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Kumon’s History
Timeless and borderless,
Kumon does its all for each and every individual.
Kumon’s aspiration, which began with a parent and a child,
is to maximize the potential of each individual through learning.
The Kumon Method is now reaching people all around the world.
Method
1950
- 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
- The first Math Center using Kumon worksheets is
opened in Osaka, Japan.
Toyonaka Uenozaka Center where Toru and Teiko
Kumon instructed students together (circa 1965).
1960
- 1969
- The total number of subject enrollments exceeds 10,000.
1970
- 1975
- The total number of subject enrollments exceeds 100,000.
- 1979
- The first Kumon Instructors Conference is held in
Osaka, Japan.
Kumon began holding the Instructors Conference annually from this year to provide Instructors with an opportunity to share the results of their instruction and voluntary study group activities with their colleagues from around Japan.
1980
- 1980
- The Kumon English Program (for native Japanese speakers) is launched.
- 1981
- The total number of subject enrollments exceeds 1 million.
- The Kumon Japanese Program (for native Japanese speakers) is launched.
- The first Instructors Conference on Learners with Special Needs is held in Tokyo, Japan.
- 1988
- 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.
1990
- 1990
- The Kumon English Program (for native English speakers) is launched in Australia.
- 1993
- The Kumon Chinese Program (for native Chinese speakers) is launched in Taiwan.
- The total number of subject enrollments exceeds 2 million.
- 1994
- The Kumon Portuguese Program (for native Portuguese speakers) is launched in Brazil.
2000
- 2001
- The total number of subject enrollments exceeds 3 million.
- 2004
- The Kumon EFL Program (English as a Foreign Language) is launched in Brazil.
- The Kumon Spanish Program (for native Spanish speakers) is launched in five countries in South America.
- 2005
- The Kumon CFL Program (Chinese as a Foreign Language) is launched in Korea.
- 2006
- The total number of subject enrollments exceeds 4 million.
- 2008
- The Kumon Thai Program (for native Thai speakers) is launched in Thailand.
Organization
1950
- 1958
- The office of the Osaka Institute of Mathematics is
established in Osaka, Japan.
From 1959 to 1962 the Kumon office was located in a rented room inside this residence in Osaka.
1960
- 1962
- The Osaka Institute of Mathematics Ltd. is established.
1970
- 1974
- Kumon Math Center opens in New York, USA.It was with the opening of this Center in New York that the provision of Kumon Method study outside Japan first began.
- 1975
- Center opens in Taiwan.
- 1977
- Center opens in Brazil.
- 1979
- Center opens in Germany.
1980
- 1980
-
An affiliated company is established in São Paulo, Brazil.An affiliated company is established in Düsseldorf, Germany.
- 1982
- An affiliated company is established in Los Angeles, USA.
- 1983
- The first Kumon logo is created.
- 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.
1990
- 1990
- An affiliated company is established in London, UK.
- 1991
- An affiliated company is established in Madrid, Spain.
- 1995
- Company founder Toru Kumon passes away.
- 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.
- 1996
- An affiliated company is established in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- An affiliated company is established in Manila, the
Philippines.
- 1997
- Kumon President Takeshi Kumon passes away.
- 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.
2000
- 2000
- An affiliated company is established in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- 2001
- The new Kumon logo is created.
- 2004
-
An affiliated company is established in New Delhi, India.
An affiliated company is established in Bogotá, Colombia.
- 2005
- An affiliated company is established in Guangzhou, China.
- 2006
- An affiliated company is established in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- 2007
- An affiliated company is established in Doha, Qatar.
- 2008
- Kumon celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding in Tokyo, Japan.
2010
- 2011
- An affiliated company is established in Beijing, China.
- 2014
- 100th Anniversary of the birth of Toru Kumon in
Yokohama, Japan.
- Kumon Milestones
- Here we describe how Kumon progressed from its humble beginnings
as a learning method designed by a father for his child to become a
globally accepted method of learning. See Details
- Toru Kumon’s Story
- Toru Kumon’s love for his son gave birth to the Kumon Method of learning.
After more than half a century, true to his philosophy, we continue to help
as many children as possible develop the ability to fulfill their dreams. See Details
