Kurumi Japanese Claases

What Kurumi Japanese Claases does

Kurumi Japanese Classes (くるみ日本語クラス) is a small, privately-held Japanese language school founded in 2012 and based in the Mt. Diablo / greater East Bay area of Pleasant Hill, California. It operates as a Japanese Ministry of Education (文部科学省) certified overseas supplementary school (文部科学省認定海外補習授業校), teaching both native Japanese-speaking children (日本語クラス) and non-native learners (JSL — Japanese as Second Language) from age 2 through high school. The school positions itself as a bilingual education resource primarily for Japanese-American families seeking to maintain children's Japanese language skills and provide a smoother transition back into Japanese schools, while also serving non-native learners, test-prep candidates (AP Japanese, JLPT), and young children via parent-child "Mommy and Me" classes.

The core technology is a Ministry-certified textbook-based curriculum blended with school-original materials, delivered in small group sessions capped at under 7 students per class to maximize individual attention. Supplementary offerings include JLPT and AP Japanese short-term intensive courses, abacus and mental arithmetic classes, monthly art classes ($25 per session), calligraphy, fabrication/crafts, and seasonal Japanese cultural events (mochi pounding, sports days, Girl's Festival, Star Festival, miso making). A biannual online exchange connects Kurumi students with Japanese learners in Busan, Korea. The school aligns its calendar with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD).

The business model is tuition-based, with monthly recurring subscriptions for weekday after-school classes (after 3:45 PM) and Saturday classes (9:45–11:45 AM), one-time fees for test-prep intensives, and pay-as-you-go for art sessions. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the school's website, Facebook, Google Forms intake, email ([email protected]), and phone (925-289-8296), supported by community events that double as marketing. The organization is founder-owned, employs approximately 5 staff, has no institutional investors, no parent company, and no disclosed revenue.

Name

Kurumi Japanese Claases

Legal name

Kurumi Japanese Classes (くるみ日本語クラス)

Website

https://kurumi-japanese.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kurumi Japanese Classes is a Mt. Diablo / East Bay (California) Japanese language school founded in 2012, serving children from age 2 through high school — primarily Japanese-American bilingual families and non-native learners — with Ministry of Education certified curriculum delivered in small in-person classes alongside cultural enrichment, test prep, and an international exchange program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

World Languages Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs (EDAJAGAB), Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL), Foreign Language Subject Tutoring (School Coursework) (EDANAAAF), Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary) (EDAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Japanese language instruction
• Bilingual education services
• Supplementary language school
• Japanese cultural activities
• Language proficiency testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Mt. Diablo / Greater East Bay Area

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Class Tuition: Weekly Japanese language classes charged on a recurring basis for preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school students. Options include once or twice weekly weekday classes (after 3:45 PM) or Saturday classes (9:45-11:45 AM).
2. Art Classes: Monthly art classes offered at $25 per session for students aged 6 and older, covering watercolor, oil painting, crafts, and sculpture.
3. AP Japanese Test Prep: Short-term intensive course for AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam preparation, with tutoring also available.
4. JLPT Test Prep: Short-term intensive course for Japanese Language Proficiency Test preparation.
5. Abacus Classes: Abacus and mental arithmetic instruction for beginners, developing calculation speed, accuracy, and concentration.
6. Mommy and Me Classes: Parent-child Japanese language classes for young children, fostering early bilingual exposure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kurumi Japanese Classes delivers recurring in-person Japanese language instruction and cultural education programs in Pleasant Hill, California (Mt. Diablo / East Bay). Core offerings include weekly Japanese language classes for native speakers (日本語クラス), Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) classes, JLPT and AP Japanese test preparation, abacus/mental arithmetic classes, art, calligraphy, fabrication, and Mommy and Me early childhood classes, plus an online international exchange program with learners in Busan, Korea.

Product overview

Kurumi Japanese Classes operates as a Ministry of Education certified supplementary Japanese language school in the Mt. Diablo/East Bay area. The school offers a comprehensive portfolio of classes including core Japanese language instruction for both native speakers (日本語クラス) and non-native speakers (JSL), test preparation courses for JLPT and AP exams, and cultural enrichment programs including art, calligraphy, abacus, and craft classes. Classes are structured for children from age 2 through high school, with small group settings (under 7 students) emphasizing Japanese-only immersion and individualized attention. Cultural activities such as online exchanges with students in Busan, seasonal festivals (mochi pounding, Girl's Festival, Star Festival), and craft-making complement the academic curriculum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Japanese Language Class (日本語クラス) Main Japanese language instruction for children aged 2 through high school using Ministry of Education (文部科学省) certified textbooks and original teaching materials, aimed at bilingual education for Japanese-American children and preparing students for re-entry into Japanese school systems.
• JSL (Japanese as Second Language) Japanese language instruction for non-native speakers focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a fun and interactive environment with an academic-focused curriculum. Designed for heritage learners and non-native Japanese learners.
• JLPT Short-term Intensive Course (JLPT 短期集中コース) Short-term intensive course for Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) preparation covering vocabulary, kanji, grammar, and listening strategies.
• AP Japanese Short-term Intensive Course (AP Japanese 短期集中コース) Short-term intensive course for AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam preparation, with private tutoring also available.
• Abacus Class (そろばん・暗算クラス) Abacus class for beginners transitioning to mental arithmetic, developing calculation speed, accuracy, and concentration for students.
• Art Class (アートクラス) Monthly art class covering watercolor, oil painting, modeling, and crafts taught by professional instructors for students aged 6 and older, emphasizing imagination and creativity. Priced at USD 25 per session on Fridays 3:30-5:00 PM.
• Mommy and Me (親子クラス) Parent-child Japanese language class for young children aged 2 and up, with Japanese kindergarten-style programming fostering early bilingual exposure in a supportive environment.
• Online Exchange (オンライン交流会) Biannual online exchange program connecting Kurumi Japanese Classes students with Japanese language learners in Busan, Korea, featuring Japanese conversation, games, and cultural sharing.
• Fabrication Class (ものづくり) Crafting class including origami activities for cultural learning.
• Calligraphy Class (書道クラス) Japanese calligraphy instruction class with walk-in enrollment available for cultural learning.
• Individual / Private Classes (個人クラス) Private Japanese lessons tailored to individual learning needs for elementary students through adults.
• 2026 JSL Summer Class (きりん・りす・うさぎサマークラス) Summer Japanese as a Second Language program for children aged 5 and older, focusing on fun Japanese learning through crafts and group activities, held June 8-11 from 9:30-12:00.
• 2026 Spring Calligraphy Class (春の書道クラス) Spring 2026 walk-in welcome calligraphy class focused on cultural learning.
• 2026-2027 Elephant-Giraffe Class (ぞう・きりん組 クラス) 2026-2027 academic year Japanese language class for Elephant and Giraffe age groups (ぞう・きりん組), with mid-year enrollment welcomed.

Quantifiable outcome

• Classes limited to under 7 students for individualized attention
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Busan Japanese Language Learners (釜山日本村)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022International online exchange partnership connecting Kurumi Japanese Classes students with Japanese language learners in Busan, Korea. Students practice Japanese conversation, play games, and share information about life in their respective countries.
• MDUSD (Mt. Diablo Unified School District)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012School schedule is based on the MDUSD School calendar. MDUSD provides the academic calendar framework that Kurumi Japanese Classes follows for their class schedule, holidays, and recess periods.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Preply: Online language tutoring marketplace with Japanese as a major taught language. Comparable as a substitute for families considering private or small-group Japanese lessons, with structured tutor profiles and per-session pricing similar in concept to Kurumi's individual class offering.
• Verbling: Online marketplace for live language lessons including Japanese, with vetted teachers and structured curriculum tools. Comparable as a substitute delivery channel for the individual/private class component of Kurumi's offerings.
• italki: Global online marketplace connecting language learners with tutors, including a substantial catalog of Japanese instructors. Directly comparable as a channel through which consumers access Japanese-language instruction, but operates online at global scale rather than in-person locally.
• San Mateo Japanese School: A Japanese heritage Saturday school serving families on the San Francisco Peninsula. Closely comparable as a Bay Area Japanese supplementary school teaching heritage learners using a similar Saturday/weekend supplementary model with cultural programming.

Regional players

• The Japan Society: A New York-based cultural and educational institution offering Japanese language classes, lectures, and family programming. Comparable as a US-based nonprofit delivering Japanese language and cultural education, though it operates in a different geography and has a broader cultural-program mandate.

Emerging players

• Rosetta Stone: Self-paced language learning software with a Japanese course. Comparable as an alternative consumer-facing Japanese learning product; positioned as a substitute for casual learners rather than heritage-focused in-person instruction.

Broad incumbents

• Berlitz: Global language instruction chain offering Japanese among many languages, with both in-person and online formats. Comparable as an established multi-language school operator; Kurumi is a Japanese-specialized community alternative to Berlitz's broader portfolio.
• Language Schools at Japan Foundation Los Angeles: The Japan Foundation's LA office runs Japanese language classes and teacher-training programs serving Southern California. Comparable as an established institutional provider of Japanese language instruction in California, though at different scale and geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kurumijapanese
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kurumi-japanese-claases

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kurumi Japanese Claases