ELAB

What ELAB does

一般社団法人ELAB is a Tokyo-based non-profit (General Incorporated Association under Japanese law) founded in 2011 as the social-mission arm of White Ship, Inc., an art management company founded in 2001 by artist Kunihiko Yazawa and art producer Kimi Hasebe. ELAB designs, delivers, and disseminates the EGAKU® art-based creative learning methodology — an experiential method structured around cycles of dialogue, discovery, and expression through seeing and making art, grounded in cognitive science, adult development theory, and systems thinking. The methodology is codified, trademarked (registration 5909554, held by White Ship), and scheduled for full publication as a book by Nakanishiya Publishing in January 2026.

ELAB serves Japanese educational institutions and educators across four program lines: a flagship secondary-school program (EGAKU the Future Program / 未来を描くプログラム) targeting middle and high school students; a university and graduate program for entrepreneurship and creative development; a teacher professional development program (Creative Communication Skills Development Course); and an elementary school program. As of April 2025, EGAKU has reached 28,219+ cumulative participants across 1,500+ sessions in 200+ organizations, with named customers including the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Waseda University Business School, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Fukushima Prefecture Aoi High School, and MEXT's Tobitate! Study Abroad Initiative.

The business model is a hybrid of subsidized program fees and philanthropic grants. Standard fees are 26,400 yen per participant; educational and youth participants pay a subsidized 6,600 yen for materials only, with the remainder covered by grants from the Mitsubishi Memorial Foundation for Educational Excellence, SOIL Foundation, and Suntory Kimi Wa Michisu Fund. Programs are delivered on-site by ELAB staff directly to schools, universities, and teacher cohorts, with additional open-enrollment sessions delivered through parent White Ship. With a six-person team, operations remain lean and geographically concentrated in Japan's Kanto region, with no disclosed international expansion or revenue figures.

Name

ELAB

Legal name

ELAB (General Incorporate Association)

Website

https://elab.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

一般社団法人ELAB is a Tokyo-based non-profit that delivers the EGAKU® art-based creative learning methodology to Japanese middle schools, high schools, universities, and teachers, funded by program fees and grants from foundations including Mitsubishi Memorial Foundation for Educational Excellence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art-based Creative Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Curriculum Design & Scope/Sequence (School-Led) (EDAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Art-based learning
• Creative education programs
• Experiential learning methods
• Teacher professional development
• Youth creative development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from EGAKU program delivery, with subsidized rates for educational institutions and teachers using grants and donations. Regular program fees are 26,400 yen, with education-supported rates at 6,600 yen for materials only.
2. Donations and Grants: Funding from foundations including Mitsubishi Memorial Foundation for Educational Excellence, SOIL Foundation, and Suntory Kimi Wa Michisu Fund to support program delivery to public schools and underserved youth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ELAB designs and delivers EGAKU® art-based creative learning programs to educational institutions (middle schools, high schools, universities) and teachers across Japan. Programs are experiential art workshops built on a cycle of dialogue, discovery, and expression through seeing and making art, adapted for elementary students, secondary students (EGAKU the Future Program), university students, and teachers. The organization also runs a youth-under-25 sponsorship program and a practitioner community, with materials and instructor delivery provided on-site or via open sessions through parent company White Ship.

Product overview

ELAB operates as an educational organization offering a unified portfolio centered on the EGAKU® art-based creative learning method. The core product is EGAKU, an experiential program that develops creative thinking and communication skills through dialogue, discovery, and expression cycles. This core methodology is adapted into specialized programs: 未来を描くプログラム (EGAKU the Future Program) for secondary school students, 大学・大学院向けプログラム for universities, 教員向けプログラム for teachers, and 小学生向けプログラム for elementary students. Supplementary offerings include EGAKU継続受講 (continuing courses for practitioners), EGAKUプラクティショナー・コミュニティ (practitioner community), and the EGAKU Support Program for Youth Under 25. As of April 2025, EGAKU has reached 28,219 cumulative participants across 1,500+ sessions, with implementations in 200+ organizations including 220+ companies. ELAB is a non-profit entity established in 2011 as the social activity arm of parent company White Ship, Inc.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EGAKU: Art-based creative learning methodology developed by artist Kunihiko Yazawa for developing creative thinking and creative communication skills
• EGAKU the Future Program (未来を描くプログラム)
• EGAKU Support Program

Products and services

• EGAKU the Future Program (未来を描くプログラム) Flaghship creative development program for secondary school students (middle and high school) that nurtures 5 core competencies: individual autonomy, communication ability, ability to enjoy diversity, holistic observation ability, and ability to engage with questions without single right answers. Targets secondary school students aged 12-18 seeking to develop self-awareness and creative confidence.
• Creative Development Program for Universities (大学・大学院向けプログラム) Entrepreneurship and creative thinking development program for university and graduate students, focusing on 6 core skills connecting intrinsic motivation with social impact and empowering the next generation to co-create the future. Implemented at University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Waseda University Business School, and Tokyo Institute of Technology.
• Professional Development Program for Teachers (教員向けプログラム) Professional development program helping teachers develop creative thinking and creative communication skills through art-based learning, incorporating self-directed, dialogue-based deep learning approaches. Develops 5 key capacities: expression, observation, empathy, dialogue, and self-awareness. Awarded the Mitsubishi Mirai Ikusei Foundation Award in 2023.
• Elementary School Program (小学生向けプログラム) Art-based learning program for elementary school students introducing the EGAKU methodology at the foundational level, applied in subjects such as art and moral education.
• EGAKU Continuing Course (EGAKU継続受講) 3-session support course for teachers and education professionals to deepen creative learning through hands-on experience. Priced at 6,600 yen for materials (normally 26,400 yen) with grant support available, and includes access to the EGAKU Practitioner Community study sessions.
• EGAKU Support Program for Students & Youth Under 25 Sponsored program providing free access to 3 EGAKU Open Sessions for students and youth under 25 years old. ELAB sponsors the program fee worth 26,400 yen; participants purchase an EGAKU Art Kit for 6,600 yen. Delivered through White Ship open enrollment sessions.
• EGAKU Book (次世代が「自分を生きる」ためのアートの実践 EGAKU) Comprehensive published book documenting the EGAKU methodology, including 6 chapters covering what EGAKU is, practical case studies from schools, teacher training applications, and philosophical foundations. Published by Nakanishiya Publishing, scheduled for January 31, 2026 release.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 28,000 participants have completed EGAKU programs across all demographics
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• White Ship, Inc. (株式会社ホワイトシップ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and strategic partner founded in 2001 by Kunihiko Yazawa and Kimi Hasebe. White Ship runs open EGAKU sessions for individuals and corporations, holds the EGAKU trademark, and collaborates with ELAB on program delivery. ELAB was originally the nonprofit arm of White Ship before becoming independent.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Teach For Japan: Japanese NPO recruiting and developing teachers to address educational inequity — directly comparable mission of teacher training/development, similar nonprofit funding model, and engagement with major Japanese foundations.
• 特定非営利活動法人アートNPOリンク (Art NPO Link): Japanese NPO intermediary supporting arts organizations across Japan. Adjacent as a nonprofit working to strengthen arts-based programming and creative education delivery in Japanese communities.
• 特定非営利活動法人ETIC (NPO ETIC): Japanese NPO supporting youth social entrepreneurs and innovation, delivering programs in universities and through corporate partnerships. Highly comparable as a Japan-based youth-development nonprofit working with MEXT and major universities.
• NPO法人CANVAS (NPO CANVAS): Japanese non-profit providing creative/digital workshop programs to children and youth — closely comparable target audience (Japanese youth), mission (creative empowerment), and nonprofit delivery model. Both rely on partnerships with schools and foundations.
• NPO法人フローレンス (NPO Florence): Major Japanese NPO providing childcare and educational support services at national scale. Comparable as a sizable Japanese education-focused nonprofit combining service delivery, donor funding, and corporate partnerships.
• NPO法人Kidsdoor: Japanese NPO delivering educational support programs to underprivileged children through schools and community partners. Comparable nonprofit operating model, school-channel distribution, and reliance on corporate/foundation funding.
• NPO法人Learning for All: Japanese NPO providing educational support programs to children from low-income families, including creative learning components. Similar nonprofit structure, school-based delivery model, and foundation grant dependency.

Broad incumbents

• ベネッセホールディングス (Benesse Holdings): Largest Japanese private-sector education company, with corporate social responsibility programs addressing 21st-century skills and creative learning. Broader incumbent offering overlapping educational content and CSR-funded programs to Japanese schools.
• 株式会社グロービス (GLOBIS Corporation): Major Japanese business education provider offering management/leadership training to professionals and universities. Broad incumbent overlap with ELAB's university and teacher development programs, especially around creative thinking and communication skills.

Emerging players

• Ashoka Japan: Global social innovation organization with Japan presence supporting education entrepreneurs and changemakers. Comparable mission of identifying and scaling social innovation in education; provides thought-leadership context for arts/creative learning NPOs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elab-jp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 ELAB