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Kumon's History

1950s
1954

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.

1955

1955
The first Math Center using Kumon worksheets is opened in Moriguchi City, Osaka, Japan.

1958

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

1960s
1963

An affiliated company is established in Tokyo, Japan.

1970s
1974

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.

1975

Center opens in Taiwan, China.

1977

Center opens in Brazil.

1978

Takeshi Kumon was officially appointed as president of Kumon Institute of Education.

1979

Center opens in Germany.

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

1980s
1980

An affiliated company is established in São Paulo, Brazil.

Completion of the Kumon South America head office building (August 1994)

An affiliated company is established in Düsseldorf, Germany.

1981

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

1982

An affiliated company is established in Los Angeles, USA.

1984

An affiliated company is established in Sydney, Australia.

1988

An affiliated company is established in Hong Kong.

An affiliated company is established in Toronto, Canada.

A public elementary school in the United States implements Kumon Math.

When the vice principal of Sumiton Elementary School in Alabama saw a TV program about Kumon she became convinced of the efficacy of the method and felt that it could really help her students to get over their aversion to math. This was the first time that the Kumon Method was utilized in regular school classes outside of Japan. The results were even greater than expected and this achievement was hailed as the “Miracle of Sumiton” in a variety of media. This publicity led to greater awareness of Kumon and the establishment of more and more Centers around the world.

1990s
1990

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.

1991

An affiliated company is established in Madrid, Spain.

The total number of overseas subject enrollments exceeds 200,000.

1993

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.

1995

An affiliated company is established in Singapore.

An affiliated company is established in Santiago, Chile.

An affiliated company is established in Mexico City, Mexico.

An affiliated company is established in Shanghai, China.

The total number of overseas subject enrollments exceeds 500,000.

1996

An affiliated company is established in Johannesburg, South Africa.

An affiliated company is established in Manila, the Philippines.

1997

A Kumon Office is established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

1998

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.

2000s
2000

An affiliated company is established in Jakarta, Indonesia.

2004

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.

2005

The Kumon CFL Program (Chinese as a Foreign Language) is launched in Korea.

An affiliated company is established in Guangzhou, China.

2006

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

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

2007

Kumon China Regional Headquarters is established in Hong Kong, China.

2008

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

2010s
2010

Kumon China Regional Headquarters - Beijing Representative Office is established.

2012

Kumon (Beijing) Trading is established.

2014

100th Anniversary of the Founder—Kumon Toru's Birthday