The benefits of soroban
The benefits of soroban
(and the drawbacks, honestly)
Faster calculation is only the beginning. What soroban (the Japanese abacus) really builds is the ability to picture numbers, concentration and confidence. At the same time, it suits some children better than others, and there is a right time to stop. Drawing on more than 50 years of running classes, we will tell you everything: the good, and the things to be careful about.
- Benefits of soroban ①–④ (visible skills)
- How does the brain work? (soroban-style mental math and the right brain)
- The “invisible strengths” we most want to nurture
- Drawbacks, and our answers to “soroban is pointless”
- Which children it suits, which it doesn’t, and when to stop
- What age to start? Typical tuition? How is it different from Kumon?
- Frequently asked questions
Benefits of soroban ①–④ (visible skills)
① Picturing numbers as “amounts” (faster, more accurate calculation)
On a soroban, 7 is seen as a shape: one 5-bead and two 1-beads. Carrying and borrowing are also learned physically, as movements of the beads. So numbers start to move in the child’s head as “amounts,” calculation gets faster, and mistakes decrease. If the written arithmetic taught at school is “remembering a procedure,” soroban is “picturing numbers.” With both, children become strong in math.
② A habit of focused work
In class, children work through a set number of problem sheets in a set time. Repeating “accurately, within the time” builds a habit of deep concentration. The comments we hear most from parents are “my child starts school homework sooner now” and “my child finishes things through to the end.”
③ Memory for numbers
In dictation practice (yomiage-zan), children listen to the numbers the teacher reads out and work them on the beads one after another. In mental math (anzan), they hold the numbers on a soroban in their head. This is practice in “holding numbers in mind for a moment.”
④ The confidence of “if I try, I can do it”
Soroban has clear small steps: the kyu grades. Passing one small exam after another through their own effort becomes the confidence of “I’m okay.” This is the most important benefit, and it leads to the “invisible strengths” below.
How does the brain work? (soroban-style mental math and the right brain)
Children calculate by using their fingertips to move the beads in an orderly sequence.
With practice, children can picture a soroban in their mind and calculate on it. This is “soroban-style mental math” (shuzan-shiki anzan).
Studies of the brain during soroban-style mental math have found that, rather than the areas that “think in words” used in ordinary calculation, the areas that “handle shapes and space” (on the right-brain side) are more active. In other words, the mental math that soroban builds is the ability to move numbers as pictures, not as words. This is why people often say that soroban “trains the right brain.”
That said, it would be going too far to claim that “soroban makes children smarter.” What is certain is that children are repeatedly practicing picturing numbers, concentrating and remembering. We believe that this carries over into math and other studies.
The “invisible strengths” we most want to nurture
What Kodomo School most wants to nurture through soroban are the strengths that don’t show up in test scores.
- Self-esteem (the confidence of “if I try, I can do it”)
A string of small successes: “I did it!” and “I passed!” The experience of getting through them by their own effort builds a real confidence: “I’m okay.”
- Perseverance and judgment
“Perseverance” to keep practicing steadily toward passing the next exam. “Judgment” to read numbers in an instant and decide how the fingers move. These become an inner anchor that supports children when they face difficulties in the future.
- Intuition and creativity
The ability to move numbers as pictures also leads to “intuition” that grasps the heart of things, and “creativity” that comes up with new ideas.
Drawbacks, and our answers to “soroban is pointless”
Search online and you will also find “soroban is pointless” and “soroban drawbacks.” Here are our honest answers.
| What people say | The reality |
|---|---|
| We have calculators, so it’s not needed | The aim is not calculation itself but building a picture of numbers, concentration and confidence. Even with a calculator, you still need the sense of whether an answer is “roughly right.” |
| It gets mixed up with written arithmetic at school | This does happen at first. Our teachers tell children “the school way is correct too,” and guide them so they can use both methods, each in its place. |
| It takes a long time to see results | True. It takes six months to a year to reach the first kyu grade. It is not an activity that shows up in test scores right away. |
| Children forget it once they stop | Even if they forget how to move the beads, the picture of numbers and the habit of concentration remain. Many children who continued to 3rd kyu or above can still do mental math as adults. |
| It costs money | Typical tuition is from about ¥4,500 to ¥12,000 a month, depending on the number of lessons and the area. At Kodomo School it is ¥4,600 a month for one lesson a week (final year of kindergarten and elementary school). |
Which children it suits, which it doesn’t, and when to stop
Children it suits: interested in numbers or clocks, don’t mind repeated practice, enjoy the feeling of “I did it,” and can sit and listen for 10 minutes.
Children for whom it is still too early: not interested in numbers, find it hard to stay seated, or cry all the way through the trial lesson. In that case, don’t push it; please try another trial lesson six months to a year later.
Signs it may be time to stop: “passed 3rd kyu,” “the child feels they have done all they wanted to,” or “a new interest has come along.” The best way to decide is to talk it over with the child, rather than the parents deciding alone. 3rd kyu is a grade you can list on a résumé in Japan, and it is said that children who continue this far tend to keep their mental math ability for life.
What age to start? Typical tuition? How is it different from Kumon?
What age to start?
As a guide, around the final year of kindergarten (age 5–6). The largest number of children start in Grades 1–3, and it is not too late to start in the upper elementary grades or junior high. For details, see What age should children start soroban?
Typical tuition
Typical monthly tuition for soroban classes is from about ¥4,500 to ¥12,000 a month, depending on the number of lessons and the area. At Kodomo School, one 60-minute lesson a week is ¥4,600 a month (final year of kindergarten and elementary school, tax included), and ¥5,500 for junior high students. Separately, there is a facility fee of ¥1,100 a month (incl. insurance), an enrollment fee of ¥4,800 (free from the second sibling) and a materials fee. For details, see Lesson times, tuition and how to enroll, and for the costs beyond monthly tuition, see Typical soroban tuition and the costs involved.
How is it different from Kumon?
Kumon uses worksheets to learn “procedures” and move ahead of the school grade. Soroban uses beads to build a “picture of numbers.” The aims are different, so neither is better than the other. Some children attend both. If you feel “my child knows how to calculate, but has a weak sense of numbers,” soroban is a good fit.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to see results?
Many parents notice “my child works with more focus” within one to three months. As a guide, faster calculation takes six months to a year, and mental math one to two years.
Will my child’s math grades at school improve?
Many children make fewer calculation mistakes and feel more confident in math class. However, word problems and geometry need separate practice. The biggest change is that “math is no longer something they dislike.”
Is once a week enough?
Kodomo School lessons are 60 minutes, once a week. In every lesson the teacher marks the work on the spot and sets tasks suited to each child, so children make steady progress even at once a week. There is no need to practice every day at home.
Where are the grade exams held?
Children take them at the classroom they usually attend. There is no need to go to an unfamiliar venue, so even young children feel at ease.
Click, click, flick the beads,
and let’s collect more “I did it!” moments!
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
Parents' Column
Articles about soroban
Start with a free trial lesson
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.