Amity Corporation

What Amity Corporation does

Amity Corporation is a privately held Japanese education management company that operates a network of 85-90+ English conversation schools for children across Honshu and Kyushu islands. Founded in 1994 after separating from AEON Corporation's children's division (established 1973), the company delivers recurring weekly English language classes to over 24,000 students per week, ranging from prenatal and infant programs (Baby O, 6 months to 1 year) through Senior High school level (18 years). Its core products include Group Lessons (max 8 students), Semi-Private Lessons, Private Lessons, and Interactive Lessons using computer-based EFL learning, all delivered by native English teachers recruited internationally through offices in Okayama (HQ), Tokyo, and Los Angeles.

Amity's underlying platform is a proprietary curriculum and Dynamic Teaching Methodology built on the four EFL principles (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and three learning styles (visual, audio, kinesthetic). In April 2014, the company introduced i Lessons and the i Method, incorporating interactive whiteboards and tablets into kindergarten and elementary classrooms, layered on top of its Practical Course Drilling methodology. The curriculum is supported by Amity-developed textbooks, workbooks, audiovisual materials, and teacher training programs (Initial Training, Shadow Week, Follow-up Training).

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring weekly tuition payments from individual parents across a B2C consumer base, with teacher compensation structured at approximately 275,000 yen/month (255,000 base + 20,000 allowance) plus subsidized housing. Amity recruits teachers year-round via international and domestic career fairs, Greenhouse.io, and a multi-stage interview process. The company is led by President Takato Yamasaki, who has guided it for over 20 years, and operates without disclosed external institutional investors or venture capital backing.

Name

Amity Corporation

Legal name

Amity Corporation

Website

https://amityteachers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Amity Corporation operates a network of 85-90+ English conversation schools across Japan, delivering recurring weekly native-English-teacher-led classes to over 24,000 children and students from 6 months through 18 years old using its proprietary curriculum and i Method.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private English Language Education

NAICS

Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Classroom & Institutional Language Learning Platforms (Schools/Universities) (EDAFAOAI)

Keywords

• English language education
• Children's English instruction
• EFL learning programs
• Private language schools
• English conversation classes

Headquarters

HQ city

El Segundo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. English Language Education Services: Amity generates revenue through weekly English language classes for children at their branch schools across Japan. Students enroll in various lesson types including Group Lessons, Semi-Private Lessons, Private Lessons, and Interactive Lessons. Classes range from Prenatal Stimulation to Senior High school level. Revenue is recurring as students attend weekly classes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Amity Corporation operates a network of over 90 branch English language schools across Japan's Honshu and Kyushu islands, delivering in-person English instruction by native English-speaking teachers to children aged 6 months through 18 years. The company provides weekly recurring lessons across multiple formats (Group, Semi-Private, Private, and Interactive) using a proprietary curriculum based on four EFL principles (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and a dynamic methodology combining visual, audio, and kinesthetic learning styles.

Product overview

Amity Corporation operates a network of English conversation schools for children in Japan, offering in-person instruction through over 90 branch schools across Honshu and Kyushu. The product portfolio centers on four lesson types (Group, Semi-Private, Private, and Interactive Lessons) serving students from 6 months to 18 years old. Amity's proprietary i Lesson® and i Method® incorporate interactive whiteboards, tablets, and computer-based EFL learning to deliver lessons combining visual, audio, and kinesthetic teaching approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• i Lesson® Interactive lessons utilizing interactive whiteboards and tablets for kindergarten and elementary aged students. Combines the Practical Course Drilling methodology with technology for an engaging educational experience.
• i Method® Amity's original teaching methodology that combines practical course drilling with technology, created as an accumulation of Amity's knowledge and experience spanning four decades.
• Group Lesson A maximum of 8 similarly-aged students per lesson, typically 40-50 minutes in length (30 minutes for Baby O class).
• Semi-Private Lesson A maximum of 2 similarly-aged students per lesson, typically 40-50 minutes in length.
• Private Lesson One student studying individually with the Native English Teacher, typically 40-50 minutes in length.
• Interactive Lesson A group of students studying individually using the latest in computer-based EFL learning.
• Baby O Class (B-O) English classes for ages 6 months to 1 year old and their parents; 30 minutes.
• Children's Low Class (CL) English classes for ages 6 to 9 years old; 50 minutes.
• Children's High Class (CH) English classes for ages 9 to 12 years old; 50 minutes.
• Junior High Class (JH) English classes for ages 12 to 15 years old; 50 minutes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 24,000 students attend Amity classes weekly across Japan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AEON CorporationhistoricalOthersAmity began as the children's division of AEON Corporation founded in 1973. It quickly grew as an industry leader providing high quality English education to children in Japan. In 1994, Amity began independent operations by opening its own branch schools and creating its own curriculum. This is a historical corporate relationship - Amity has been independently operating since 1994.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• iHuman Inc. (Disney English in China): iHuman operated Disney English, a children's English immersion school network in China using native English teachers. Though a different geography, the comparable children's-English-immersion school model with proprietary curriculum and teacher-supported lesson delivery makes it a relevant emerging peer in the children's EFL market.

Direct peers

• Shane English School: Shane is a major native-English conversation school chain with significant branch presence across Japan. It targets similar customer segments (children and adults) with comparable immersion-based teaching methodology and represents one of Amity's closest direct competitors.
• Geos Corporation: Geos is a Japan-based English conversation school chain operating numerous branches nationwide. It directly competes with Amity for Japanese families seeking English language instruction with native speakers, focusing on children's English education.
• ECC (Eikaiwa ECC): ECC is one of Japan's major English conversation school operators with extensive branch network. It competes directly with Amity for Japanese families seeking native-English immersion programs for children, offering comparable lesson formats (group, private) across the country.
• Gaba Corporation: Gaba operates English conversation schools in Japan with a distinctive 1-on-1 lesson model. While primarily focused on adult professionals, it competes for share of household English education spending and offers an alternative to Amity's group-based children's programs.
• Nova Holdings: Nova historically operated one of Japan's largest English conversation school networks before reorganizing. It serves similar customer demographics with comparable lesson formats and remains a relevant competitor in the Japanese eikaiwa market.

Broad incumbents

• Berlitz Japan: Berlitz is a globally established language education brand with Japanese operations. It offers English instruction with native teachers using its proprietary immersion method, competing in the same premium segment of the Japanese English education market.
• AEON Corporation (Eikaiwa Division): AEON is the largest English conversation school chain in Japan and was Amity's former parent company (1973-1994). Both operate physical branch networks delivering native-teacher-led English lessons to children and adults in Japan, competing directly for the same parent-student demographic.

Regional players

• Kids Duo (Human Holdings): Kids Duo is an after-school daycare and English program operator in Japan. While smaller in scale than Amity, it targets the same Japanese parent demographic seeking English enrichment for children, using native or bilingual teachers in immersive programs.
• Winbe: Winbe operates English-focused after-school programs for children in Japan, competing for the same Japanese parent demographic that Amity targets. Its age-segmented curriculum and immersion methodology parallel Amity's approach but with a smaller branch footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/embed/RNhZ2sRBWMs
• Xx.com/amitycorp
• Facebookfacebook.com/amity-corporation-teach-english-to-children-in-japan-464396603582246
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amity-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amity Corporation