What LPI-Japan does

LPI-Japan (特定非営利活動法人エルピーアイジャパン, established 2000) is a Tokyo-based specified non-profit organization that operates as Japan's primary certification authority for Linux, open-source database, web, cloud, and container technologies. The organization develops and administers five core certification families — LinuC (Linux, Levels 1-4), OSS-DB (PostgreSQL Silver and Gold), HTML5 Professional, OPCEL (OpenStack), and Japanese-language Kubernetes certifications (CKA-JP, CKAD-JP, CKS-JP, KCNA-JP) delivered under a strategic partnership with The Linux Foundation. Exams are delivered through approximately 220 Pearson Vue test centers across Japan and via paper-based testing (PBT) for corporate groups with a minimum of 20 exams per session.

The technology platform consists of the EDUCO-ID candidate management system (cross-certification results tracking) and a content library of free Linux Standard Textbooks released under a Creative Commons license, plus Linux Dojo columns, sample problems, technical seminars, and four specialized mail magazines. Kubernetes certifications are performance-based, requiring candidates to solve problems via command line on Linux systems. LPI-Japan is the first Authorized Certification Partner of The Linux Foundation and is supported by platinum sponsors including Fujitsu, NEC, Hitachi, and IBM Japan, with an ITSS career framework mapping maintained by the Skill Standards Users Association.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-exam fees (16,500-69,000 yen per exam), discounted enterprise exam voucher bundles of 50+, paper-based group exam invigilation, textbook sales, and The Linux Foundation training course resales. Customers include Japanese enterprises such as Rakus Partners, CrossPower, KDDI, NEC Solution Innovators, NTT Technocross, and Fuji Soft, plus academic institutions including Nippon Electronics Specialty School. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales (business partner programs, corporate training integration), channel partners (platinum sponsors, academic certified schools), community-led growth (free Creative Commons content, Slack collaboration), and event-driven activation (Open Source Conference seminars). The associated entity EDUCO (一般社団法人エデュコ) handles financial and IP management. The organization is governed by Representative Director 鈴木 敦夫 (Atsuo Suzuki).

Name

LPI-Japan

Legal name

特定非営利活動法人エルピーアイジャケット

Website

https://lpi.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LPI-Japan is a Tokyo-based non-profit certification body that develops and administers Japanese-language open technology certifications (LinuC Linux, OSS-DB PostgreSQL, HTML5, OPCEL OpenStack, and Kubernetes) delivered via 220 Pearson Vue centers to IT professionals, Japanese enterprises, and academic institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Computer Training (61142), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud, DevOps & Software Engineering Certifications (EDAAANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC)

Keywords

• IT certification exams
• Linux professional certification
• Open source technology training
• Kubernetes certification Japan
• PostgreSQL certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Certification Examination Fees: Primary revenue stream from administering certification exams. Exam fees vary by certification level and type, with pricing ranging from 16,500 yen to 69,000 yen per exam. Exam delivery through Pearson Vue test centers and paper-based testing for group exams.
2. Group/Enterprise Exam Services: Revenue from paper-based testing (PBT) invigilation services for corporate training programs, with minimum 20 exams per session. Discounted exam voucher bundles for organizations purchasing 50+ tickets.
3. Training Materials and Resources: Revenue from certified textbooks, study guides, and training course partnerships. Partner publishers include major Japanese technical book publishers.
4. Kubernetes Certification and Training: Revenue from Japanese Kubernetes certification exams (CKA-JP, CKAD-JP, CKS-JP, KCNA-JP) and associated training courses developed by The Linux Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LPI-Japan develops, administers, and delivers Japanese-language professional certification exams for open technologies including Linux (LinuC), PostgreSQL (OSS-DB), HTML5/JavaScript/CSS3, OpenStack (OPCEL), and Kubernetes (CKA-JP/CKAD-JP/CKS-JP/KCNA-JP). The organization complements its exams with free Creative Commons-licensed Linux textbooks, sample problem archives, technical seminars, and a multi-tier partner ecosystem (platinum sponsors, business partners, academic certified schools) supporting both individual candidates and enterprise training programs across Japan.

Product overview

LPI-Japan operates a multi-product certification and learning platform centered on open technology skills. The portfolio includes five core certification exam products: LinuC (Linux administration, Levels 1-4), OSS-DB (PostgreSQL database), HTML5 Professional Certification (web technologies), OPCEL (OpenStack), and Kubernetes certification in partnership with The Linux Foundation. Supporting these exams, LPI-Japan offers complementary learning resources including free Standard Textbook Series downloads covering Linux fundamentals through security, the Linux Dojo column series for progressive learning, sample problems with explanations, technical seminars, and email newsletters. The company also maintains business partner and academic certification school programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LinuC: Linux technical certification exam system with multiple levels (Level 1 through Level 4 System Architect).
• OSS-DB
• HTML5プロフェッショナル認定試験
• OPCEL
• ACCEL
• Kubernetes認定試験 (CKA-JP/CKAD-JP/CKS-JP/KCNA-JP)

Products and services

• LinuC Certification Exams Linux technical certification exam series (Levels 1–4, including the Level 4 System Architect) testing Linux system operation and management skills. Exams are aligned to Japan's IT Skill Standards (ITSS) and are delivered via Pearson VUE test centers and paper-based testing for corporate groups.
• OSS-DB Certification Exams PostgreSQL database technical certification exams with Silver and Gold levels, validating database design, SQL proficiency, and database administration skills. Delivered at Pearson VUE test centers.
• HTML5 Professional Certification Exams JavaScript and CSS3 technical certification exams at Level 1 and Level 2 validating web development and HTML5 technology skills. Delivered at Pearson VUE test centers.
• OPCEL OpenStack Certification Exam OpenStack cloud platform technical certification exam validating cloud infrastructure skills. Delivered at Pearson VUE test centers.
• Kubernetes Certification Exams (CKA-JP/CKAD-JP/CKS-JP/KCNA-JP) Japanese-language Kubernetes certification exams administered in partnership with The Linux Foundation. CKA-JP, CKAD-JP, and CKS-JP are performance-based exams where candidates solve problems using the command line on Linux systems; KCNA-JP is multiple choice. Includes one free retake on CKA/CKAD/CKS exams.
• Linux Server Construction Standard Textbook - Ubuntu Edition Free downloadable textbook covering Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Linux server construction, aligned to LinuC Level 2 exam content, available in PDF and ePub under a Creative Commons license.
• ACCEL Certification Program Certification program offered in partnership with The Linux Foundation for cloud native technologies, providing learning resources, sample questions, and exam preparation materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• LPI-Japan certifications are included in the ITSS (IT Skill Standards) career framework map maintained by the Skill Standards Users Association.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core, platinum sponsor, key and standard.

• edForcestrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2024Strategic partnership between edForce and Linux Professional Institute (LPI) to enhance open source technology skills among the Indian IT workforce. Partnership offers DevOps Tools Engineers and BSD Specialists certifications with training and support included.
• The Linux FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPI-Japan is the first Authorized Certification Partner of The Linux Foundation. Sells and delivers Japanese-language Kubernetes certification exams (CKA-JP, CKAD-JP, CKS-JP, KCNA-JP) and The Linux Foundation training courses.
• Pearson VuecoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal test delivery partner operating approximately 220 test centers in Japan for CBT (Computer Based Testing) exam delivery of LinuC, OSS-DB, HTML5, OPCEL, and other certifications.
• Fujitsu Limitedplatinum sponsorOthersPlatinum sponsor supporting LPI-Japan's mission to develop and promote open technology certifications in Japan.
• NEC Corporationplatinum sponsorOthersPlatinum sponsor supporting LPI-Japan certification activities and open technology ecosystem development.
• Hitachi, Ltd.platinum sponsorOthersPlatinum sponsor supporting LPI-Japan certification programs and open technology workforce development.
• Ping-t Co., Ltd.platinum sponsorOthersPlatinum sponsor and online exam study platform partner offering LinuC and HTML5 exam preparation content.
• Academic Partner InstitutionskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational institutions committed to training students in open source software technologies and promoting certifications. Include major Japanese universities and technical schools.
• Business PartnersstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompanies and organizations共鸣 with LPI-Japan's mission to actively utilize open technology characteristics for employee growth. Access group exam pricing and corporate training integration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Red Hat (Red Hat Certification): Red Hat offers the leading commercial Linux certifications (RHCSA, RHCE, RHCA) that directly compete with LinuC in the same Linux system administration certification category. Both target IT professionals seeking recognized Linux credentials.
• Linux Professional Institute (LPI): LPI is the global parent organization that LPI-Japan represents in Japan. LPI develops and licenses the same Linux certification programs internationally, making it the most directly comparable peer in product portfolio and certification model.
• PostgreSQL Certification (EDB): EnterpriseDB offers PostgreSQL certification that competes directly with LPI-Japan's OSS-DB Silver and Gold exams for the same database administrator candidates and employer training budgets in Japan.

Broad incumbents

• AWS Certification: AWS certifications dominate cloud-related hiring decisions in Japan and globally, drawing candidates away from vendor-neutral alternatives like LPI-Japan's LinuC and OPCEL programs.
• The Linux Foundation: The Linux Foundation is LPI-Japan's core strategic partner for Kubernetes certifications and offers a broader portfolio of open-source training globally. Comparable as a certification authority for open technologies, but operates at much greater scale internationally.
• Microsoft Certifications: Microsoft's role-based certifications (Azure, Security, Data) compete in adjacent IT certification categories for the same enterprise training budgets and candidate mindshare in Japanese enterprises.
• CompTIA: CompTIA is the largest global vendor-neutral IT certification body (A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+). Their Linux+ certification competes for the same candidates as LinuC in foundational Linux skills.
• Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF): CNCF, a sub-foundation of The Linux Foundation, develops the Kubernetes certification exams (CKA, CKAD, CKS) that LPI-Japan localizes into Japanese. Direct product overlap in cloud-native certification category.

Emerging players

• edForce: edForce is LPI-Japan's 2024 strategic partner for India expansion. Both organizations operate in IT certification and training, with edForce bringing Indian market reach and LPI providing certification content.

Others

• Pearson VUE: Pearson VUE operates the ~220 test centers LPI-Japan uses for CBT delivery in Japan. While not a direct competitor, Pearson VUE's certification testing business serves the same IT certification ecosystem with broader global scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lpi_japan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LPIJapan
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E9%9D%9E%E5%96%B6%E5%88%A9%E6%B4%BB%E5%8B%A4%E6%B3%95%E4%BA%8BLPI-Japan/194472757272949
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lpi-japan

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 LPI-Japan