Golden Forest

What Golden Forest does

Golden Forest Inc. is a privately held, multi-vertical micro-company incorporated in Honolulu, Hawaii in November 2003, with operating subsidiaries and offices in Japan (Tsuyama City and Tokyo). Its flagship line of business is an internet-delivered exam-preparation E-Learning platform branded "Project - ∞", which is split into two sub-products: Project - i for IT certifications (CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+/Server+, Oracle Bronze SQL/DBA 10g, Sun Java SJC-P, XML Master) and Project - Z for non-IT professional exams (patent attorney/弁理士 short-answer exams with 1,200+ practice questions, second-class electrical technician, and domestic travel manager). Courses are sold as annual subscriptions (e.g., ¥14,800 for the patent attorney course, ¥5,250 for the travel manager course) via the company's own self-serve website (gfinf.net), with an affiliate channel and a daily-question email newsletter used for acquisition.

The underlying technology is a conventional browser-based E-Learning system offering simulation questions, a NONSTOP continuous-practice mode, and timed exam simulations; there is no disclosed AI/ML, API, or SDK layer. The company also operates two physical retail-style businesses out of a single building in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture: 城西塾 (Jōsaijuku), a small tutoring academy for K-9 students, and Salon de Bogue Bel (サロンドボーグベル), an esthetic salon offering facials, massage, waxing, bridal packages, and cosmetics retail (CARITA, ORLANE). A minor travel-information distribution line rounds out the portfolio.

Go-to-market is essentially founder-led and self-serve. Golden Forest recruits instructors remotely through its website, explicitly welcoming applicants with disabilities, and delivers content via the E-Learning platform with no institutional sales motion. The business is run by a four-person management team — President/CEO Yoshimi Tanaka, VP Toshiya Kanamori, Auditor Chizuru Kanamori, and Director Hideaki Tanaka — with no disclosed outside investors, no funding rounds, no enterprise customers, and 1–10 total employees. The company has shown no operational activity beyond late 2008, suggesting a long-tail, very small-scale lifestyle-business posture.

Name

Golden Forest

Legal name

Golden Forest Inc.

Website

https://goldenforest.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Golden Forest is a privately held micro-company (1–10 employees) that sells a Japan-focused E-Learning exam-preparation platform (Project - ∞) for IT certifications and professional exams, alongside a local tutoring academy and esthetic salon in Tsuyama City, Okayama.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

E-Learning Software

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Information Technology & Cybersecurity Certification Prep (CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, ISC2/ISACA) (EDANAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations) (BPAEANAD), Vendor/Authorized Certification Training (Microsoft/AWS/Cisco, etc.) (BPAEANAA)

Keywords

• E-learning software
• IT certification training
• Professional exam preparation
• Online tutoring services
• Distance learning platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Tsuyama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. E-Learning Software Sales: Sale of exam preparation software with subscription-based licensing (annual licenses). Revenue from IT certification courses (Project - i) and professional exam courses (Project - Z).
2. Esthetic Services: Beauty salon services including facial treatments, massage, waxing, bridal courses, and cosmetics sales. Services offered at physical location in Tsuyama City.
3. Learning塾 (Jōsaijuku): Tutoring services for elementary and middle school students (grades 1-6 and 7-9) in Tsuyama City, Okayama. Covers Japanese, math, science, social studies, and English.
4. Travel Information Services: Travel-related information distribution via blog and email magazine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Golden Forest primarily develops and sells an internet-based E-Learning software platform (Project - ∞) that delivers exam preparation courses for IT certifications (CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+/Server+, Oracle Bronze SQL/DBA, Sun Java SJC-P, XML Master) and non-IT professional exams (patent attorney, second-class electrical technician, domestic travel manager). The company also operates a K-12 tutoring academy (城西塾) and an esthetic salon (サロンドボーグベル) at its Tsuyama City, Japan office.

Product overview

Golden Forest Inc. operates a multi-service business consisting of an E-Learning platform and traditional service offerings. The core E-Learning division centers on Project - ∞, which comprises two sub-systems: Project - i for IT certification exam preparation (Oracle, CompTIA, Sun Java, XML Master) and Project - Z for non-IT professional exams (patent attorney, electrical engineering, travel management). Supporting these are traditional services including 城西塾 (Josai Juku) tutoring academy for K-12 students and サロンドボーグ・ベル esthetic salon. The company also facilitates CompTIA exam ticket procurement services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project - ∞: E-Learning software platform for IT certification and professional examination preparation (IT courses: Project - i; non-IT courses: Project - Z).
• Project - i
• Project - Z
• 城西塾 (Jōsaijuku)
• 沙龙・ド・ボーグ・ベル (Salon de Bogue Bell)

Products and services

• Project - ∞ E-Learning Platform (Project Infinity)
• 城西塾 (Josai Juku) Tutoring Academy
• サロンドボーグベル (Salon de Bogue Bel) Esthetic Salon
• Travel Information Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Learning cost significantly lower than attending physical schools
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Udemy: Udemy is a global E-Learning marketplace offering extensive IT certification and exam preparation courses; represents the broader incumbent ecosystem against which Golden Forest's Project - i platform competes.
• Coursera: Coursera is a global online learning platform with professional certificates and IT training from universities and companies; serves as a broader incumbent alternative for the same learner segment Golden Forest targets.
• Pluralsight (Skillsoft): Pluralsight is a leading online IT and certification training platform serving technology professionals globally, with deep coverage of vendor certification tracks — a broader incumbent comparable to Golden Forest's IT certification e-learning.

Emerging players

• アガルートアカデミー (Ageroute Academy): Ageroute is a Japanese online exam prep provider specializing in legal certifications (patent attorneys, bar exams, administrative scriveners) — a direct online competitor to Golden Forest's Project - Z patent attorney course.
• Cybrary: Cybrary provides online cybersecurity and IT certification training with practice exams and hands-on labs, overlapping with Golden Forest's coverage of CompTIA Security+ and other IT credentials.
• スタディング (Studying / KIYO-Learn): Studying is a Japanese online-focused professional exam prep company offering affordable, accessible courses for certifications like patent attorney and other national exams — directly competing with Golden Forest's Project - Z subscription model.

Regional players

• Benesse Corporation (進研ゼミ): Benesse operates Japan's leading K-12 correspondence and tutoring programs (Shinken Zemi), the dominant domestic incumbent for the elementary and middle school tutoring segment served by Golden Forest's Jōsaijuku.

Direct peers

• Whizlabs: Whizlabs provides online practice tests and exam preparation for IT certifications including cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) and CompTIA — closely aligned with Golden Forest's Project - i IT certification practice-question model.
• 株式会社LEC東京リーガルマインド (LEC Tokyo Legal Mind): LEC is a major Japanese exam preparation provider covering legal, professional, and IT certifications (including patent attorney exams), overlapping directly with Golden Forest's Project - Z professional exam focus.
• TAC株式会社 (TAC Co., Ltd.): TAC is one of Japan's largest professional and IT certification test preparation companies, offering courses for patent attorneys, IT certifications, and other professional exams — directly comparable to Golden Forest's Project - Z and Project - i offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Golden Forest