YARUKI Switch Group Co., Ltd.

YARUKI Switch Group Co., Ltd. (株式会社やる気スイッチグループ) is a Japanese comprehensive education group headquartered in Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It operates a portfolio of school brands including the individualized tutoring chain School IE (スクールIE), the early-childhood education school Child Eyes (チャイルド・アイズ), the native English conversation school WinBe, the English-language after-school care and preschool Kids Duo, the bilingual kindergartens Kids Duo International and i Kids Star, the kids' sports program Ninja Nine (忍者ナイン), and the programming education service HALLO. As of the end of February 2026, the group reported more than 2,400 classrooms in Japan and overseas, supporting approximately 138,000 children. The group traces its origins to 1973, when founder Masao Matsuda began as a private tutoring school; the company was incorporated in 1989 as Kabushiki Kaisha Takuto in Kimitsu, Chiba, opening the fully individualized tutoring school School IE. The corporate name derives from Matsuda's habitual phrase about "switching on children's motivation" (やる気スイッチ). Over the following decades the group expanded through franchising, new school brands, and overseas joint ventures, particularly in Taiwan. It reorganized into a holding company structure in 2011 and adopted the YARUKI Switch Group Holdings name in 2014, later consolidating into YARUKI Switch Group Co., Ltd. in 2019. In 2017, the Japanese private equity fund Advantage Partners acquired all shares of YARUKI Switch Group Holdings, making the group privately held. The group has continued to form joint ventures and partnerships, including with Preferred Networks (YP Switch, 2020), Gakken Holdings' Gakken Juku Holdings (YGC, 2021), Sanrio (Sanrio Yaruki Edutaining, 2025), and a capital and business alliance with Liveboard in 2026. It also acquired the Ehime-based Terakoya Group in December 2024. The group positions itself as a comprehensive education company that supports children's dreams and lives through education, emphasizing safety measures and a proprietary methodology built on 50 years of educational experience. Its franchise business is a major growth engine, leveraging brand strength and operational know-how to support franchise owners nationwide.

The origins of YARUKI Switch Group date to 1973, when founder Masao Matsuda started as a private tutoring school. In November 1989, the company was incorporated as Kabushiki Kaisha Takuto in Kimitsu, Chiba Prefecture, and opened the fully individualized tutoring school School IE. The corporate name YARUKI Switch derives from Matsuda's habitual phrase about "switching on children's motivation." In January 1997, the company established a franchise headquarters and began expanding through franchised classrooms; in March of that year, the head office moved to World Business Garden Marive East in Mihama-ku, Chiba. In June 2000, the native English conversation school WinBe was opened, combined with School IE to form the composite school "IE Square." In March 2001, the early childhood education brand Child Eyes was launched and added to IE Square. The head office moved to Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo in May 2006. In May 2008, the company established a joint venture in Taiwan, Taiwan Tact Education Co., Ltd., and opened "Takuto School IE" there in June. In September 2008, Kids Duo, an English-language after-school care and preschool service, was opened. In June 2009, Altico became a subsidiary. In November 2010, the in-house think tank Jibunryoku Kaihatsu Kenkyusho (Self-Power Development Research Institute) was established. In September 2011, the company reorganized into a holding company, Takuto Holdings. In September 2012, a sports division was established and the early childhood exercise program "Yaruki Yume Sports" was developed. In February 2013, the total number of classrooms in Japan and overseas reached 1,000. In April 2013, the bilingual kindergarten Kids Duo International opened. In September 2013, the individualized tutoring division and the language/early childhood division were split into new companies, Takuto (second generation) and Takuto Kodomo Mirai, respectively. In March 2014, Takuto Holdings changed its name to YARUKI Switch Group Holdings. In August 2015, the Japan Phonics Association and the Japan Children's Spelling Bee Association were established. In January 2016, Yaruki Yume Sports was rebranded as Ninja Nine. On May 31, 2017, the Japanese private equity fund Advantage Partners acquired all shares of YARUKI Switch Group Holdings. In February 2018, the in-house think tank was renamed the "Yaruki Science Research Institute," and major department store operator J. Front Retailing partnered with Kids Duo International. In April 2018, the bilingual and active kindergarten i Kids Star opened. In September 2018, Yaruki Switch Career was established. On March 1, 2019, the company absorbed its subsidiaries Takuto (second generation) and Takuto Kodomo Mirai, and changed its name from YARUKI Switch Group Holdings to YARUKI Switch Group Co., Ltd. In March 2019, digital versions of the individuality diagnostic test ETS and academic ability diagnostic PCS were sold, and a franchise agreement was signed with the pharmacy chain Frontier to bring Kids Duo International to the Kansai region. On January 7, 2020, a second YARUKI Switch Group Holdings was established through a sole share transfer. In December 2020, YP Switch was established as a joint venture with IoT venture Preferred Networks to develop and manage programming classrooms. In September 2021, YGC was established as a joint venture with Gakken Juku Holdings, a subsidiary of Gakken Holdings, to develop and deploy next-generation learning models. In December 2024, the company acquired all shares of the Ehime-based comprehensive tutoring school Terakoya Group, making it a consolidated subsidiary. In February 2025, it was certified as an Eiken Platinum Partner. On September 1, 2025, Sanrio Yaruki Edutaining was established as a joint venture with Sanrio to support the nationwide franchise of "We Act!" (business started October 24, 2025). In January 2026, it formed a capital and business alliance with Liveboard. The group has received numerous awards, including the Excellent President Award at the 10th Chiba Venture Company Management Awards in January 2006, and School IE ranked first in the 2015 and 2016 Oricon Japan Customer Satisfaction Rankings for university entrance exam individualized tutoring and high school entrance exam individualized tutoring in certain regions. In November 2016, the group ranked second in Nikkei MJ's service industry survey in the tutoring school/prep school category.

• 2026

  Forms capital and business alliance with Liveboard

• 2025

  Certified as Eiken Platinum Partner; establishes Sanrio Yaruki Edutaining joint venture

• 2024

  Acquires Terakoya Group, making it a consolidated subsidiary

• 2021

  Establishes YGC joint venture with Gakken Juku Holdings

• 2020

  Establishes YP Switch joint venture with Preferred Networks

• 2019

  Absorbs subsidiaries and renames to YARUKI Switch Group Co., Ltd.

• 2018

  Opens i Kids Star; establishes Yaruki Switch Career

• 2017

  Advantage Partners acquires all shares of YARUKI Switch Group Holdings

• 2016

  Yaruki Yume Sports rebranded as Ninja Nine

• 2014

  Renames to YARUKI Switch Group Holdings

• 2013

  Total classrooms reach 1,000; opens Kids Duo International

• 2012

  Establishes sports division and develops Yaruki Yume Sports

• 2011

  Reorganizes into holding company Takuto Holdings

• 2008

  Establishes Taiwan joint venture and opens Kids Duo

• 2006

  Moves head office to Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

• 2001

  Opens early childhood education brand Child Eyes

• 2000

  Opens native English conversation school WinBe and IE Square composite school

• 1997

  Establishes franchise headquarters and begins franchise expansion

• 1989

  Incorporated as Kabushiki Kaisha Takuto in Kimitsu, Chiba; opens School IE

• 1973

  Founder Masao Matsuda starts as a private tutoring school

Comprehensive education group providing individualized tutoring, early childhood education, English education, sports, and programming for children from preschool to adulthood, with a proprietary methodology based on 50 years of educational experience.

• School IE

  Fully individualized tutoring school

• Child Eyes

  Early childhood education and elementary school entrance exam preparation

• WinBe

  Native English conversation school using phonics

• Kids Duo

  English-language after-school care and preschool

• Kids Duo International

  Bilingual kindergarten

• i Kids Star

  Bilingual and active kindergarten

• Ninja Nine

  Kids' sports program scientifically developing motor skills

• Programming Education HALLO

  Programming education service powered by Playgram

1. 1やる気スイッチグループ｜公式yarukiswitch.jp
2. 2沿革｜やる気スイッチグループyarukiswitch.jp
3. 3企業情報｜やる気スイッチグループyarukiswitch.jp
4. 4トピックス一覧｜やる気スイッチグループyarukiswitch.jp
5. 5YARUKI Switch Group - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6やる気スイッチグループ - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org