Akatsuki Kyoikutosho

What Akatsuki Kyoikutosho does

Akatsuki Kyoikutosho (あかつき教育図書株式会社) is a privately held Japanese educational publishing company headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with a second sales office in Kagurazaka, Tokyo. Founded in 1947, the company specializes in government-approved middle school textbooks, supplementary workbooks, and educational/children’s books sold primarily through Japan’s formal textbook adoption (教科書採択) system, bookstore distribution, and direct sales to schools and teachers. Its portfolio spans all five core middle school subjects (Japanese, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, English) plus Physical Education, Music, Moral Education (道徳), cram-school materials, and children’s picture books and literature. Notable flagship products include the long-running 図解中学体育 (Illustrated Middle School PE), first published in November 1955 and continuously updated; the Reiwa 7 (2025) edition 中学生の道徳 moral education textbook; the 整理と研究 (Seiken) comprehensive study guides aligned to new curriculum standards; and the ま★ナビシステム (Ma★Navi) color-coded differentiated learning system.

The company operates a hybrid print-digital platform: physical workbooks carry QR codes that unlock supplementary digital content (ふむふむ動画 explainer videos, digital learning records, level-specific drills), and dedicated web portals — Zutai-Web for Students and Zutai-Web for Teachers — provide rule updates, evaluation templates, and worksheets for the PE textbook line. Underlying technology is web-based content delivery paired with QR-code integration rather than any AI or adaptive engine. The business model is unit-priced, one-time-license sales of physical products (¥280–¥1,180 per workbook), bundled with free digital add-ons; revenue is generated through (1) municipal-level textbook adoption purchases, (2) bookstore retail for supplementary materials and children’s books, and (3) direct website-based inquiries to schools and teachers. Distribution is single-country/domestic (Japan, with Kanto Region offices), and the company maintains a YouTube presence (あかつき道徳チャンネル) for moral education content.

Name

Akatsuki Kyoikutosho

Legal name

あかさき教育図書株式会社

Website

https://aktk.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Akatsuki Kyoikutosho is a privately held Japanese educational publisher that produces government-approved middle school textbooks, supplementary workbooks, and children’s books, distributing them through Japan’s formal textbook adoption system, bookstores, and direct school sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Core Subject Textbooks (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) (EDAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital/Blended K–12 Courseware & Interactive Textbooks (EDAGAAAJ), Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing (MPAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Educational textbook publishing
• Middle school textbooks
• Supplementary workbooks
• Moral education materials
• Children's picture books

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Textbook Sales: Sale of approved middle school textbooks through Japan's formal textbook adoption system. Textbooks are submitted for government审查 and adopted by schools and municipalities.
2. Workbook and Supplementary Material Sales: Sale of self-published workbooks, exercise books, and supplementary materials across all middle school subjects (Math, Japanese, Social Studies, Science, English, PE, Music). Products include seasonal training books (夏トレ/冬トレ), navigation series (ナビ series), and exam preparation materials. Priced per unit ranging from ¥280 to ¥1,180.
3. Digital Content Access: Bundled digital content (QR codes, web portals for students and teachers) included with physical textbook and workbook purchases. No standalone digital subscription model observed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Akatsuki Kyoikutosho publishes government-approved Japanese middle school textbooks (notably 中学生の道徳 moral education and the 図解中学体育 physical education series), subject-specific study guides and workbooks (整理と研究, ま★ナビシステム, seasonal 夏トレ/冬トレ books, university entrance exam preparation series), and children's picture books. The company distributes through Japan's formal textbook adoption system to schools, and through bookstores, libraries, and direct website sales to consumers, bundling QR-coded digital content and web portal access (Zutai-Web) with physical purchases.

Product overview

Akatsuki Kyoikutosho is a Japanese educational publishing company specializing in textbooks, teaching materials, and educational-related books. The company operates a multi-product portfolio organized around several core offerings: (1) Moral Education (道徳) materials including textbooks and teaching resources; (2) Subject-specific study materials for 国語 (Japanese), 社会 (Social Studies), 数学 (Mathematics), 理科 (Science), and 英語 (English) featuring multiple product lines such as the 整理と研究 (Seiken) comprehensive study guides, the ま★ナビ (Manavi) color-coded navigation system, seasonal training workbooks (夏トレ/冬トレ), and university entrance exam preparation series; (3) 図解中学体育 (Illustrated Middle School PE) - a flagship 60+ year old textbook with companion digital web services; (4) Children's picture books and literature for young readers; and (5) Digital add-ons including Zutai-Web for Students/Teachers and ふむふむ動画 educational videos. The company supports digital learning through QR code-accessible content and digital learning records.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 中学生の道徳 (Moral Education for Middle School Students) Government-approved moral education textbook for Japanese middle school students, published in the Reiwa 7 (2025) edition with transitional curriculum materials. Used as the primary moral education (道徳) textbook adopted by Japanese middle schools through the formal textbook adoption system.
• 整理と研究 (Seiken — Comprehensive Study Guide Series) Comprehensive subject-specific study guide series available across Mathematics, Japanese, Social Studies, Science, and English, aligned with the new curriculum standards. Used by middle school students and cram schools (juku) for full-subject review. Priced approximately ¥1,180 per volume.
• ま★ナビシステム (Ma★Navi Differentiated Learning System) Multi-level differentiated learning navigation system offering color-coded workbooks (Green Navigator ¥390, Learning Navigator ¥480, 1-2年基礎ナビ ¥370 for Science) across Japanese, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and English. Each level includes associated digital content — digital learning records, drills, and review tests accessible via QR codes — designed for differentiated instruction to varying student skill levels.
• 図解中学体育 (Illustrated Junior High School Physical Education) The flagship illustrated physical education textbook for Japanese middle school students, originally published in 1955 and continuously updated for over 60 years. Includes companion web support services (Zutai-Web for Students and Teachers) with Olympic/Paralympic information, sports federation links, rule updates, worksheets, evaluation templates, and teaching support materials. Strong brand recognition among Japanese PE teachers.
• 夏トレ/冬トレ (Summer/Winter Training Workbooks) Seasonal subject-specific practice workbook series for middle school students. 夏トレ (Summer Training) Science: ¥340 (Grades 1-2), ¥380 (Grade 3). 冬トレ (Winter Training) Science (Grades 1-2): ¥280. Sold through bookstores and direct channels for self-study during school breaks.
• 最新 高校入試全国リレー (Latest High School Entrance Exam National Relay Series) High school entrance exam preparation series covering Mathematics, Social Studies, and Japanese with a three-stage structure: topic-based basics, prefecture-by-prefecture tests, and 48/85/21 selected common exam problems respectively. A4 format, 80 pages, stapled binding, priced at ¥800 (tax included). Used by middle school students preparing for high school entrance examinations.
• 新・重点研究 (New Emphasis Research Workbooks) Comprehensive exam preparation workbook series covering Japanese, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and English. Designed for middle school students seeking comprehensive review across core subjects.
• 基礎項目別問題集 (Basic Subject-by-Subject Problem Collections) Comprehensive basic review problem collections covering all middle school subjects (Japanese ¥600, Mathematics ¥600, Social Studies ¥600, English ¥600). B5 format, used for full-subject fundamental review.
• 数学 基礎からのABC (Mathematics ABC from the Basics) Mathematics textbook series building fundamentals from the basic level for middle school students. Used as a foundation-building resource for students needing additional math support.
• 保健体育指導手帳 (Health and Physical Education Teaching Handbook) Health and PE teaching handbook provided to schools adopting the 図解中学体育 textbook. Includes observation records, evaluation guides, and annual planning templates for teachers.
• Zutai-Web for Students Student-focused web service bundled with the 図解中学体育 textbook, providing links to sports federation websites, rule updates, and additional learning content for middle school PE students. Accessed via web portal.
• Zutai-Web for Teachers Teacher-focused web service bundled with the 図解中学体育 textbook, providing worksheets, illustration data, criteria-based evaluation templates, and grading summary tools for PE teachers.
• 児童書 / 絵本 (Children's Books and Picture Books) Children's picture books and illustrated literature series for young readers, including a 4-volume geopark exploration series, nature and conservation-themed books, and picture books. Sold through Japanese bookstores, libraries, and the company website for retail consumers, libraries, and schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products are adopted by schools nationwide through Japan's formal textbook adoption process, indicating broad market reach.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tokyo Shoseki (東京書籍): Japan's largest K-12 textbook publisher across all subjects and grade levels. Direct competitor in middle school textbook adoption with much broader portfolio and national sales coverage than Akatsuki.
• Benesse (ベネッセコーポレーション): Major Japanese education group operating K-12 publishing, cram school (進研ゼミ), and assessment businesses. Competes with Akatsuki in supplementary learning materials and student assessment tools.
• Gakken (学研教育出版): Major Japanese educational publisher with K-12 textbooks, workbooks, children's books, and learning magazines. Competes with Akatsuki in supplementary workbooks, exam prep, and children's literature categories.

Direct peers

• Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan (日本文教出版): Mid-sized Japanese textbook publisher focused on middle and high school subjects. Competes with Akatsuki in middle school Japanese, Social Studies, and English textbook adoptions.
• Shimizu Shoin (清水書院): Japanese textbook publisher with notable presence in moral education (道徳) and Japanese language subjects for middle schools. Directly competes with Akatsuki in 道徳 adoptions.
• Suken Shuppan (数研出版): Japanese educational publisher known for mathematics, science, and supplementary workbooks including exam preparation. Overlaps with Akatsuki in middle school math/science workbooks and high-school entrance exam prep series.
• Mitsumura Tosho Shuppan (光村図書出版): Japanese K-12 textbook publisher with strong footprint in Japanese language (国語) and art education. Direct competitor in middle school Japanese textbook adoptions against Akatsuki.
• Kyoiku Shuppan (教育出版): Specialized K-12 textbook publisher with particularly strong moral education (道徳) and arts/health subject offerings for Japanese middle schools. Closest direct peer to Akatsuki in subject mix and adoption-cycle competition.

Others

• Shogakukan (小学館): Major Japanese trade publisher with extensive children's book (児童書) and learning magazine lines. Adjacent competitor to Akatsuki's children's literature and library-portfolio segments.

Regional players

• Z-Kai (Z会): Japan-based correspondence education and exam-prep brand targeting middle-to-high school students. Competes with Akatsuki's high-school entrance exam relay series and seasonal training workbooks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B3%E3%81%82%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E3%81%8D

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 Akatsuki Kyoikutosho