Initiatives at Toyota Woven City
The Z-kai Group is participating as an “Inventor” in Toyota Woven City, managed and operated by Woven by Toyota, Inc. (hereafter, “Woven by Toyota”). By opening “Z-kai Inventive School” to conduct proof-of-concept testing using the latest technology, we aim to realize “new learning spaces” and “advanced educational styles utilizing data” by combining the Z-kai Group’s essential teaching expertise with Woven by Toyota’s advanced and outstanding technology centered on the keyword "mobility". Through this participation, we aspire to create new services in the educational sector, innovate the Japanese educational market, and further contribute to the development of education from a global perspective.
Initiatives with Sony Global Education
The Z-kai Group has entered into a comprehensive business alliance agreement in the educational sector with Sony Global Education, Inc. (hereafter, "SGED"), promoting collaboration to deliver educational services that precisely respond to customer demands in a new era. In “Z-kai Correspondence Education” expanded by Z-kai Inc., we provide new services incorporating KOOV(R), a robot and programming learning kit developed by SGED to nurture creativity. Through collaboration between both companies, we will contribute to the development of STEAM education and human resource development from a global perspective.
KOOV(R) is a registered trademark of Sony Global Education, Inc.
Initiatives with Wacom
The Z-kai Group has signed a comprehensive business alliance agreement with Wacom Co., Ltd. to promote “Handwriting × Digital” in the educational field, jointly developing innovative learning services aligned with the needs of the DX era. In FY2021, we integrated handwriting-focused features into courses for junior high and high school students in “Z-kai Correspondence Education,” releasing related features every year since. In spring 2024, we released the 2nd-generation dedicated Z-kai Tablet with significantly enhanced specifications. Furthermore, “Chienowa Learning Search,” implemented in the same year, has earned high acclaim from customers and was expanded to other courses and subjects in FY2025. By combining both companies’ strong commitment to “handwriting” and leveraging our respective strengths, we will continue to contribute to improving learner convenience.
Initiatives with EduLab
The Z-kai Group has been working alongside EduLab, Inc. (hereafter, the "EduLab Group") since 2018 on joint research in the National Assessment of Academic Ability and learning condition surveys, as well as AI initiatives. To strengthen collaboration between both parties, we entered into a capital and business alliance agreement in July 2022.We are expanding contracted projects such as academic surveys through proposals combining content development, scoring processing, measurement analysis, and CBT transition; strengthening sales capabilities by sharing customer-response expertise; providing services utilizing EduLab Group’s character recognition technology to local municipalities and schools; and participating in the management of a newly established company for operating test centers.By optimally combining the resources and strengths of both companies, we aim to deliver even better learning opportunities and services to our customers.
Initiatives with Surugadai Gakuen and Sundai Prep School
Z-kai Inc. entered into a business alliance agreement in 2018 with Surugadai Gakuen Educational Corporation, an integrated educational institution operating prep schools, vocational colleges, and overseas schools. In collaboration with “Sundai Prep School,” which boasts an overwhelming track record of successful applicants to prestigious universities, we primarily provide personalized correction guidance for Tokyo University, Kyoto University, and competitive university prep courses (Z-kai Correction), co-host high-level mock exams (“University of Tokyo Practice Exam,” “Kyoto University Practice Exam,” “High School Advanced”), and hold joint seminars/courses ("University of Tokyo, Kyoto University & Osaka University Admissions Seminar,” “University of Tokyo / Kyoto University Real Exam Practice Course”). By maximizing the strengths of both parties—combining Sundai’s lectures with Z-kai’s personalized correction guidance—we will continue to elevate our overwhelming presence in the entrance exam market for top-tier universities.
Initiatives with Studyplus
The Z-kai Group entered into a capital and business alliance in 2019 with Studyplus Inc., which operates the study management app “Studyplus” and the educational institution study management platform “Studyplus for School”. Among numerous EdTech services, Studyplus demonstrates particularly high affinity with the Z-kai Group’s instructional methodology in terms of self-study management and learning analytics, promising mutual business benefits. Consequently, “Studyplus for School” has been introduced and utilized across Z-kai Group services, including “Z-kai Correspondence Education (for High School Students),” “Eikoh Seminar University Exam Navio,” “Masuda Juku,” “Z-kai Learning Centers,” and “Optima Study”.
Initiatives with SEG
Z-kai Inc. entered into a capital and business alliance in 2019 with SEG Inc., which operates “Scientific Education Group SEG,” a cram school specializing in entrance exam preparation for prestigious universities. We collaborate through co-hosting events with Z-kai and Z-kai Educe, as well as offering Z-kai Educe University of Tokyo Japanese Language Courses at SEG. We will continue to broadly pursue joint services that strongly assist junior high and high school students aiming for top-tier universities, providing optimal educational services that meet the needs of top-performing academic tiers to enhance customer satisfaction and corporate value.
Airing at Fostering Non-Cognitive Skills
Since its founding, Z-kai Inc. has focused on developing non-cognitive skills, believing that repeatedly practicing "learning to think, research, and express independently" fosters the capability to open up the future.
Currently, targeting educational institutions and local municipalities, we offer the non-cognitive assessment “SELF+eZ*1” and the non-cognitive visualization tool “DiscoveRe Method(R)*2”. Through visualizing and evaluating students’ non-cognitive skills and providing appropriate feedback toward goal attainment, we support student growth beyond academic improvement, such as problem-solving abilities and cooperativeness.
*1 An assessment co-developed with Dr. Richard D. Roberts, a global authority on initiative and non-cognitive skill research, and supervised by Guest Professor Tatsuo Kitagawa of the Graduate School of Education at Seisa University, a global assessment tool developer deeply versed in non-cognitive skills.
*2 A tool that visualizes 8 capabilities based on “behaviors and mindsets required of astronauts” developed by space agencies such as JAXA and NASA: Self-Management, Communication, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Teamwork & Group Behavior, Leadership, Interpersonal Conflict Management, Situational Awareness, and Decision Making & Problem Solving.
Initiatives with Shuei Yobiko
Z-kai Inc. has deepened its collaboration with Shuei Yobiko Co., Ltd.—which expands learning guidance services nationwide—co-hosting the "Public Achievement Test" mock exams for elementary and junior high school students since FY2024. For high school students, Z-kai conducts the "Entrance Exam Basic Capability Diagnostic Test" targeting many students at Shuei Yobiko. Furthermore, learning materials crafted by Z-kai have been adopted as classroom textbooks for Shuei Yobiko’s High School Division since FY2025. Beginning in FY2026, the exam is being administered as the "National Public Achievement Test," expanding the scope of our collaboration. By combining Z-kai’s long-cultivated ability to craft high-quality, excellent questions with Shuei Yobiko’s management, scoring, and data analysis capabilities, we aim to deliver even stronger support for customer learning and drive business development.
Sponsorship of the “Words that Touched My Heart”Contest
Z-kai Inc. and Eikoh Inc. of the Z-kai Group serve as special sponsors for the “Words that Touched My Heart Contest” (Watashi no Oriori no Kotoba Contest) hosted by The Asahi Shimbun Company. This contest invites junior high and high school students nationwide to submit meaningful "words" and accompanying personal stories that resonated deeply with them. Inspired by philosopher Kiyokazu Washida’s front-page column “Oriori no Kotoba” in The Asahi Shimbun, the contest began in 2015 with Dr. Washida serving as the head judge, presenting awards including the “Z-kai Award” and “Eikoh Seminar Award”. Through searching for words that touch their hearts, we hope to provide many junior high and high school students with an opportunity to discover what is truly important to them.
Initiatives with SDGs
The Z-kai Group promotes initiatives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. “Eikoh Science Lab,” a specialized science experiment school operated by Eikoh Inc., contributes to achieving the SDGs through its classes and events. Meanwhile, Shane Corporation Inc., operator of Shane English School, engages in activities aligned with six specific goals, including [Goal 4] Quality Education and [Goal 10] Reduced Inequalities. Both companies have been granted permission by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to use the “SDGs Promotion Japan Logo,” and we will continue our proactive engagement toward the SDGs.
“Z-kai Scholarship” system
As an initiative to realize one of the Z-kai Group Visions (“the development of future leaders who will be able to contribute to social innovation and progress”), we established a scholarship grant program to provide a study-focused environment for university students facing financial difficulties. This program gives tangible shape to our desire to unlock the potential of university students who possess the power to shape the future. We hope our scholarship recipients will become leaders guiding Japan and the world through an era of profound change driven by declining birthrates, globalization, and advanced information technology.