Gakken Holdings

Basic Information

Stock Code
9470
Industry
Information and Communications
Category Detail
Mass Media
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
March 1947
Listing Year
August 1982
Official Website
https://www.gakken.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
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Other Companies
Clip, KADOKAWA, Bunkido, Chuo Keizai HD

Overview

Gakken Holdings is a company in the information and communications industry founded in 1947, with main businesses including educational publishing, operation of learning centers, and nursing care welfare services, deployed nationwide.

Current Situation

Gakken Holdings recorded consolidated net sales of approximately 185.5 billion yen and operating profit of 6.8 billion yen for the fiscal year ending September 2024, maintaining a stable revenue base. It holds top-class share in the domestic market for educational publishing and learning center operations, promoting nationwide expansion through M&A. In the medical welfare field, it also handles nursing care services to pursue diversification. Recently, it has been aggressive in acquiring educational publishing and learning centers domestically and internationally, focusing on business expansion in Asia including Vietnam. Emphasizing sustainability, it conducts CSR activities such as community support and promotion of employment for people with disabilities. DX-driven talent development and strengthening of educational ICT business are key pillars of its mid-to-long-term strategy, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of the entire group toward 2030. It is pursuing sustainable growth by strengthening its management structure.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Gakken was once known for its door-to-door sales business by 'Gakken's aunties.'
  • Holding company for cram school groups deployed widely across Japan.
  • Unique corporate structure balancing educational publishing and nursing welfare business.
  • Children's science magazine 'Science and Study' remains highly popular even after relaunch.
  • Aggressively expanding into overseas education markets with numerous multinational subsidiaries.
  • After transitioning to holding company structure in 2009, promoted large-scale group reorganization.
  • Actively investing in educational ICT and e-learning areas in recent years.
  • Focusing on domestic and international English conversation businesses and infant education.
  • Expanding electronic book business in response to digitalization in publishing industry.
  • Strengthened nursing business through acquisition of Medical Care Service.
  • Changed name from Gakken Kenkyusha to Gakken Holdings to pursue diversification.
  • Listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market with capital of approximately 19.8 billion yen.
  • Deploys many childcare businesses as community-based services.
  • Emphasizes employee education through abundant talent development programs.
  • Actively promoting international collaboration and partnerships in education field.

Hidden Connections

  • Gakken and Ichishin Holdings have a parent-subsidiary relationship.
  • Established joint venture SG Lab with Square Enix to develop serious games in the past.
  • Collaborated with Japan Policy Investment Bank to acquire nursing service company Medical Care Service.
  • Business alliance with Sony subsidiary to promote educational digital content deployment.
  • Acquired 'Earth's Walker' in publishing business is also utilized in travel marketing.
  • Held shares in JP Holdings and was involved in child-rearing support-related business.
  • Transferred Gakken Stayful shares to Nippon Publishing Sales to strengthen product distribution network.
  • Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Furouka Scholarship Society is the largest shareholder involved in school education support.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expansion of educational ICT and online services through DX promotion
  • Increased demand for nursing welfare services in response to aging population with fewer children
  • Business expansion and market integration through M&A domestically and internationally
  • Growth of education and publishing business in overseas Asian markets
  • New market development through digitalization and diversification of educational content
  • Expansion of support services for elderly and strengthened regional collaboration
  • Spread of individualized instruction and online classes in cram schools
  • Investment in teaching materials and services contributing to solving social issues
  • New business development and service innovation leveraging brand power
  • Stable revenue securing through strengthened collaboration with public and private education
  • Efficient operations and improved customer experience using ICT
  • Enhancement of consulting and talent development business

Strategic Goals

  • Complete digital shift in education-related business and expand market share
  • Expand medical and nursing welfare business sales to over 30% of total
  • Improve overseas business sales ratio to over 20% of total
  • Establish sustainable growth through sustainability management promotion
  • Promote employee diversity and create engaging work environment
  • Develop innovative educational platforms using AI and IoT
  • Enhance brand power to improve customer loyalty
  • Contribute to regional welfare by balancing child-rearing support and elderly services
  • Build systems to contribute to social issues and fulfill corporate social responsibility
  • Improve overall strength through strengthened collaboration within the group

Business Segments

Sales Support for Educational Publishing

Overview
Provides teaching materials to educational institutions and sales support, also conducting educational consulting.
Competitiveness
Extensive educational network and teaching material development capabilities
Customers
  • Schools
  • Cram Schools
  • Libraries
  • Bookstores
  • Boards of Education
  • Educational Companies
  • Corporate Training Organizations
  • Online Teaching Material Service Providers
Products
  • Teaching Material Planning and Production
  • School Textbooks and Supplementary Readers
  • Educational Reference Books
  • Electronic Teaching Material Platform
  • Educational Content Distribution

Nursing Care Facility Operation Support

Overview
Provides operation support and service deployment for elderly facilities and welfare-related operations.
Competitiveness
Comprehensive service provision in nursing care and welfare fields
Customers
  • Elderly Facility Operators
  • Care Service Providers
  • Childcare Facility Operators
  • Medical Institutions
  • Welfare Organizations
Products
  • Facility Planning and Design
  • Nursing Care Service Operation Support
  • Welfare Equipment Sales
  • Talent Training Programs
  • Community-based Care Solutions

Educational ICT Solutions

Overview
Provides ICT services supporting digital education environments.
Competitiveness
Experience in ICT business specialized for educational settings
Customers
  • School Corporations
  • Educational Service Companies
  • Corporate Training Managers
  • Online Education Providers
  • Government and Local Education Agencies
Products
  • e-Learning Systems
  • Online Class Platforms
  • Teaching Material Development Software
  • Digital Content Distribution
  • Educational Data Analysis Services

Book Distribution and Logistics Services

Overview
Deploys distribution and logistics support services specialized for the publishing industry.
Competitiveness
Comprehensive logistics services rich in industry knowledge
Customers
  • Publishing Companies
  • Bookstore Chains
  • Mail-Order Companies
  • Schools
  • Corporate Customers
Products
  • Book Order and Fulfillment System
  • Logistics and Delivery Services
  • Warehouse Storage
  • Call Center Operations
  • IT System Management

Consulting and Talent Development

Overview
Provides consulting services including talent training, educational support, and overseas expansion support.
Competitiveness
Proposal strength leveraging knowledge in education and medical welfare
Customers
  • Corporations
  • Educational Institutions
  • Local Governments
  • Medical Welfare Corporations
  • Venture Companies
Products
  • Talent Development Programs
  • Management Consulting
  • Educational Program Development
  • Startup Support
  • Overseas Expansion Support

Overseas Education and Publishing Business

Overview
Deploys education business and teaching material sales overseas, mainly in Asia.
Competitiveness
Extensive experience in overseas markets and utilization of local subsidiaries
Customers
  • Overseas School Corporations
  • Local Publishing Companies
  • Regional Educational Groups
  • Foreign Teaching Material Sales
  • Local Administrative Agencies
Products
  • Overseas Textbooks and Materials
  • Cram School Operations via Local Subsidiaries
  • Multilingual Publications
  • Educational Program Provision
  • Local Training and Support

Printing and Production Material Provision

Overview
Provides printing and production materials for education and publishing industries in one package.
Competitiveness
High quality and flexible responsiveness
Customers
  • Educational Publishers
  • Advertising Agencies
  • Teaching Material Producers
  • Promotion Companies
  • Publishing-related Businesses
Products
  • Teaching Material Prints
  • Promotional Materials
  • Production Support Services
  • Digital Content Production
  • Offset Printing

Qualification Acquisition and e-Learning

Overview
Provides support for qualification acquisition and educational digital services.
Competitiveness
Strength in medical and care fields
Customers
  • Educational Institutions
  • Adult Learners
  • Corporate Training Managers
  • Medical Welfare Vocational Schools
  • Local Governments
Products
  • Qualification Acquisition Courses
  • Online Training
  • Medical Care e-Learning
  • Video Distribution Platform
  • Learning Management System

Nursing Equipment Rental and Sales

Overview
Supports nursing sites through rental and sales of welfare equipment.
Competitiveness
One-stop service in nursing field
Customers
  • Nursing Facilities
  • Home Caregivers
  • Welfare Equipment Retailers
  • Medical Institutions
  • Local Government Welfare Departments
Products
  • Welfare Equipment Rental
  • Nursing Supplies Sales
  • Home Modification Services
  • Leasing Services
  • Nursing-related Consulting

Childcare and Child-Rearing Support Business

Overview
Supports operations and services of nurseries and child-rearing support facilities.
Competitiveness
Nationwide network and educational expertise
Customers
  • Licensed Nurseries
  • Certified Nurseries
  • Child Welfare Facilities
  • Child-Rearing Support Groups
  • Local Governments
Products
  • Operation Consignment Services
  • Educational Toy Provision
  • Childcare Worker Training
  • Child-Rearing Support Programs
  • Administrative Collaboration Projects

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Top domestic share in educational publishing
  • Nationwide learning center network
  • Diversified medical welfare business deployment
  • Strong brand image
  • Business expansion through active M&A
  • Broad customer base and sales channels
  • Advanced initiatives in digital education
  • High teaching material production technology
  • Stable financial base
  • Diversified revenue structure from various services

Competitive Advantages

  • Integrated system combining educational publishing and cram school operations
  • Fusion business of nursing care/childcare services and education
  • Diverse community-based educational and welfare services
  • Aggressive overseas expansion in Asia
  • Utilization of reliable educational brand
  • Proprietary sales network (traditional door-to-door sales)
  • Collaboration among diverse educational group companies
  • Advanced EdTech development and digital distribution
  • Quality and scale of nursing care services
  • Product lineup addressing wide user needs

Threats

  • Shrinking education market due to declining birthrate
  • Intensified competition from digitalization in publishing industry
  • Impact of nursing care workforce shortage
  • Increase in capital and business alliances among competitors
  • Decline in consumer sentiment due to economic fluctuations
  • Rapid technological innovation in digital education
  • Increased operational costs from regulatory changes
  • Growth of emerging educational startups
  • Diversified regional risks in overseas expansion
  • Intense competition in online education market

Innovations

2024: Made DTP Education Solutions in Vietnam a Subsidiary

Overview
Made Vietnam's major educational publisher DTP Education Solutions a consolidated subsidiary to strengthen overseas market.
Impact
Expansion of business foundation in Asian education market

2024: Acquired All Shares of Gakken Link and Strengthened Digital Business

Overview
Gakken Educational made Gakken Link a subsidiary to accelerate educational ICT business.
Impact
Innovation of educational services through DX promotion

2023: Made Ichishin Holdings a Consolidated Subsidiary

Overview
Fully subsidized major Tokyo-area advancement cram school Ichishin HD and promoted business integration.
Impact
Strengthened share and revenue base in learning center business

2023: Capital and Business Alliance with Gakken Stayful Share Transfer

Overview
Transferred part of Gakken Stayful shares to Nippon Publishing Sales to aim for joint business development.
Impact
Expected synergy effects in stationery and toy fields

2022: Gakken Integration to Form Comprehensive Publisher

Overview
Merged multiple companies including Gakken Mirai Education to establish integrated publisher Gakken and consolidate publishing business.
Impact
Improved management efficiency and strengthened publishing capabilities

2021: Established Digital New Company Gakken LEAP

Overview
Established educational ICT and CVC investment company to promote digital transformation.
Impact
Promotes utilization of latest technologies and new business creation

2020: Media Integration through One Publishing Establishment

Overview
Joint investment with Japan Sōhatsu Group to integrate media-related business for efficiency.
Impact
Strengthened deployment of publishing and information services

2020: Acquired Earth's Walker Business

Overview
Acquired travel guidebook 'Earth's Walker' business from Diamond Sha.
Impact
Expansion of travel-related publishing business

2021: Joint Venture YGC with Yaruki Switch Group

Overview
Established joint venture company for developing and deploying next-generation learning models to pursue new businesses.
Impact
Market development and provision of innovative learning models

2023: Subsidiary Integration for Promoting Employment of People with Disabilities

Overview
Gakken Smile Heart absorbed and merged MCS Heartful to strengthen support system.
Impact
Fulfills corporate social responsibility and improves corporate image

Sustainability

  • Promotion of employment for people with disabilities and strengthening of special subsidiary operations
  • Regional welfare support and improvement of nursing care service quality
  • Promotion of environmentally considerate publication production
  • Support activities for equal educational opportunities
  • Implementation of sustainable talent development programs
  • Balancing digital education and reduction of environmental impact
  • Disaster prevention and support in collaboration with local communities
  • Promotion of corporate culture respecting diversity
  • Enhancement of health management and employee welfare
  • Promotion of CSR activities across the group