公益社団法人 会社役員育成機構 The Board Director Training Institute of Japan ( BDTI )

What 公益社団法人 会社役員育成機構 The Board Director Training Institute of Japan ( BDTI ) does

BDTI (公益社団法人 会社役員育成機構 / The Board Director Training Institute of Japan) is a Tokyo-based public interest incorporated association established on November 18, 2009, that delivers corporate governance training to directors, corporate auditors, and executive officers of Japanese listed companies. Its founder Nicholas Benes proposed Japan's Corporate Governance Code to the Financial Services Agency in 2013, and BDTI's curriculum is explicitly aligned with CGC Principle 4-14 (Director/Auditor Training).

The organization's core product portfolio comprises five open training programs — Governance School (ガバナンス塾), Finance School (ファイナンス塾, six-session), Advanced Director School (社外取塾), Role Play Course (ケース・ロールプレイ), and the English-language Director Boot Camp — complemented by a four-course e-learning program (~9 hours) covering Company Law, Securities Law, Corporate Governance Basics, and Corporate Governance in Practice. The e-learning platform is delivered via third-party provider MBK Wellness (Business Masters). BDTI also offers customized in-company training, the Director Bank matching platform for outside-director candidates, and a tiered Corporate Membership system.

Revenue is generated through course fees (¥95,000–¥210,000 per program), e-learning subscriptions (¥22,000 bundle), annual corporate memberships (¥100,000 General / ¥500,000 Special), customized training engagements, and tax-deductible donations from individuals, institutional investors (Franklin Templeton, Oasis Management), and corporate members. Distribution combines direct website registration, enterprise field sales for memberships and custom programs, monthly in-person training events in Tokyo, a virtual English-language session, and earned media in Nikkei, Nikkei Business, Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. As of the latest disclosed figures, BDTI has trained 4,500+ directors, accumulated 17,000+ e-learning participants, and counts 70+ enterprise client companies across automotive, electronics, finance, insurance, healthcare, and consumer sectors.

Name

公益社団法人 会社役員育成機構 The Board Director Training Institute of Japan ( BDTI )

Legal name

公益社団法人会社役員育成機構 (The Board Director Training Institute of Japan)

Website

https://bdti.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BDTI is a Tokyo-based non-profit public interest association that delivers Corporate Governance Code-aligned training — open programs, e-learning, custom corporate courses, and a Director Bank matching platform — to directors, auditors, and executive officers of Japanese companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Governance Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Accounting & Reporting (GAAP/IFRS) (EDABAJAB)

Keywords

• Corporate governance training
• Director education programs
• Board effectiveness training
• Executive education services
• Corporate compliance training

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: Annual membership fees: General Corporate Members at ¥100,000/year and Special Corporate Members at ¥500,000/year. Members receive 30-50% discounts on training courses and e-learning, plus access to Director Bank (Special members only).
2. Open Training Programs: One-day intensive courses: Governance School (¥95,000), Outside Director School (¥95,000), Case Role Play (price varies), Finance School 6-session course (¥210,000). Corporate members receive 30% discount.
3. E-Learning Subscriptions: 4-course bundle at ¥22,000 for general users, ¥15,400 for corporate members, ¥11,000 for special corporate members. Bulk discounts for 11+ participants. Administrator ID at ¥55,000.
4. English Director Boot Camp: One-day English-language virtual session at ¥95,000 general / ¥66,500 corporate member rate.
5. Custom Corporate Training: Customized training programs designed for individual company needs, priced based on requirements. Initial consultation for governance trend analysis: ¥200,000 for first hour.
6. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting corporate governance improvement. Special donors (¥300,000+ per instance) and recurring donors (average ¥300,000+/year) recognized on website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BDTI is a public interest incorporated association that delivers corporate governance and directorship training programs for directors, corporate auditors, and executive officers of Japanese companies. Its offerings include open classroom courses (Governance School, Finance School, Advanced Director School, Case/Roll-Play), an English-language Director Boot Camp, an e-learning platform covering Company Law and Securities Law, customized in-company training, and the Director Bank matching platform that connects trained directors with companies seeking board candidates.

Product overview

BDTI offers a comprehensive portfolio of corporate governance education programs for directors, auditors, and executive officers. The core offerings consist of five open training programs: ガバナンス塾 (Governance School, basic one-day foundation), ファイナンス塾 (Finance School, six-session intermediate), 社外取塾 (Advanced Director School, intermediate), ケース・ロールプレイ (Role Play Course, expert-level), and Director Boot Camp (English-language intensive). These are complemented by the e-learning 「取締役入門」(Essentials of Directorship) — a four-course online program covering Company Law, Securities Law, and Corporate Governance totaling ~9 hours. BDTI also provides customized corporate in-house training, a Director Bank matching platform for trained candidates, and a corporate membership system with tiered discounts. The products are designed as progressive learning paths from foundational to expert levels, with membership providing cost benefits and priority access to the Director Bank.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Governance School (ガバナンス塾) Open classroom training program for directors, corporate auditors, and executive officers covering the Corporate Governance Code, board oversight, and practical governance case studies. Target audience: existing and aspiring corporate directors.
• Finance School (ファイナンス塾) Classroom training program for directors and officers on capital costs, investment management, financial literacy, and the board's role in financial oversight. Target audience: directors lacking finance backgrounds.
• Advanced Director School (社外取塾) Advanced-level training program for outside directors focusing on compliance, fraud detection, and strategic board leadership. Target audience: outside/independent directors and high-performing executives.
• Case / Roll-Play Course (ケース・ロールプレイ) Interactive case-based role-play course where participants simulate real-world board challenges (e.g., M&A, fraud, hostile takeovers). Target audience: directors seeking to practice decision-making in realistic scenarios.
• Director Boot Camp (English) Specialized English-language intensive training program aimed at non-Japanese professionals and global executives seeking Japan board appointments. Target audience: international directors-in-training and foreign executives.
• E-learning "Essentials of Directorship" Online e-learning platform offering 4 courses covering Japanese Company Law and Securities Law, accessible 24/7 via PC, smartphone, or tablet. Distributed through businessmasters (MBK Wellness). Target audience: directors needing flexible on-demand learning.
• Customized Corporate Training (in-company training) Tailored training programs delivered on-site at client companies, customized to address specific board-level educational needs. Target audience: corporate members and large companies seeking private training for their boards.
• Director Bank (役員バンク) Matching platform connecting BDTI's trained alumni of directors with companies seeking qualified board candidates. Target audience: trained directors seeking board appointments and companies seeking director talent.
• Corporate Membership Program Annual subscription program with two tiers: General Corporate Members (¥100,000/year) and Special Corporate Members (¥500,000/year). Benefits include course discounts, priority access, and e-learning extensions for 11+ participants. Target audience: companies seeking year-round access to all BDTI programs.

Named customers10 records

Segments5 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sachiko Ichikawa (Tanabe & Partners)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2014Board member and partner at Tanabe & Partners law firm. Expert in securities law and ESG disclosure. Serves as outside director at Tokyo Electron, Olympus, Azbil.
• Nicholas BenescoreOthers · 18 November 2009Founder and Director who proposed Japan's Corporate Governance Code in 2013. Provides strategic direction and serves as primary instructor for Director Boot Camp and governance programs.
• Kenichi OsugicoreOthers · 18 November 2009Representative Director and Professor at Chuo University Law School. Teaches Company Law, Securities Law, and Corporate Governance in e-learning and open programs.
• Advantest CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecial corporate member. Nicholas Benes serves as independent director. Companies receive training discounts and access to BDTI network.
• MBK Wellness / Cycom BrainscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides training venue space (Akihabara Dai Building) and administrative support including e-learning platform management (Business Masters).
• Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperating organization supporting corporate governance improvement in Asia. Joint advocacy for governance reform.
• CFA Society Japan (Japanese CFA Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperating organization of finance professionals. Joint promotion of governance education and best practices.
• American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperating organization supporting international business and governance standards. Nicholas Benes served as Governor and chaired FDI Committee.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Board Practice that places outside directors and advises on board effectiveness. Comparable because it addresses the same end-customer need (qualified independent directors and governance advisory) but at a much broader scale and with a placement-led business model.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a Board of Directors Practice advising on director recruitment, onboarding, and effectiveness. Comparable to BDTI because it serves the same director-search and governance-training customer need, though operating at multinational scale and as a commercial enterprise rather than a non-profit.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a Board & CEO Services practice focused on director placement, succession, and board effectiveness. Comparable to BDTI in serving corporate governance and director development needs, but as a large commercial consultancy serving global markets.
• INSEAD Corporate Governance Centre: Top global business school's governance research and executive education unit offering board director programs. Comparable to BDTI for executive-level governance education targeting directors and senior executives, though delivered by an academic institution with broader executive education portfolio.
• Deloitte (Boardroom Services): Global professional services firm offering corporate governance advisory and board effectiveness services through its Boardroom practice. Comparable to BDTI as a governance advisory provider for large corporates, but as a much larger commercial consulting firm with multi-disciplinary offerings.

Direct peers

• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): US-based not-for-profit membership association providing director education, certification (NACD Directorship Certification), and board resources. Directly comparable as a membership-based director training organization with similar mission, structure, and curriculum focus on governance best practices.
• International Directors Programme (INSEAD): INSEAD's flagship multi-day program for experienced board members covering strategy, finance, and governance. Directly comparable to BDTI's Advanced Director School and Case Role Play courses in targeting existing directors seeking higher-level governance education, though delivered by a global business school.

Others

• Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA): Hong Kong-based not-for-profit association promoting corporate governance across Asia, with which BDTI has a cooperating-organization partnership. Comparable thematically as an Asia-focused governance advocacy organization serving institutional investors and corporates, but with research/advocacy focus rather than training.
• CFA Institute (Japan): Global investment professionals' organization with a Japan society (CFA Society Japan) that partners with BDTI. Comparable as a finance and ethics training provider for finance professionals and corporate directors, with similar curriculum overlap on ethics, governance, and financial statement literacy.

Regional players

• Tokyo Stock Exchange (JPX) - Corporate Governance Programs: Japan Exchange Group's market and listing-related governance initiatives including Corporate Governance Code dissemination. Comparable to BDTI as a driver of director training demand in Japan, though primarily a regulator/exchange rather than a training provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 公益社団法人 会社役員育成機構 The Board Director Training Institute of Japan ( BDTI )