Kumon's History

Toru Kumon, a high school math teacher, began providing education based on the concept of self-learning to his son, Takeshi, then a second grader in elementary school. He wrote numerous calculation problems on loose-leaf paper for his son. This was the origin of the Kumon Method.

The office of the Osaka Institute of Mathematics is established in Osaka, Japan.

The first overseas Kumon Math Center opens in New York.

It was with the opening of a Kumon Center in New York in 1974 that the provision of Kumon Method study outside Japan first began. Initially, most students at this Center were the children of Japanese expatriates. However, as the effectiveness of the Kumon Method became more widely known, local children began to enroll. Today, Kumon has established itself as a provider of quality education for local children provided by local Instructors in many countries around the world.

Center opens in Brazil.

Center opens in Germany.

The number of Kumon students in Taiwan topped 1,000.

The Kumon Japanese Program (for native Japanese speakers) is launched.

An affiliated company is established in Sydney, Australia.

The Kumon English Program (for native English speakers) is launched in Australia. The Kumon English Program is currently provided in 24 countries and regions around the world.

An affiliated company is established in London, UK.

The Kumon Chinese Program (for native Chinese speakers) is launched in Taiwan, China. The Kumon Chinese Program is currently provided in six countries and regions around the world.

The total number of enrollments in the world exceeds 2 million.

An affiliated company is established in Johannesburg, South Africa.

An affiliated company is established in Manila, the Philippines.

An affiliated company is established in Bangkok, Thailand.

An affiliated company is established in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The total number of overseas subject enrollments exceeds 1 million.

The Kumon EFL Program (English as a Foreign Language) is launched in Brazil. The Kumon EFL Program is currently provided in 28 countries and regions around the world.

The Kumon Spanish Program (for native Spanish speakers) is launched in five countries in South America. The Kumon Spanish Program is currently provided in eight countries around the world.

An affiliated company is established in New Delhi, India.

Up to this point, Kumon’s overseas development had proceeded by receiving offers from local parties. In this case, however, Kumon established an affiliated company in India in order to provide learning opportunities to as many children as possible. In India we continue to seek out the optimum manner of providing the Kumon Method.

An affiliated company is established in Bogotá, Colombia.

An affiliated company is established in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The total number of enrollments in the world exceeds 4 million.

The Kumon Thai Program (for native Thai speakers) is launched in Thailand.

Kumon (Beijing) Trading is established.