EK Japan

What EK Japan does

EK Japan Co., Ltd. (株式会社イーケイジャパン) is a privately held Japanese manufacturer that designs, produces, and sells educational and hobbyist electronic construction kits under the ELEKIT brand. Founded and operated from Dazaifu City in Fukuoka Prefecture, the company sells a broad portfolio that spans mechanical robot kits (including the RoboCupJunior-certified RCJ-05 infrared ball and Arduino-compatible programmable robots such as KOROBO), solar and eco-energy kits (solar, wind, saltwater, magnesium fuel cell), beginner soldering electronics kits, radio kits, vacuum tube stereo amplifiers and preamps, and more recently macro keypads and kinetic-art LED kits. Technology depth is concentrated in hardware design for mixed-difficulty assembly (no-solder through advanced soldering), embedded control via Arduino-compatible modules, and specialized analog audio circuits; the firm also publishes extensive assembly manuals and runs an ELEKIT Doctor repair and parts service.

The company monetizes almost exclusively through one-time product sales of kits and replacement parts, distributed through its own online storefront (elekit-store.com), an authorized Japanese retail dealer network, and a dedicated B2B corporate channel. Reference prices are published per SKU and range from roughly ¥6,000 for small accessories to over ¥30,000 for flagship vacuum tube preamplifier kits. Primary customer segments are hobbyists/electronics enthusiasts and the education/STEAM segment (schools, workshops, robotics competitions), with a smaller corporate/B2B segment for team-building and bulk purchases. Revenue diversification comes from replacement parts and repair services sold to the existing installed base, plus instructor-led workshops run through the ELEKIT authorized instructor program. The business is founder-managed (President Morishita Noriyuki), has no disclosed institutional ownership or external funding, and operates exclusively within Japan.

Name

EK Japan

Legal name

株式会社イーケイジャパン

Website

https://elekit.co.jp

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EK Japan (ELEKIT brand) is a Fukuoka-based Japanese manufacturer of educational and hobbyist electronic construction kits, including robot, solar/eco-energy, soldering, and vacuum tube amplifier kits, selling primarily to domestic hobbyists, schools, and STEAM education customers through its online store and authorized dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Electronics Kits

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993), Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (334)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused) (EDAMADAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail (CRACAKAN), Educational & Hobby Robotics Kits (Consumer) (CRACARAG), Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail (CRACAKAI), Kids Crafts & Educational Craft Kits Retail (CRALACAG)

Keywords

• Educational electronics kits
• Robot construction kits
• Vacuum tube amplifiers
• STEAM learning kits
• Programmable robotics kits

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Kits and Components): EK Japan generates revenue through the sale of its ELEKIT branded construction kits, electronic components, and replacement parts. Products are sold directly through its online store and through third-party retail and dealer networks. The revenue model is primarily one-time product sales, with supplementary parts and repair services (エレキットドッグクター) providing ongoing revenue from existing customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EK Japan designs, manufactures, and sells educational electronics work kits under the ELEKIT brand. Its portfolio spans robot construction kits, solar and eco-energy kits, simple and soldering-based electronics kits, programmable Arduino-compatible robots, vacuum tube stereo amplifier kits, and macro keypads. Products are sold to hobbyists, schools, and corporate customers through a direct online storefront, an authorized dealer network, and a dedicated B2B channel.

Product overview

EK Japan (株式会社イーケイジャパン, operating the ELEKIT brand) is a Japanese manufacturer of educational electronics kits and hobbyist audio equipment. The product portfolio is organized around several core lines: (1) Robot Construction Kits (ロボット工作) including the KOROBO [MR-9172] programmable Arduino-compatible robot, Space Maze [MR-9139], Ozouji [MR-9137], and Retro Formula [MR-9137] robots, as well as the RoboCupJunior Official Infrared Ball [RCJ-05]; (2) Eco-Energy and Solar Kits (ソーラー工作, エコエネルギー工作) featuring solar-powered, wind-powered, saltwater-operated, and magnesium fuel cell kits for science education; (3) Simple Electronics and Soldering Starter Kits (カンタン電子工作, はんだづけ電子工作入門) for beginners; (4) Programming Robot Kits (プログラミングロボット) for STEM education; (5) Vacuum Tube Amplifier Kits (真空管キット) including the Hybrid Stereo Preamplifier [TU-875] and related power amplifiers, CD players, and headphone amplifiers for audiophile hobbyists; (6) Macro Keypads (キーボード) including the 6-Key Macropad [TJ-001] and Ten-Key Macropad [TJ-002]; and (7) Supporting parts and modules (工作周辺パーツ, 電子工作モジュール). The company also provides repair services (ELEKIT Doctor), replacement parts, software downloads, workshops, and instructor programs for educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Robot Construction Kits (ロボット工作) Self-assembled mechanical robot kits covering beginner through advanced difficulty levels, including soldering-based projects for ages 8 and up and competition-grade robots for RoboCupJunior tournaments.
• Solar Power Kits (ソーラー工作) Solar-powered toy and device kits that run on sunlight, teaching renewable energy principles through hands-on assembly.
• Eco-Energy Kits (エコエネルギー工作) Kits exploring alternative energy sources such as magnesium fuel cells, saltwater-powered devices, wind power, and compressed air, designed for hands-on environmental and energy science education.
• Simple Electronics Kits (カンタン電子工作) Entry-level electronic circuit kits that require no soldering, designed for beginners to learn basic electrical principles through safe assembly.
• Soldering Electronics Starter Kits (はんだづけ電子工作入門) Beginner soldering kits for learning through-hole and surface-mount (SMD) soldering techniques as an entry point to electronics assembly.
• Programming Robot Kits (プログラミングロボット) Programmable robot kits that teach coding and robotics, including Arduino-compatible modules and dedicated programming learning platforms designed for classroom and workshop use.
• Radio Construction Kits (ラジオ工作) AM/FM radio receiver kits built through soldering assembly, combining traditional electronics education with a practical functional outcome.
• Vacuum Tube Amplifier Kits (真空管アンプ) DIY vacuum tube (valve) amplifier kits including stereo power amplifiers, preamplifiers, headphone amplifiers, and CD players, targeting audiophile hobbyists.
• Macro Keypads (キーボード) Compact macro keypads and productivity peripherals, including the 6-key macropad (TJ-001) and ten-key numeric macropad (TJ-002), targeting productivity and power users.
• Box Project Kits (はこ工作キット) Craft kits assembled from cardboard or box materials, combining mechanical construction with simple electronics for creative play.
• Variety Kits (バラエティ工作キット) Diverse and creative construction kits outside standard categories, targeting hobbyists and creative users with novel themes such as LED kinetic art installations.
• Practical Unit Kits (実用ユニットキット) Kits for building practical electronic devices and functional units intended for real-world applications beyond educational assembly.
• RoboCupJunior Official Infrared Ball (RCJ-05) RoboCupJunior-certified infrared-emitting ball (40kHz carrier, 1.2kHz modulation, 20 IR LEDs, 4x AA batteries) for autonomous robot soccer competitions. Released 2009-03, production discontinued 2018-01.

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

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Adafruit Industries: Open-source electronics hardware and educational kit maker. Comparable to EK Japan in selling soldering kits, learning electronics kits, and hobbyist components to makers and educators.
• Elecrow Technology: Maker-focused electronics kit and open-source hardware retailer/manufacturer. Comparable to EK Japan's DIY electronics kits, soldering projects, and Arduino-compatible robotics offerings.
• VEX Robotics: Educational robotics platform provider with strong competition-team presence. Comparable to EK Japan's RoboCupJunior-adjacent robot kit business and classroom robotics focus.
• Tamiya Incorporated: Japanese manufacturer of educational and hobby construction kits (models, robots, RC). Highly comparable to EK Japan given overlap in target customers (hobbyists, schools, children) and product model (build-it-yourself kits spanning beginner to advanced).
• Makeblock Co., Ltd. (mBlock): Global STEM education robotics and STEAM kit provider (mBot, Codey Rocky) targeting schools and hobbyists. Directly comparable to EK Japan's programmable robot kits (e.g., KOROBO) and broader STEAM education mission.
• Seeed Studio: Open-source hardware and maker platform provider selling Arduino-compatible boards, sensors, and DIY kits. Closely comparable to EK Japan's electronic work modules and programming-robot product lines.
• DFRobot: Robotics and open-source hardware provider targeting STEM education and makers. Comparable product mix in programmable robot kits, sensors, and electronics modules serving similar hobbyist/educator customers.

Emerging players

• Kits and Parts (K&K) / similar Japanese vacuum tube kit brands: Specialized vacuum tube and audiophile DIY kit makers serving the same niche hobbyist audience as ELEKIT's tube amplifier line, with overlapping target customer and product format.

Broad incumbents

• LEGO Education: Global education-focused division of LEGO offering hands-on STEAM kits for schools. Overlaps with EK Japan's education segment but operates at vastly larger scale with broader curriculum integration.
• Bandai Namco Holdings (Educational / Hobby): Major Japanese toy and hobby manufacturer with broad product portfolio including educational and hobbyist lines. Overlaps with EK Japan's hobbyist and children's kit segments but at vastly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elekit_official
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ekjapan2008
• Facebookfacebook.com/EkJapan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ek-japan-co.-ltd.

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 EK Japan