BONJOUR FRANCE JAPON

What BONJOUR FRANCE JAPON does

BONJOUR FRANCE JAPON (BFJ / École BFJ) is a privately-held French educational institution founded in 2017 and formally incorporated as a SARL in 2019 by Franco-Japanese couple Damien Riocreux and Asako. Headquartered in Montigny le Bretonneux, Île-de-France (approximately 30 minutes from central Paris), the school operates from a custom-designed Japanese-inspired campus featuring traditional decor, a 23 m² computer room with XP-PEN tablets and graphics workstations, individual and group classrooms, a manga library, and a kitchen. The team comprises only 5 employees — native Japanese language teachers and specialized art instructors.

The business operates a two-sided Franco-Japanese platform. On one side, BFJ teaches Japanese language to French speakers via private lessons (€55/hour), group classes (€828/year), and distance-learning options, with JLPT N5-N1 preparation. On the other, it teaches French as a Foreign Language to inbound Japanese students through short-term (3-week at €810) and long-term (full-year at €8,560) programs bundled with homestay, partner dormitory housing, and airport pickup services. The institution also runs a 3-5 year professional Bachelor/Master track in three specializations — Mangaka/Bédéiste, Concept Art & Illustration, and 2D Animation Film Design — with annual tuition of €7,900-€8,400, preceded by a one-year preparatory program. Recurring manga workshops (€50/session to €1,480/year) and corporate/private events serve additional mid-funnel demand.

The revenue model is dominated by recurring subscription-style tuition (annual/semester language and degree programs) supplemented by transactional workshop and accommodation fees. BFJ holds Qualiopi certification (2024, certificate QUA007664) and Datadock registration, enabling access to French public training funding via CPF, OPCO, and Pôle Emploi. Distribution combines direct on-campus enrollment, event-driven acquisition (Japan Expo, Salon de l'Étudiant, open houses, manga workshops), Japan-based partner school referrals for inbound Japanese students, and digital channels via bonjour-france-japon.com. Notable cultural partnerships include Fondation Ipsen, Fondation de France (2024 Paralympic manga project producing 10,000+ copies), Takoma Édition, and TV78.

Name

BONJOUR FRANCE JAPON

Legal name

Bonjour France Japon

Website

https://bonjour-france-japon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BONJOUR FRANCE JAPON is a small Franco-Japanese educational institution near Paris offering Japanese language courses, manga/art workshops, and 3-5 year Bachelor/Master programs in manga, concept art, and 2D animation, serving both French learners of Japanese and inbound Japanese students studying French.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language and Creative Arts Education

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Language Schools (61163), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Language Schools & Institutes (EDAMAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language Proficiency Exam Prep (CEFR, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, PTE) (EDANACAD), Language Immersion Programs & Camps (Local/Seasonal) (EDAMAFAL), Foreign Language Subject Tutoring (School Coursework) (EDANAAAF)

Keywords

• Japanese language education
• Manga art training
• 2D animation courses
• French language programs
• Study abroad programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montigny le Bretonneux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Japanese Language Courses: Individual and group Japanese language lessons for French speakers, with private lessons at 55€/hour, monthly packages (275€-550€), and semester/yearly subscriptions. Preparation for JLPT N5 to N1 certification.
2. Bachelor & Master Programs: Professional training programs in manga/comics, concept art/illustration, and 2D animation film design. Tuition ranges from 7,900€ for preparatory year to 8,400€ per year for specialization and master years.
3. Manga Workshops: Weekly Saturday courses (720€-1,480€ per semester/year), monthly 5-hour Sunday workshops (50€/person), weekly courses, and one-week school holiday intensive courses (300€/week manga, 400€/week concept art on Photoshop).
4. French Language Programs for Japanese Students: French language study abroad programs for Japanese students: long-term (6 months to 1 year) at 4,830€-8,560€ and short-term (3 weeks to 3 months) at 810€-2,950€. Airport pickup service available at 350€.
5. Homestay Accommodation Services: Homestay services for Japanese students including placement with French families, breakfast and dinner included. Fees include 200€ agency fee plus weekly rates (420€-1,700€ depending on duration).
6. Student Housing Partnerships: Partnership housing for students at partner dormitories near the school, including Student Village Guyancourt (5 minutes from school) and Le Galibier (20 minutes, starting at 359€/month).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BONJOUR FRANCE JAPON (Ecole BFJ) is a Franco-Japanese educational academy offering Japanese language courses (private, group, and online) and French language programs for Japanese students, alongside a 3-5 year professional Bachelor/Master track in manga, concept art/illustration, and 2D animation film design. The school also runs weekly, monthly, and school-holiday manga drawing workshops and arranges student housing (homestay and partner dormitories). Classes are taught by native Japanese instructors and professional artists in small groups (6-10 students), with Qualiopi certification enabling French public training funding access.

Product overview

BONJOUR FRANCE JAPON (BFJ) is an educational institution offering two main pillars of services: (1) a French-language school for Japanese nationals, providing intensive French as a Foreign Language programs for short-term (3 weeks to 3 months) and long-term (6 months to 1 year) study abroad stays, with optional student housing through partner dormitories and homestays; and (2) a professional art and Japanese language academy for French speakers offering a 3–5 year Bachelor and Master degree track in three specializations — Mangaka/Bédéiste, Concept Art & Illustration, and 2D Animation Film Designer — preceded by a one-year preparatory program in traditional drawing. The school also provides recurring and intensive manga drawing workshops (weekly classes, monthly 5-hour sessions, and week-long holiday camps), Japanese language instruction (private, group, and distance learning), JLPT exam preparation, and corporate/private event hosting. All programs can be financed through public funding mechanisms (CPF, OPCO, Pôle Emploi). The institution holds Qualiopi certification for training quality and partners with dormitories, publishers (Takoma Édition), media (TV78), and foundations (Fondation Ipsen) to support student outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bonjour Voyage Japon: Travel assistance and advisory service for trips to Japan, operated at bonjour-voyages-japon.fr.

Products and services

• Formation Bachelor & Master - Mangaka/Bédéiste Three-to-five-year professional degree program specializing in manga and comic book creation, covering drawing techniques, storytelling, storyboarding, inking, and both Western and Japanese comic styles. Targeted at aspiring comic artists and manga creators.
• Formation Bachelor & Master - Concept Art & Illustration Three-to-five-year professional degree program focused on concept art and illustration for entertainment industries, covering character design, environment design, creature design, and digital art tools such as Photoshop. Targeted at aspiring concept artists and illustrators.
• Formation Bachelor & Master - Concepteur de Films d'Animation 2D Three-to-five-year professional degree program in 2D animation film design, covering traditional and digital animation production, screenwriting, character and environment design, and post-production. Targeted at aspiring 2D animation professionals.
• Année Préparatoire en Dessin Traditionnel One-year foundational program in traditional drawing covering observation drawing, anatomy, perspective, composition, shading, color theory, and art history, designed to prepare students for Bachelor-level specializations. Targeted at prospective Bachelor students.
• Cours Particuliers de Langue Japonaise One-on-one Japanese language instruction with native-speaking teachers, offering personalized lesson plans, JLPT exam preparation, and flexible scheduling for all proficiency levels. Targeted at individuals seeking personalized Japanese language instruction.
• Cours Collectifs de Langue Japonaise Group Japanese language classes for beginners through advanced students, offered as semester or annual subscriptions, with structured curriculum and JLPT preparation integrated into the program. Targeted at adult learners preferring group-based instruction.
• Cours en Distanciel (Visioconférence) de Langue Japonaise Live online Japanese language courses delivered via video conferencing, providing personalized learning with flexible scheduling for remote students. Targeted at geographically dispersed or remote learners.
• Cours Hebdomadaire de Manga Weekly recurring manga drawing classes covering character construction, environment integration, inking and screentone techniques, and manga page layout, taught on Saturdays in small groups of 6-10 students. Targeted at hobbyists and amateur artists.
• Atelier Mensuel de 5 Heures (Manga) Monthly five-hour intensive manga workshop on Sundays covering storyboard creation and character construction, with one instructor per ten students, priced at €50 per person. Targeted at casual learners and hobbyists.
• Stage d'1 Semaine (Vacances Scolaires) One-week intensive manga drawing camp during school holidays (Toussaint, winter, Easter, summer), held Monday to Friday from 13:30 to 16:30, with options for manga drawing (€300/week) or concept art on Photoshop (€400/week). Targeted at students during school breaks.
• Événements Privés et CE (Comités d'Entreprise) Private event hosting for up to 60 participants (age 6+), featuring manga drawing workshops and origami folding, available on Sundays and during school holidays, with optional catering and beverages. Targeted at corporate clients and employer committees (CE).
• Préparation au JLPT Dedicated exam preparation course for all JLPT levels (N5 to N1), covering vocabulary, grammar, kanji, reading comprehension, and listening skills. Targeted at students seeking internationally recognized Japanese language certification.
• Programmes de Français pour Étudiants Japonais French language study abroad programs for Japanese students: long-term (6 months to 1 year) at €4,830-€8,560 and short-term (3 weeks to 3 months) at €810-€2,950. Includes airport pickup service at €350. Targeted at Japanese students seeking French language immersion in France.
• Services d'Hébergement (Homestay et Résidences Étudiantes) Student accommodation services including homestay placement with French families (€200 agency fee plus weekly rates of €420-€1,700) and partner dormitories (Student Village Guyancourt, Le Galibier starting at €359/month). Targeted at Japanese students enrolled in French language programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students receive certification through LILATE partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 core, major and minor.

• Fondation IpsencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration for Paralympic manga storytelling project. Students created 10-page manga stories about Paralympic athletes for Paris 2024, published in over 10,000 copies. Each student was paired with an athlete to document their inspirational life stories.
• Fondation de FrancemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaborative partner in 2023/2024 student manga project alongside IPSEN Foundation. Students created Paralympic athlete stories for awareness and publication.
• Student Village Guyancourt ResidenceminorOthers · 1 January 2022New student dormitory (opened April 2022), 5 minutes from school. Studios from 8-40.8m² with all utilities included. Includes concierge, fitness room, shared kitchen, futsal court, indoor garden and terrace.
• Japanese Language Schools in Japan (Tokyo, Nagano, Kyoto, Osaka)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Partnerships with multiple Japanese language schools and campuses in Tokyo, Nagano, Kyoto, and Osaka to provide study abroad opportunities for French language students in Japan.
• Japan ExpomajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Annual participation in France's largest Japan-themed event since 2019 for school promotion and brand visibility.
• Takoma ÉditionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench publishing house specializing in Francophone manga authors. Provides publication pathway for student works and connects school with the professional manga publishing industry.
• TV78minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal TV channel of Yvelines. Partner for animation film project 'L'Orphelin Revert - La course pour la vie'. Provides studio sound facilities for production and serves as broadcast/diffusion partner.
• Studefi Le Galibier ResidenceminorOthersStudent dormitory partnership. Studios starting at 359€/month, 20 minutes from school by foot or 10 minutes by bus. Includes coin laundry, cafeteria, and disability access.
• Salon de l'ÉtudiantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual participation in student fair at Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to promote school programs and recruit new students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• École Émile Cohl: French private art school in Lyon specialising in illustration, comics, manga, and animation. Directly comparable to BFJ's Mangaka/Bédéiste and 2D Animation programs and is the closest French peer for professional manga training.
• Gobelins, l'école de l'image: Premier French school for animation, illustration, and concept art (Paris). Comparable to BFJ's 2D Animation and Concept Art/Illustration specialisations, with much larger scale and broader recognition.
• Penninghen: Paris-based private art and design school offering professional tracks in illustration, graphic design, and art direction. Comparable to BFJ's Bachelor/Master art programs in concept art and visual storytelling.

Broad incumbents

• INALCO: French public institution (Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales) offering degree-level Japanese language and civilisation programs. Comparable to BFJ's Japanese language teaching as a large public incumbent.
• Alliance Française: Global network teaching French as a foreign language with established partnerships across Japan. Comparable to BFJ's study-abroad French programs as a broad incumbent with global scale.
• Institut français du Japon / Fondation du Japon: Bilateral Franco-Japanese cultural institution providing French-language and cultural programs for Japanese learners. Comparable to BFJ's inbound French-as-a-foreign-language programs on the institutional side.

Others

• Japan Foundation (Kansai / Paris office): Japanese public organisation supporting Japanese-language education and cultural exchange worldwide. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler that funds and routes students into programs like BFJ's.
• Takoma Édition: French publishing house focused on Francophone manga authors. Already a BFJ partner for student publication pathways; comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant validating the Francophone manga training value chain.

Emerging players

• Émile Cohl Campus Montpellier (ESMA): Group of French art and 3D animation schools expanding manga and concept-art tracks. Comparable for BFJ's Bachelor/Master art programs as an emerging player broadening into BFJ's niches.
• Coto Japanese Academy: Japan-based Japanese language school with growing online and in-person offerings. Comparable to BFJ on the Japanese-language-instruction side, particularly the distance-learning track.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bonjour-france-japon

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 BONJOUR FRANCE JAPON