（株）アスク出版
ASK Publishing Co., Ltd. (株式会社アスク出版) is a privately held Japanese educational publisher founded in 1979 that produces and sells language-learning and caregiving textbooks across six languages, with emphasis on JLPT, Eiken, and caregiving Japanese for foreign workers, distributed domestically through Amazon Japan and Rakuten Books.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What （株）アスク出版 does
ASK Publishing Co., Ltd. (株式会社アスク出版) is a privately held Japanese educational publisher founded in 1979 and headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company produces and sells language-learning and caregiving textbooks across Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and select other languages, with a particular focus on test preparation for the JLPT (N5–N1), Eiken, and BJT examinations, as well as caregiving Japanese for foreign workers pursuing Specified Skilled Worker status. Its catalog exceeds 493 titles and includes flagship series such as NIHONGO FUN & EASY, つなぐにほんご, TRY! Nihongo Noryoku Shiken, the 「図解」でわかる！はじめての英検 series, and the 外国人のためのやさしい介護 line.
The firm's product surface combines physical books with integrated audio (delivered through Apple Podcast, Spotify, abceed, and mikan) and supplementary video content. Its go-to-market is purely domestic in terms of distribution: books are sold through Amazon Japan and Rakuten Books and physical bookstore partners, while a separate corporate training division delivers language and business training programs directly to enterprises and educational institutions on a reservation-and-prepayment basis. The company operates without disclosed institutional investment, subsidiaries, or parent-company relationships, and is led by Representative Director Hiroshi Amatani (天谷修身). It has 9 employees and shows no proprietary AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or technology platforms beyond standard publishing workflows.
Revenue is not publicly disclosed; pricing data indicates books retail in the ¥1,408–¥2,750 range under a one-time/perpetual-license model, and corporate training is sold as professional services on a quote basis. The primary customer segments are individual language learners (JLPT/Eiken test takers, students), foreign healthcare and caregiving workers, and corporate/institutional training buyers.
（株）アスク出版 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- （株）アスク出版
- Legal name
- 株式会社アスク出版 (ASK Publishing Co., Ltd.)
- Website
- https://ask-books.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ASK Publishing Co., Ltd. (株式会社アスク出版) is a privately held Japanese educational publisher founded in 1979 that produces and sells language-learning and caregiving textbooks across six languages, with emphasis on JLPT, Eiken, and caregiving Japanese for foreign workers, distributed domestically through Amazon Japan and Rakuten Books.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
（株）アスク出版 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro industry
- Interdisciplinary/General Education & Study SkillsChildren’s Activity & Workbook PublishingMedia, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Children’s Publishing (Picture Books, Middle Grade, YA)
Keywords
Where （株）アスク出版 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
（株）アスク出版 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Publishing and selling language learning books (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese) and care/healthcare textbooks through e-commerce platforms. Does not conduct direct mail-order sales.
- Training Programs: Provides training programs for corporations and organizations. Training fees charged with payment required 3 business days before the program start date.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Eiken Test Preparation Books |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Casual Japanese Conversation Book |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Tsunagu Nihongo Textbook Series |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
（株）アスク出版 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ASK Publishing produces and sells language learning and caregiving textbooks across multiple languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese), supplemented by audio and video learning materials. The company also delivers corporate language and business training programs. Books are distributed through Amazon Japan, Rakuten Books, and physical bookstores, while training programs are sold directly to corporations and organizations.
Product overview
（株）アスク出版 (ASK Publishing Co., Ltd.) is a Japanese publishing company specializing in language learning and caregiving materials. The company operates a multi-product portfolio consisting of: (1) Book Production and Sales services for creating and distributing textbooks; (2) Audio Materials with streaming via Apple Podcast, Spotify, abceed, and mikan platforms; (3) Video Production for educational content; (4) Overseas Business for international distribution; and (5) Language & Business Training programs. The core product lines include the NIHONGO FUN & EASY series for beginner conversation, the comprehensive つなぐにほんご series covering CEFR A1-C2 levels (Beginner through Advanced), the TRY! 日本語能力試験 series for JLPT N5-N1 preparation in multiple language editions, the 「図解」でわかる！はじめての英検 series and 英検ライティング大特訓 series for Eiken test preparation, the 外国人のためのやさしい介護 series for caregiving Japanese, and 家庭教育の書籍 for caregiving topics. Books are available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other languages, with sales through Amazon and Rakuten Books.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NIHONGO FUN & EASY Series Zero-beginner level Japanese conversation textbooks available in multiple editions including the 2nd Edition, with romaji support and English translations. Designed for absolute beginners learning Japanese conversation.
- つなぐにほんご (Tsunagu Nihongo) Series
Companies that use （株）アスク出版
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
（株）アスク出版 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
（株）アスク出版 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
（株）アスク出版 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Obunsha (旺文社): Major Japanese educational publisher covering K–12, test prep (Eiken, Kanji Kentei), and reference works. Competes with ASK in Eiken preparation but operates at much larger scale across broader K–12 and reference segments.
- Taishukan (大修館書店): Established Japanese-language reference and textbook publisher known for dictionaries and grammar guides used in university Japanese programs, comparable to ASK in serving advanced Japanese learners and instructors.
- Natsume Publishing (ナツメ社): Japanese publisher of practical reference and study-guide books including Kanji and language test prep. Overlaps with ASK in study-skill and test-prep paperbacks for adult learners.
- Chuohoki Publishing (中央法規出版): Leading Japanese publisher of caregiving, welfare, and healthcare professional materials. Competes with ASK's caregiving/nursing line but at a larger scale across institutional care and welfare agencies.
Direct peers
- Kinseido (金星堂): Long-established Japanese-language textbook publisher focused on university and language school curricula, directly comparable to ASK's CEFR-aligned つなぐにほんご and TRY! series.
- Bonjinsha (凡人社): Japanese publisher of the Genki and Try! series (note: distinct from ASK's TRY! brand), competing directly with ASK in JLPT preparation and university-adopted beginner Japanese textbooks.
- ALC Press (アルク): Established Japanese language-learning publisher with dictionaries, textbooks, and digital learning tools (including abceed). Competes with ASK across Japanese language learning and increasingly in the digital audio/app distribution layer.
- 3A Corporation (スリーエーネットワーク): Publisher of Minna no Nihongo, the dominant Japanese-language textbook series used by language schools worldwide. Direct competitor to ASK's TRY! and つなぐにほんご series in the institutional Japanese-language teaching market.
- The Japan Times Publishing: Publisher of English-language and Japanese-language educational materials aligned with the Japan Times media brand, including news-based learning materials that overlap ASK's English test prep and content marketing approach.
Regional players
- Cambridge University Press Japan: Global academic publisher with English-language learning materials distributed in Japan; overlaps with ASK's Eiken and English test prep segment but operates as a regional arm of an international house.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
（株）アスク出版 social profiles
Digital presence（株）アスク出版 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
（株）アスク出版 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
（株）アスク出版 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
（株）アスク出版 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about （株）アスク出版
What does （株）アスク出版 do?
ASK Publishing produces and sells language learning and caregiving textbooks across multiple languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese), supplemented by audio and video learning materials. The company also delivers corporate language and business training programs. Books are distributed through Amazon Japan, Rakuten Books, and physical bookstores, while training programs are sold directly to corporations and organizations.
Is （株）アスク出版 a public or private company?
（株）アスク出版 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was （株）アスク出版 founded?
（株）アスク出版 was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is （株）アスク出版 based?
（株）アスク出版 is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does （株）アスク出版 make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are training Programs.
Who are （株）アスク出版's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Obunsha (旺文社), Taishukan (大修館書店), Natsume Publishing (ナツメ社) and Chuohoki Publishing (中央法規出版). Direct peers are Kinseido (金星堂), Bonjinsha (凡人社), ALC Press (アルク), 3A Corporation (スリーエーネットワーク) and The Japan Times Publishing. Cambridge University Press Japan is listed as a regional player.
Does （株）アスク出版 have an API?
No public API is recorded for （株）アスク出版.
What industry is （株）アスク出版 in?
（株）アスク出版's product category is Educational Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGABAN, Interdisciplinary/General Education & Study Skills, with a secondary code of MPAJAFAG, Children’s Activity & Workbook Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.