Kikokushijo Academy

What Kikokushijo Academy does

Kikokushijo Academy (KA), operated by KA INTERNATIONAL株式会社, is a Tokyo-based private English education company founded in October 2004 by Charles M. Knudsen and incorporated in May 2006. The company specializes in English-language instruction and returnee/English-track entrance exam preparation for Japanese and bilingual children from kindergarten through high school, serving returnees (帰国子女), international school students, and — more recently — domestic students with intermediate English proficiency. KA reports over 3,000 enrolled students across 11 established campuses in Tokyo (Meguro, Setagaya, Shibuya, Minato, Bunkyo, Shinagawa, Musashino) plus Kanagawa (Tama Plaza) and Chiba (Funabashi), with a 12th campus (Bashamichi) opening in Yokohama in July 2026. The company claims 75% of returnee/English-track exam admissions at four elite Tokyo schools (Shibu Shibu, Shibu Maku, Hiroo, Mita IC) over 2021–2025, supported by a 16,000+ alumni network.

The product portfolio consists of six core programs (Early Years, Elementary, Juken Track, JH/HS University Prep, Distance Learning, and Rising Stars Advanced) and several add-ons including KA Plus! subscription live classes, Day Camp, Seasonal Courses, Private Tutoring, and Eiken test preparation. The underlying technology platform comprises KA Connect, a proprietary online learning management system providing 24/7 access to curated English content (videos, audio, literature, podcasts, news), and KA Plus!, a subscription-based live online class service with 15+ class types offered in 25-minute slots across 7 days per week. Teaching methodology is anchored in proprietary frameworks (KA Method, KA Proofwriting Method, A.W.E. Assisted Writing Exercise) and original textbooks developed over 20+ years.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly tuition (¥48,070–¥52,470 for Rising Stars Advanced; varying by grade/program for other tracks), supplemented by a ¥38,192 enrollment fee, prorated annual fees, seasonal intensive courses, KA Plus! subscriptions (¥15,400/month standalone), private tutoring, and distance learning fees (bank transfer or PayPal for overseas students). Go-to-market is sales-led via online inquiry forms, online placement tests, and free trial lessons across 12 physical campuses. Distribution spans regional in-person instruction, global online (Distance Learning), and standalone online subscriptions (KA Plus!). Customer segments include returnees (primary), domestic students with English proficiency (secondary, via Rising Stars Advanced), international school students, and JH/HS students preparing for English-taught domestic or overseas university programs.

Name

Kikokushijo Academy

Legal name

KA INTERNATIONAL株式会社

Website

https://kikokushijoacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kikokushijo Academy is a Tokyo-based private English education provider specializing in returnee and bilingual education from kindergarten through high school, operating 11 campuses across Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba with 3,000+ enrolled students. Founded in 2004, the company claims 75% of returnee/English-track exam admissions at four elite Tokyo schools (2021–2025).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Returnee English Education & Entrance Exam Preparation

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K-12 & School-Based Language Exam Prep (AP, IB, IGCSE/A-Levels) (EDANACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA), Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Returnee English education
• English entrance exam preparation
• Bilingual after-school programs
• Junior high school exam prep
• Online English live classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Meguro, Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Core Program Tuition (Tuition Fees): Monthly tuition fees charged for regular core programs across Early Years, Elementary, Juken Track, and Junior High/High School levels. Payment via bank transfer/automatic withdrawal for domestic students. Core class tuition ranges from approximately ¥48,070 to ¥52,470 per month for Rising Stars Advanced, with other programs varying by grade level and program type.
2. KA Plus! Subscription: A subscription add-on providing unlimited access to online live classes. For students not enrolled in core programs, standalone subscription registration is available. Classes are offered in 25-minute increments across 15+ class types, 7 days a week.
3. Seasonal Courses and Day Camps: Intensive short-term programs during school vacations including Spring, Summer, Winter breaks, and Golden Week. Programs include Eiken preparation, exam preparation, skill booster courses, and themed day camps (Spring/Summer/Winter). Prices vary by course length and internal/external student status.
4. DL Live and DL Flex (Distance Learning): Distance learning courses providing live online lessons (DL Live) and essay-focused correspondence (DL Flex). Payment via bank transfer or PayPal for overseas students.
5. Annual Fees and Enrollment Fees: One-time enrollment fee of ¥38,192. Annual membership fees vary by program: Grade 6 Juken ¥28,380, JH/HS ¥22,836, Other programs ¥24,156. First-year annual fees are prorated by enrollment month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kikokushijo Academy operates a multi-format English education program for returnee and bilingual children from kindergarten through high school, delivered through 12 physical campuses across Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba, plus a global online Distance Learning channel. Core offerings include year-round programs (Early Years, Elementary, Juken Track, Junior High/High School, Rising Stars Advanced) covering English maintenance, returnee entrance exam preparation (English/Kokugo/Sansu), and university admissions coaching, supplemented by subscription online live classes (KA Plus!), seasonal courses, day camps, private tutoring, and Eiken preparation. The proprietary KA Connect online learning management system extends English immersion outside classroom hours.

Product overview

Kikokushijo Academy (KA) is a Tokyo-based English education provider for returnees and bilingual students, founded in 2004 and operated by KA INTERNATIONAL株式会社. The company delivers a multi-format English education program combining in-person instruction at 11 physical campuses across the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kanagawa with two remote variants (DL Live and DL Flex). The core portfolio consists of six programs spanning kindergarten to high school: Early Years (K–G2), Elementary (G3–6), Juken Track exam prep (G4–6 covering English, Japanese, and mathematics), Junior High/High School university preparation (G7–12), Distance Learning, and Rising Stars Advanced for domestic students. These core programs are supplemented by KA Plus! (a subscription add-on offering unlimited online live classes), Day Camp, Seasonal Courses, Private Tutoring, Eiken test preparation, and the KA Connect online learning management system. KA also operates the Good Deed Council volunteer program, publishes reference guides (Welcome Home, Bluebook Select, Bluebook Select University Prep, Pathways), and maintains a media presence through The International School Times. The company reports serving over 3,000 students with a 75% market share of returnee/English-track exam acceptances at major Tokyo schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KA Plus!: Subscription-based online live English classes available 7 days a week
• Distance Learning (通信コース)
• Rising Stars Advanced
• KA Connect
• Day Camp
• Good Deed Council

Products and services

• Early Years Program
• Elementary Program
• Juken Track (中学受験プログラム)
• Junior High / High School Program (中高生プログラム)
• Distance Learning (通信コース)
• Rising Stars Advanced
• KA Plus! (サブスクリプション)
• Day Camp (デイキャンプ)
• Seasonal Courses (季節講習)
• Private Tutoring (個別授業)
• Eiken (英検対策)
• KA Connect (オンライン学習システム)
• Welcome Home
• Bluebook Select
• Bluebook Select University Prep
• Pathways: Celebrating Japan's Bilingual Youth

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of all returnee/English entrance exam successful candidates at top schools (Shibu Shibu, Shibu Maku, Hiroo, Mita IC) from 2021-2025 came from KA
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 30+ Japanese Middle Schools (School Information Session Partners)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Annual online school information sessions featuring representatives from 30+ schools including Shibu Shibu, Shibu Maku, Hiroo, Mita IC, Shohei, Keio SFC, and others. Schools participate to reach returnee families; KA organizes and hosts the sessions.
• Salesian International SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Partnership to provide after-school English program at Salesian International School campuses (Setagaya and main campus). KA provides specialized returnee English education curriculum and teaching staff for students enrolled at Salesian.
• The Loukoumi FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025American-based NPO partnership established April 2025 to launch the KA Good Deed Council, a volunteer group for JH/HS students. Students plan and implement various social contribution activities throughout the year, including environmental initiatives, clothing donations, food drives, and community service projects.
• Kohana International SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner offering preferential pricing for KA students. KOIS provides traditional and innovative international education at Kawasaki (preschool-grade 2) and Tsurumi (grade 3-IGCSE/A-level) campuses with Cambridge and IPC accreditation. KA students receive approximately ¥10,000/month tuition discount.
• International Montessori Mirai KindergartenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner combining Japanese Montessori education with English programs for children aged 3-6. KA students' siblings receive 10% discount on enrollment fee.
• British Football AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnglish-language football coaching academy since 2004. KA students and KA Plus! subscribers receive one free trial session for age-appropriate classes.
• Laurus International School of ScienceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapan's first and only international science-focused school with 9 campuses in Tokyo. KA students receive member pricing for Laurus seasonal courses.
• PIXI AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSTEM+ART (STEAM) English learning program with experiment, crafts, and presentation-based lessons. KA students receive 10% discount on 3-month courses.
• KA International School (KAIS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKA's affiliated international school and CIS (Council of International Schools) member. KA students receive ¥20,000 discount on enrollment fee. Full-time 5-day academic program with small class sizes and individualized approach.
• Club 360minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFitness and wellness facility offering classes for children and adults, personal training, physiotherapy, and nutritional counseling. KA students receive 10% discount on seasonal and regular courses.
• Second Harvest JapanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTokyo-based certified NPO conducting food drives. KA Good Deed Council partners with Second Harvest Japan for food donation activities, supporting local communities in need.
• Japan International Youth Association (JIYU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization receiving donated school supplies from KA Good Deed Council, distributed to schools in Cebu, Philippines.
• Hands On TokyominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization receiving handmade Tanabata decorations from KA Good Deed Council for distribution to children's welfare facilities in the Kanto area.
• Second Life (NPO in Osaka)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsaka-based NPO receiving donated clothing from KA Good Deed Council's Closet for Kindness initiative. Approximately 50 large boxes of clothing donated.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AEON (AEON Eikaiwa): National English conversation school chain in Japan with hundreds of classrooms targeting students and adults. Comparable to KA's English-language instruction model and KA Plus! subscription-style recurring class offering, though primarily conversational rather than exam-prep focused.
• NOVA: Major nationwide English conversation school chain in Japan with flexible monthly subscription pricing and broad geographic coverage. Comparable to KA in operating multiple Japan-based learning centers on a recurring-fee model, though focused on conversational English for general consumers.
• Gaba: Japan-based 1-on-1 English conversation school with a lesson-based subscription model and nationwide classroom presence. Comparable to KA's recurring-revenue subscription approach (KA Plus!) and physical-school footprint, though serving adults and conversational use cases rather than K-12 returnee exam prep.
• ECC: One of Japan's largest English and language education groups, operating ECC Koma Juku (cram school) and ECC Eikaiwa (English conversation schools) with nationwide physical presence. Comparable to KA as a K-12 English/after-school education provider in Japan, though at significantly larger scale and broader curriculum focus.
• Yoyogi Zemi: Large Japanese juku chain with English-program and international-track offerings for elementary students targeting competitive Tokyo middle schools. Comparable to KA in serving the same English/Japanese entrance exam pool, particularly as KA's Rising Stars Advanced pushes into domestic students.

Emerging players

• RareJob: Online English conversation service in Japan with monthly subscription model and web-based lesson delivery, serving students and adults. Comparable to KA's online/subscription learning layer (KA Plus!, DL Live) as a recurring-revenue English learning option in Japan.
• Sapix (Shingakai) International Track: One of Japan's leading juku (cram school) chains, increasingly introducing English-track and international admission programs alongside its core academic prep. Comparable to KA as a competitor for English-track entrance exam students in Tokyo and as a benchmark for the domestic Rising Stars Advanced segment KA is entering.
• Wiz International School: International/English-medium after-school and full-time programs in Japan for returnee and bilingual children, overlapping with KA's target families. Comparable as a Japan-based competitor for returnee/bilingual families seeking English-medium education, though with a more international-school rather than exam-prep orientation.
• DMM Eikaiwa: Large online English conversation platform operated by DMM, offering subscription-based live lessons with foreign instructors accessible nationwide in Japan. Comparable to KA Plus! and KA Connect as subscription-based online English learning for Japanese learners, though at significantly lower price points and conversational focus.

Direct peers

• Berlitz Japan: Major Japan-based language instruction provider offering English and other-language courses for children, students, and adults across physical centers and online. Directly comparable to KA in targeting English-fluent and exam-track learners in Japan, though focused more broadly on language acquisition than returnee-specific entrance exam prep.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kikokushijoacademy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=mN3XDIQUahk&t=2s (Club 360 partner)
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kikokushijo-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Kikokushijo Academy