
- The Kumon Thai Program (for native Thai speakers) is launched in Thailand.
2010
- 2011
- An affiliated company is established in Beijing, China.
- 2018
- An affiliated company is established in Macau.
(As of June 2021)
Toru Kumon's Story
Toru Kumon’s love for his son led to the creation of the Kumon Method of learning. After more than half a century, true to his philosophy, we continue to help as many children as possible develop the ability to fulfill their dreams.