What 株式会社ユニバース does

Universe Co., Ltd. (株式会社ユニバース) is a privately held Japanese educational content company that plans and produces audiovisual teaching materials for Japanese elementary, middle, high schools, and universities. The company addresses a stated market of approximately 35,000 schools nationwide, with primary focus on music education (wind band, choral, music appreciation) and secondary coverage of art, physical education, classical Japanese literature, and Chinese poetry. Core products are physical media sets combining DVDs, CDs, CD-ROMs, and printed books, organized into PART-by-PART (パート別) graded series that feature live school recordings, composer-led instruction, and annotated scores co-produced with leading Japanese educators (e.g., Masashi Watase, Ko Matsushita, Makiko Kinoshita) and publishers (三友社出版, 丸善出版, アルステクネ). The Orsay Museum fine art reproduction line uses the registered trademark Precision Remaster Art® (プレシジョンリマスターアート®), officially certified by French national Orsay and Orangerie Museums. The company also distributes the GVIDO 13.3-inch dual-screen electronic sheet music tablet internationally (Japan, US, China, Australia, EU) and sells ERG Premium wellness accessories.

The business model is direct-to-customer one-time sales of physical media bundles through the company's own e-commerce storefront (universe-1.jp) and telephone/FAX ordering, with no subscription or recurring revenue component. Average order values range from approximately ¥25,000 to ¥195,000 per set (¥8,250-¥97,500 at the sustained 50% campaign discount). Payment options include cash-on-delivery, bank transfer (Chiba Bank), credit card (VISA/MASTER/JCB/AMEX), and convenience-store/ATM/net banking. Distribution is exclusively through Universe's own channels with no third-party retail or marketplace presence. Two physical offices operate in Chiba Prefecture: the headquarters in Narashino (習志野市谷津5-11-24) handles e-commerce operations, and a secondary office in Funabashi (船橋市葛飾町) manages the art and painting department. The company is led by operating officer Kohyama Hajime (古山 肇) and operates with approximately 10 employees.

The company holds a registered trademark (Precision Remaster Art®) and benefits from official institutional recognition by French national museums, but discloses no patents, regulatory actions, funding rounds, M&A activity, or third-party investment. Ownership is founder/management-controlled with no identified parent company, private equity backing, or venture capital involvement.

Name

株式会社ユニバース

Legal name

株式会社ユニバース

Website

https://universe-1.jp

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Universe Co., Ltd. (株式会社ユニバース) plans and produces audiovisual teaching materials (DVDs, CDs, books) for music, art, PE, and Japanese literature curricula, serving approximately 35,000 Japanese elementary, middle, high schools, and universities through direct e-commerce sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Media Materials

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Instructional Video & Multimedia (EDAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational & Academic Publishing Distribution (Textbooks) (CRAOALAC), Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting) (EDAGAIAE)

Keywords

• School music education
• Audiovisual teaching materials
• Choral instruction resources
• Wind band materials
• Classical literature teaching

Headquarters

HQ city

習志野市

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product sales (DVD, CD, CD-ROM, books): One-time sale of physical educational media sets. Products include comprehensive teaching material bundles (DVDs + CDs + sheet music + guidebooks) sold at fixed per-unit prices, often with promotional 50% discounts. No subscription or recurring revenue model observed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

株式会社ユニバース (Kabushiki Kaisha Universe) plans and produces audiovisual teaching materials (DVD, CD, CD-ROM, book sets) for elementary, middle, high schools, and universities across Japan, serving approximately 35,000 schools nationwide. The product catalog covers wind band/brass band instruction, chorus, music appreciation, art museum reproductions, physical education/dance/food education, Japanese and Chinese classical literature, and electronic sheet music devices. Products are sold as comprehensive bundled media sets featuring recordings from real school performances and supervised by leading Japanese composers and conductors.

Product overview

株式会社ユニバース is an educational content company that creates audiovisual teaching materials for schools across Japan (35,000 schools nationwide). Their product portfolio consists primarily of DVD/CD-ROM/BOOK-based educational resources organized into seven main categories: (1) Wind Band/Brass Band products including アレグロフレックス, これからの吹奏楽, 吹奏楽サウンドアルバム, 新・アレグロ, and related instruction materials; (2) Chorus products including 不朽の名曲Best36, 新しい合唱曲選, 授業合唱エチュード series, 校内合唱ソルフェージュ, and various part-specific song collections; (3) Music Appreciation products including ルネサンスバロック音楽大系 and J.ミュージカルライブステージ; (4) Art/Art Museum products including オルセー美術館名作絵画 and 世界の美術館; (5) Physical Education/Sports products including 新・ダンス授業講座, レベルアップ BASE BALL, 新・食育指導全集, and BLS救急法; (6) Japanese/Chinese Classical Literature products including 古典文学解釈講座 and 漢詩・漢文解釈講座; (7) Technology products including GVIDO electronic sheet music tablet and エルグ プレミアム wellness accessories. The company operates primarily as a content creator and distributor rather than a software platform, with products sold as physical media sets with comprehensive supporting materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• アレグロフレックス (Allegro Flex) Wind band and ensemble flex scoring system with flexible instrumentation from small ensembles (5 people) to large bands (30+), solving instrumentation and repertoire challenges for bands with member shortages or instrument imbalances. Includes CDs, DVDs, scores, and book.
• これからの吹奏楽 (Future Wind Band) Instrument performance methods and solfege training DVD set covering all wind, brass, percussion and string instruments with detailed instruction from professional musicians.
• 吹奏楽サウンドアルバム (Wind Band Sound Album) Sound creation and music expression training DVD with ensemble training methods and the complete process of music creation, including daily training exercises and concert pieces.
• 新・アレグロ (New Allegro) Japanese original compositions and arrangements collection with 93 pieces including 66 new commissioned works from 22 Japanese composers, CD recordings and full scores.
• これからの指揮法 合奏指導法 (Future Conducting Methods and Ensemble Instruction) Conducting techniques and ensemble instruction DVD set featuring five conductors teaching baton techniques, ensemble guidance, basic practice methods and instrument maintenance.
• 金管バンドベストアルバム (Brass Band Best Album) Elementary school brass band basics and training DVD covering concert pieces, movie music, marches, nursery songs and fundamental ensemble techniques.
• 不朽の名曲Best36 (36 Immortal Masterpieces) Classic chorus repertoire collection featuring 36 enduring choral pieces with part-specific CD recordings and sheet music for mixed voice ensembles.
• 新しい合唱曲選 (New Choral Song Selection) Part-specific middle school class chorus selection with 60 popular songs from 35 school choir composers, including demonstration singing, individual parts, and piano accompaniment tracks.
• PART別 授業合唱エチュード (Part-Specific Class Chorus Etudes) Latest school choir competition song collection with 45 popular pieces arranged by parts, featuring live recordings from schools nationwide and voice training guidance.
• PART別 授業合唱エチュード(II) (Part-Specific Class Chorus Etudes Vol. II) Second volume of part-specific class chorus etudes featuring 45 new and popular songs with sheet music and guidance-point annotated scores.
• 新・授業合唱エチュード (New Class Chorus Etudes) Chorus teaching practice DVD with composer-led lectures, model performances, professional voice training, and 46 popular chorus pieces organized by difficulty level.
• 校内合唱ソルフェージュ (In-School Chorus Solfege) School choir competition popular pieces collection with 24 songs featuring complete recording of song creation process, Hakone Choral Seminar video lectures, and live competition recordings.
• Part別 クラス合唱曲選集 (Part-Specific Class Chorus Collection) 56 popular hit songs arranged for class chorus, featuring student-favorite and pops songs adapted for chorus performance at school music festivals.
• Part別 新・合唱曲選集21Century (New Choral Collection 21st Century) Easy a cappella chorus selection with 67 songs and easy-to-sing arrangements suitable for class chorus instruction from 17 schools nationwide.
• パート別ジュニア版合唱名曲選 (Part-Based Junior Chorus Selection) Elementary school chorus repertoire collection with 75 songs organized by performance type, featuring part-specific recordings for accurate pitch learning.
• PART別新曲クラス合唱ベストアルバム45 (New Class Chorus Best Album 45) 45 best new class chorus pieces by popular composers and lyricists, recorded by middle and high school choir clubs with difficulty-based organization.
• ルネサンスバロック音楽大系 (Renaissance Baroque Music Compendium) Comprehensive Renaissance and Baroque music DVD series with 371 musical pieces performed by period instrument ensembles, recorded in European historical palaces and churches over 2.5 years.
• J.ミュージカルライブステージ (J. Musical Live Stage) Japanese original musical and opera DVD collection featuring performances from four top theater companies including The Little Prince, MoMo, A Christmas Carol, and Himeyuri.
• オルセー美術館名作絵画 (Orsay Museum Masterwork Paintings) Precision remastered art prints featuring Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh and other Impressionist masterpieces, officially certified by French national Orsay and Orangerie Museums.
• 世界の美術館 (World Art Museums) High-definition DVD collection of 1,100 masterpiece paintings from 18 major European museums including the Louvre, Hermitage, Prado, and Uffizi, with comprehensive 280-page commentary book.
• 新・ダンス授業講座 (New Dance Instruction Course) Dance instruction DVD set aligned with new curriculum requirements covering creative dance, modern rhythm dance (rock, samba, hip-hop), and folk dance with 115 musical tracks.
• レベルアップ BASE BALL (Level Up Baseball) Yomiuri Giants baseball training DVD set covering all positions with coaching from professional players and staff, including pitching, batting, fielding and team play techniques.
• 新・食育指導全集 (New Food Education Complete Collection) Comprehensive food education DVD set with 18 teaching practice examples, 136 introduction ideas, and regional Japanese cuisine culture content aligned with Ministry of Education guidelines.
• BLS救急法 (BLS First Aid Method) Basic Life Support first aid DVD set covering CPR procedures, AED usage, triangular bandage first aid techniques, and emergency response training for schools and workplaces.
• 古典文学解釈講座 (Classical Literature Interpretation Course) DVD-ROM classical Japanese literature interpretation course covering Genji Monogatari, Makura no Soshi, Heike Monogatari, Man'yoshu, and other classics with translations and analysis.
• 漢詩・漢文解釈講座 (Chinese Poetry and Kanbun Interpretation Course) CD-ROM Chinese poetry and kanbun interpretation course covering Chinese poetry, philosophy, history, essays, and idioms with comprehensive teaching materials for classical Chinese literature instruction.
• GVIDO [グイド] (Electronic Sheet Music Device) Electronic paper sheet music tablet with dual 13.3-inch screens, 6mm thickness, 660g weight, allowing musicians to store, annotate, and turn pages of thousands of sheet music scores digitally. Sold globally in Japan, US, China, Australia, and EU.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches approximately 35,000 schools across Japan, covering the majority of music programs nationwide.

Named customers14 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 三友社出版株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publishing partner for 古典文学解釈講座 (DVD-ROM版) and 漢詩・漢文解釈講座 (CD-ROM版). 三友社出版 is the original publisher; Universe handles production and distribution through its e-commerce channel.
• 丸善出版株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction author for 、これからの吹奏楽 (instrument technique DVD series). Universe handles production and e-commerce distribution.
• (有)まじかるふぇいすcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction author for これからの指揮法 合奏指導法 (conducting and ensemble instruction DVD series). Universe produces and distributes.
• (株)アルステクネcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupervised and produced the オルセー美術館名作絵画 (Orsay Museum master replica art) products. Art reproduction technique is officially recognized by French national museums.
• 三友社出版株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction author of 不朽の名曲Best36 choral collection. 三友社出版 is the original production author; Universe distributes via its e-commerce channel.
• (株)アイ・シー・シーcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanning and production of 世界の美術館 (World Art Museums DVD collection, 1,100 paintings from 18 European museums). Universe distributes.
• オルセー美術館 (Orsay Museum)coreTechnology or IntegrationOfficially certified the プレシジョンリマスターアート® technique as a legitimate master replica method. Provides official recognition enabling Universe to market art reproductions as certified master replicas.
• (株)ジェイ・ピー・アイcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction author of Part別 ジュニア版合唱名曲選 (elementary school choral collection, 75 pieces). Universe distributes.
• (株)東山書房coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction author of BLS救急法 (first aid/emergency response DVD series). Universe distributes.
• (有)アイエムシー音楽出版coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanning and production of ルネサンスバロック音楽大系 (Renaissance/Baroque music series, 371 pieces). Universe distributes.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• カワイ出版: Kawai Group's music publishing arm producing educational sheet music and instructional materials for piano, wind band, and ensemble instruction. Comparable in producing music education content for Japanese music programs.
• アルテス出版 (Altes Publishing): Japanese music publisher focused on wind band, orchestra, and chamber music methods and scores. Direct overlap with Universe's wind band and ensemble instruction product lines.
• 株式会社全音楽譜出版社: Major Japanese music publisher offering sheet music, textbooks, and music education materials. Direct overlap with Universe in school band/orchestra repertoire and choral publications.
• 株式会社教育芸術社: Japan's primary school music textbook and music education materials publisher (MEXT-approved elementary and junior high music textbooks). Most direct comparable to Universe's K-12 music curriculum product line; both serve the same school music departments nationwide.
• ヤマハミュージックメディア株式会社: Music education content, sheet music, and instructional materials publisher affiliated with Yamaha. Comparable to Universe in producing structured music education materials for schools and individuals, including wind band and ensemble repertoire.

Emerging players

• 株式会社GVIDO: Electronic paper sheet music tablet maker that supplies the GVIDO hardware distributed by Universe. Comparable as a digital sheet music delivery platform in the same wind band/choral music ecosystem that Universe serves.

Broad incumbents

• 開隆堂出版株式会社: Japanese educational publisher producing music textbooks and instructional materials for elementary and junior high schools. Overlaps Universe in school music curriculum supply.
• 光村図書出版株式会社: Major Japanese textbook publisher for elementary and junior high schools, including Japanese language and art. Comparable buyer base (Japanese language and art education teachers) to Universe's classical literature and art DVD lines.
• 株式会社学研ホールディングス (Gakken Holdings): Large Japanese educational publisher producing textbooks, learning materials, magazines, and digital learning services across all subjects. Broader incumbent that competes across the same K-12 institutional buyers as Universe.
• 東京書籍株式会社: Japan's largest K-12 textbook publisher (MEXT-approved textbooks across subjects). Overlaps Universe in school music curriculum access and procurement channels, though Universe is more specialized in supplementary audiovisual materials.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E6%A0%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE%E3%83%A6%E3%83%8B%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 株式会社ユニバース