CANADIAN ACADEMY

What CANADIAN ACADEMY does

Canadian Academy is a not-for-profit PreK-12 international day and boarding school located on a 9-acre campus on Rokko Island in Kobe, Japan. Founded in 1913 as Canadian Methodist Academy and renamed in 1917, it is one of the oldest international schools in Japan, governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees under Japanese law as a Gakkō Hōjin (educational corporation). The school delivers the full International Baccalaureate continuum from PreK through Grade 12 (PYP, MYP, DP) and is accredited by IB, CIS, WASC, JCIS, and APAC. It serves expatriate and international families in the Kansai region and runs a boarding program for approximately 40 high school students recruited from over 20 countries.

The school's core product is a multi-grade IB curriculum, supplemented by an athletics program (with APAC participation), a comprehensive arts program (visual arts, music, theatre, dance via ISTA/AMIS), after-school activities, service learning, and a Japan-as-a-Classroom program. It also operates a portfolio of summer programs including Summer Experience, Summer Discovery, Inspirit AI, AI from Scratch, IB-Math-Mastery, and Oyako de Ryugaku. Operations are supported by third-party learning and administrative platforms: PowerSchool (SIS), ManageBac (IB curriculum), SchoolsBuddy (activities), Toddle (learning platform), BambooHR (HR), and Cezar's Kitchen (food services). Recent strategic actions include the 2022 doubling of boarding capacity (adding Maya, Kiku, Take, and Rokko houses), a 2020-2025 multi-phase campus renovation, and the 2024 launch of a Phones Away policy paired with a formal AI use framework.

Revenue is generated primarily from recurring annual tuition (¥2.1M for PreK/K-A up to ¥3.37M for Grade 12) plus boarding fees (¥3.5M), with one-time application (¥90K), registration (¥400K), capital contribution (¥600K), and recurring building & development (¥300K) fees. Distribution is direct-to-family via a proprietary enrollment portal and personalized campus tours, augmented by a Corporate Contribution Plan (CCP) under which multinational corporations in Kansai sponsor expatriate employee education with tax benefits and guaranteed admission. Transport services (Rokko, Ashiya, and Osaka bus routes) and a partnership with Peter Pan International Pre-School round out the customer ecosystem.

Name

CANADIAN ACADEMY

Legal name

Canadian Academy

Website

https://canacad.ac.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Canadian Academy is a not-for-profit PreK-12 international day and boarding school in Kobe, Japan, offering the full IB continuum to expatriate and international families in the Kansai region and to boarding students from over 20 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK), IB Program Tutoring (PYP/MYP/DP; HL/SL) (EDANAKAB), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• International K-12 education
• International Baccalaureate programs
• Boarding school
• International school Japan
• University preparatory education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kobe

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from tuition fees charged per student, with rates varying by grade level from PreK through Grade 12. Additional fees include application, registration, capital contribution, and building development fees.
2. Boarding Program: Comprehensive boarding service for approximately 40 high school students from over 20 countries, providing accommodation, meals, and supervised activities.
3. Corporate Contribution Plan (CCP): Special agreement with Japanese National Tax Agency where corporations sponsor expatriate employee children's education, providing additional income and tax benefits.
4. Transportation Services: School bus services on Rokko, Ashiya, and Osaka routes with annual fees based on distance and one-way vs round-trip usage.
5. Learning Support Services: Additional fee up to ¥3,500,000 for students requiring significant one-on-one learning support from Learning Support teachers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Canadian Academy is a PreK-12 international day and boarding school in Kobe, Japan, offering a full International Baccalaureate continuum (Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programmes). The school serves expatriate and international families in the Kansai region and operates a boarding program for approximately 40 high school students from over 20 countries. It delivers rigorous IB curriculum with English-language instruction, Japanese cultural immersion, university counseling, and comprehensive co-curricular programs including athletics, arts, and service learning.

Product overview

Canadian Academy is a PreK-12 international day and boarding school in Kobe, Japan, offering a comprehensive educational program through the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework. The school provides a unified product portfolio centered on the IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) from Early Childhood through Grade 12, supplemented by a boarding program for approximately 40 high school students from over 20 countries. Beyond the core IB curriculum, CA offers diverse co-curricular products including Athletics, Arts (Visual Arts, Music, Theatre, Dance), After School Activities, Service Learning, and Summer Programs (Summer Experience, Summer Discovery, Inspirit AI, AI from Scratch, IB-Math-Mastery, Oyako de Ryugaku). The school also provides specialized support services (EAL, Learning Support, Counseling), University Counseling, Library Services with 35,000+ volumes and digital resources, and Education Technology with a phone-free policy and AI use framework. Transportation services, Corporate Partnership programs, and Japanese language immersion complete the comprehensive educational ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs Full IB continuum from PreK through Grade 12, including Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) with multiple graduation pathways for students seeking international education and university preparation.
• Early Childhood Program Play-based learning program for PreK-3 through Kindergarten B (ages 3-5), following IB PYP framework with focus on social-emotional development for youngest learners.
• Elementary School Program Grades 1-5 program using IB PYP with transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry, Balanced Literacy, and Bridges mathematics curriculum for elementary-aged students.
• Middle School Program Grades 6-8 following IB MYP with eight subject areas, emphasis on independence, phone-free environment, and Week Without Walls trips for middle school students.
• High School Program Grades 9-12 offering IB MYP (Grades 9-10), IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12), Japan Experience program, with three graduation pathways including CA Diploma plus IB Diploma, Bilingual Diploma, or IB Course Certificates.
• Boarding Program Full boarding program for approximately 40 high school students from over 20 countries, with facilities including Maya, Kiku, Take, and Rokko houses on a nine-acre campus providing accommodation, meals, and supervised activities.
• Summer Experience Summer program for students to spend time with friends and learn something new while experiencing summer fun.
• Summer Discovery Summer discovery program offering educational and recreational activities for students.
• Inspirit AI AI-focused summer program teaching artificial intelligence concepts and applications to students.
• AI from Scratch Summer program where students learn to build AI systems from the ground up, emphasizing programming and foundational AI concepts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.1% of students successfully completed the IB Diploma Programme in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration6 records

AI capability7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• Peter Pan International Pre-SchoolsupportingOthersLong-standing relationship with Peter Pan International Pre-School operating an English language program for 2-year-old children. Located on Rokko Island within 10-minute walk from CA campus, serving as feeder school for Early Childhood program.
• Corporate Partners (CCP Program)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporations participating in Corporate Contribution Plan sponsor expatriate employee children's education. In recognition, CA offers guaranteed admission (bypassing waiting lists), and corporations receive tax benefits. Companies contribute through sponsorship of facilities and scholarships, provision of internships, and participation in school governance.
• Kansai University Secondary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange club partnership where students from CA and Kansai University Secondary School take turns visiting each other's campuses to share perspectives, experience daily routines, and practice language skills through authentic interaction.
• International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational theater association providing workshops and festivals for High School Arts students at CA, connecting them with other international schools around Asia.
• Association of Music in International Schools (AMIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic education organization providing workshops and programs for CA students, enhancing international music education opportunities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fukuoka International School: IB continuum school in Kyushu serving expatriate and international families, directly comparable in offering the full PYP/MYP/DP and operating as a not-for-profit institution outside of Tokyo.
• Canadian International School (Singapore): IB continuum school in Singapore bearing a similar 'Canadian' heritage branding and serving expatriate families. Comparable in curriculum, mission, and brand positioning, and a relevant comparator for the Canadian-branded international school niche.
• Yokohama International School: IB World School in Japan offering PreK-12 international education with a similar student profile (expatriate and internationally-minded families) and curriculum structure, making it a directly comparable Kansai/greater-Japan peer.
• Kyoto International School: Not-for-profit IB World School in the Kansai region serving expatriate families. Geographic overlap with Canadian Academy makes it the most direct regional competitor, especially for Osaka/Kyoto families.
• St. Mary's International School (Tokyo): Catholic IB World School in Tokyo serving boys in Grades 1-12 with a similar premium tuition structure and international student mix. Comparable as a competitor for English-speaking expatriate families in Japan.
• Nagoya International School: Another long-established international school in central Japan (founded 1964) offering IB programmes and serving expatriate families in the Chubu region; comparable in mission, scale, and customer base to Canadian Academy.
• British School in Tokyo: IB-offering international school in Tokyo targeting expatriate families, with a similar tuition tier and curriculum breadth. Direct competitor for multinational-corporate-sponsored students, particularly from UK-headquartered firms.

Broad incumbents

• American School in Japan (ASIJ): The largest and most established American-style international school in Japan (founded 1897), offering IB and AP across two campuses. Comparable as a competitor for premium expatriate families and corporate-sponsored students, though larger and broader than CA.
• Singapore American School: Large, established international school in Singapore offering a comparable premium K-12 experience to multinational-corporate families in Asia. Relevant as a benchmark for premium Asian international schools competing for the same corporate-sponsored demographic.

Emerging players

• United World College ISAK Japan: Boarding-focused IB Diploma school in Karuizawa attracting a global student body with a residential model. Comparable to CA's boarding programme and a potential alternative for internationally mobile families, though different in mission (UWC movement).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/canacad.kobe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadianacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/canacad
• Xx.com/canacad

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

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 CANADIAN ACADEMY