Is soroban pointless?
Honest answers to the most common worries

It may look a little strange for us, who have run soroban classrooms for more than 50 years, to write an article answering the question “Is soroban pointless?” But we are asked this question very often, and continuing while feeling “this is pointless” is hard on both the child and the parents. So rather than listing only the good points, we will answer honestly.

Five reasons people say it is “pointless,” and the reality

① There are calculators and smartphones, so you don’t need to calculate

True. As an adult, you will almost never calculate on a soroban. But what soroban builds is not “calculation itself”; it is the ability to picture numbers as quantities and the habit of concentrating and finishing accurately within a set time. Even with a calculator, you still need a feel for whether an answer is roughly right, and the habit of concentrating can be used for everything beyond calculation.

② It isn’t taught at school, so it doesn’t affect grades

Soroban questions do not appear on school math tests. But children who stumble over carrying and borrowing, or who make many calculation mistakes, often have a weak feel for quantity, and that is exactly where soroban helps. Parents often tell us, “Calculation mistakes on math tests went down,” or “My child started raising their hand in math class.”

③ It gets mixed up with the school’s written method and causes confusion

In the first few months, some children really do get confused. That is why, in the classroom, the teacher reminds children that “the school way is correct too” and helps them use both as needed. Most children switch between them naturally within two or three months. Quitting at this point with “so it really is pointless” is the biggest waste of all.

④ They’ll forget it if they quit

The bead movements, yes, they will forget. But the feel for quantity and the habit of concentration remain. The guide is 3rd kyu. Many children who continued to 3rd kyu can still do mental math as adults, and it can go on a résumé. On the other hand, a child who quits after a few months keeps almost nothing. “If you continue, continue to 3rd kyu” is our honest recommendation.

⑤ The cost and the driving are hard

This is a fact. That is exactly why we want you to judge whether it is worthwhile for your child, and when it is not. Kodomo School is once a week, 60 minutes, ¥4,600 a month (kindergarten and elementary school), held close to home at local community centers and similar venues, so we keep the burden of drop-off and pick-up as small as we can.

When soroban is worthwhile

• Your child stumbles over carrying and borrowing, or counts on their fingers: once they can picture numbers as quantities, the stumbles become fewer.
• Your child can’t stay focused or finish things: practicing a set number of sheets in a set time builds the habit of concentration.
• Your child lacks confidence and says “I can’t do it anyway”: through the small steps of the kyu grades, they collect experiences of “I passed through my own effort.”
• Your child loves numbers or dreams of doing mental math: they will grow. Soroban-style mental math can only be learned through soroban.

Honestly: children it doesn’t suit, and when it brings little benefit

• Your child is not enjoying it at all (hates going every time, cries in class): please take a break of six months to a year and try a trial lesson again. Forcing it will make them dislike both soroban and math.
• The goal is “getting ahead of school”: soroban is not a program for moving ahead of the school grade. For that goal, other kinds of study are a better fit (see Soroban or Kumon: Which Is Better?).
• You only plan to try it for a few months: it takes six months to a year to reach the first kyu grade. If you want short-term results, it is not a good match.
• Your child struggles with word problems or geometry, but not with calculation: soroban helps with calculation and a feel for quantity. Word problems and geometry need different practice.

When to stop, and how

Rather than the parents deciding alone, it is best to decide together with your child. Setting a milestone — “until the next exam,” “until 3rd kyu” — makes it easier for the child to accept. Kodomo School also has a system for taking a break, so if you are unsure, please talk to the head office.

Tips for continuing so that it turns into “it was worth it”

1. Praise going, not results: “You went again today.” “You finished to the end.” The grades will follow later.
2. Connect it to school math when you talk: “That’s the friend of 10 you did at soroban.” In your child’s mind, soroban and math join up.
3. Make each exam a small celebration: when they pass, celebrate “I did it!” as a family. This is where confidence grows.
4. Talk to the teacher: the teacher sees the stumbles best. If you tell us “they’ve been reluctant lately,” we can change how we set tasks.

Frequently asked questions

If you’re not sure whether to keep going, talk to your teacher. We’ll think it through together!

About the author

Taito MoritaFounder & principal of Kodomo School (Morita Group Co., Ltd.)

He carries on the Morita Juku founded in Toyohashi in 1972. Through soroban, calligraphy and art at about 90 classrooms in Aichi and Shizuoka and at our Hanoi school in Vietnam, he helps children build the strength to believe in themselves. He also gives talks and seminars on education.

Message from our founderTalks & seminarsUpdated: October 8, 2026