Kindergarten (age 5–6) to junior highOnce a weekLocal classrooms in Aichi & Shizuoka
Kodomo School offers soroban (Japanese abacus), Japanese calligraphy & handwriting (kakikata shodo), and art classes.
Once a week, children collect small “I did it!” moments, one by one,
and grow the power to believe in themselves.
Does this sound familiar?
It may not be a question of “ability” —
it may be room to grow in the foundations of learning.Posture, focus, thinking skills. At Kodomo School, small “I did it!” moments add up to build those foundations — and confidence.
Three classes
Each class meets once a week. At local community centers and similar places, teachers guide each child at their own pace.
Not just an arithmetic lesson — training in “how to use your head.”
Moving the fingers, picturing numbers, sticking with it to the end. With practice, children build focus and the confidence that “if I try, I can do it.”
The power to write is the power to think.
Good posture, correct stroke order, and clean stroke endings (tome, hane, harai). Children learn both brush writing and pencil handwriting. Taking time to study a model carefully builds neat handwriting and a calm mind.
Not “drawing well,” but “drawing yourself.”
Children freely draw what they feel, then present their work to the group. We also hold “art philosophy dialogues,” where children look at famous paintings and talk about them together. The joy of being recognized helps build self-esteem.
I love them all!
Why not try a trial lesson first?
Find a classroom
Classes are held in easy-to-reach places such as local community centers. Choose an area to see the days and locations right away.
What Kodomo School values
Soroban technique and beautiful handwriting. We teach these visible skills carefully, without cutting corners.
A heart that can believe “I can do it” and “It’s OK to be just who I am.” We believe this is the foundation that supports a whole life.
The roots of a tree can’t be seen. But a tree with deep, wide roots stands firm in any wind and bears beautiful flowers and fruit.From the founder’s message
Why families choose us
01Along with calculation and beautiful handwriting, we nurture the “invisible strengths” children need to live as themselves, through philosophy dialogues and our “Waku-Waku Friends Cards.”
02Our classrooms are places where children can feel “It’s OK to be just who I am.” We trust that each child will grow in their own time, wait patiently, and celebrate every small “I did it!” together.
03Classes are held at easy-to-reach community centers and similar places in Toyohashi, Toyokawa, Okazaki, Anjo and Hamamatsu. Our teachers, who keep training in how to build children’s self-esteem, teach with kindness.
Inside a lesson (soroban & calligraphy)
A flexible drop-in system: children come at any time during the classroom’s open hours. The teacher checks each child’s progress while teaching.
※ Lessons are basically 16:10–18:30.
⚠️ Some classrooms start at 15:40, so please contact our head office for details.
From parents
My child enjoys it so much that they start on their homework as soon as they get home from soroban class. Thank you, and we look forward to your continued guidance.
(…) My child reached the goal of “earning a dan rank by 6th grade!” a year early and is very happy about it. We look forward to your continued guidance for the remaining year.
Rather than “making things neatly and well,” the teachers value the child’s inner voice above all — “What do you want to do? How did you feel?” — so I can feel my son’s individuality being drawn out freely.
※ Shared as the parents wrote them (individual opinions). Translated from Japanese.
Everyone’s “I did it!”
makes me happy, too.
Trial lessons & fees
Soroban and calligraphy trial lessons are free (about 20 minutes; just bring something to write with). The art trial lesson is 40 minutes and costs ¥1,000; you don’t need to bring anything.
Use the form on this website, call us, or message our official LINE account. Even if you haven’t chosen a classroom yet, our head office staff will help you find one.
Your child joins a real lesson in the classroom. Meanwhile, parents can look over our information papers.
If you’d like to join, please contact our head office. Once you register with our official LINE account, lessons begin.
It’s OK if you haven’t picked a classroom yet.
The head office staff will help you find one.
| Kindergarten (age 5–6) & elementary (once a week, 60 min) | ¥4,600/month |
|---|---|
| Junior high (once a week, 60 min) | ¥5,500/month |
| Facility fee (incl. insurance) | ¥1,100/month |
| Enrollment fee | ¥4,800 |
When siblings attend, the enrollment fee is free from the second child on. Materials fees are charged separately.
| Grade 1–6 (once a week, 80 min) | ¥6,500/month |
|---|---|
| Facility fee, insurance & materials fee | ¥1,500/month |
The art trial lesson is 40 minutes and costs ¥1,000 (paid in cash on the day; if you apply to enroll within one week of the trial, ¥1,000 is taken off the first fees). We use acrylic paint, so please wear clothes that can get dirty.
News
News is in Japanese only.
Learning that spreads
The learning that began in our Toyohashi classrooms now reaches children in Hanoi, Vietnam, too.
Since June 2023, we have taught Japanese-style soroban at our Hanoi school, Kodomo Soroban Center.
Our Japanese-style soroban education in Vietnam was selected as a supported project of “EDU-Port Japan,” run by Japan’s Ministry of Education (MEXT).
Including 『こどもの「自己肯定感」がグングン育つ本』 (“A Book That Helps Children’s Self-Esteem Grow and Grow”). He also gives talks and training sessions on parenting and education.
Soroban and calligraphy trial lessons are free (about 20 minutes; just bring something to write with). The art trial lesson is 40 minutes and costs ¥1,000 (nothing to bring). Come with your child and see the feel of the classroom and how well the teacher suits your child.
