Our History

1931

• “Jitsuryoku-Zoshin-kai” established at Kashiwagi Yodobashi-cho, Toyotama-gun, Tokyo. Commenced educational services, mainly distance correspondence education. The founder, Yutaka Fujii, was a former English teacher born in 1898 in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Pref.

1945

• Evacuated from Tokyo to escape the air raids, and settled in Nakaizu-cho, Tagata-gun, Shizuoka Pref.

1952

• Changed company name to “Zoshin-kai”, with the abbreviation “Z-kai”; resumed services.

1960

• Transition from a private company to a limited company.

1961

• Launched high school basic correction distance correspondence course.

1979

• Relocated to a newly-constructed headquarters building in Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka Pref.
• Introduced computers to begin streamlining and to improve efficiency.

1981

• Started distribution of textbooks at designated bookstores.

1982

• Launched distance correspondence courses for students studying for high school entrance examinations.

1985

• Converted to a joint-stock corporation.
• Opened a cram school, “Shingaku Z-kai”, in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

1986

• Launched public mock exams.

1991

• Launched preparatory course for the entrance examination to the University of Tokyo.

1992

• Published the first edition of “Sokudoku-Eitango 1, 2” (Vocabulary building).
• Published “The Complete Works of Wakayama Bokusui”

1994

• Opened Osaka Learning Center to launch preparatory course for the entrance examination to the University of Kyoto.

1995

• Opened Ochanomizu Learning Center to operate preparatory course for the entrance examination of the University of Tokyo.

1998

• Published “TOEIC^(R) Practical Pack”

1999

• Transferred cram school business in the Tokyo metropolitan area to Tokyo Zoshinkai Inc.
• Published “Oxford Word Power Dictionary”.
• Launched distance correspondence course for elementary school students.

2000

• Transferred cram school business in the Kansai region to Tokyo Zoshinkai Inc.
• Transferred publishing business to Z-kai Publishers Inc.

2001

• Constructed Ochanomizu Building in Kanda-Sudacho, Tokyo.
• 70th Anniversary campaign “UNICEF Fundraising Project”Implemented “Find the oldest Z-Kai member!”
• Published 70th Anniversary publication “The Selected Works of Shiki”

2002

• Published “Word Power Fully Bilingual Dictionary”.
• Launched Business Development Courses.

2003

• Changed the name of Tokyo Zoshinkai Inc. to Z-kai Taimen Kyoiku Inc. (cram school).

2004

• Launched 1st year elementary school distance correspondence course.

2005

• Launched 2nd and 3rd year elementary school distance correspondence course.

2006

• Merged Zoshinkai Publishers Inc. (distance correspondence education service), “Z-kai Taimen Kyoiku” (cram school business) and Z-kai Publishers Inc., to form Z-kai Inc.
• Launched 3rd year elementary school distance correspondence course for entrance exams.

2007

• Launched 4th year elementary school distance correspondence course for entrance exams.
• Changed the title of the “Z-kai Todai Master Course” to “Z-kai Master Course”
• Launched the Japanese language proficiency test.
• Opened “Z-kai Private Lesson” courses in Kansai.
• Launched video streaming courses.

2008

• Launched 5th year elementary school distance correspondence course for entrance exams.

2009

• Constructed Z-kai Bunkyo-cho Building in Mishima.
• Launched 6th year elementary school distance correspondence course for entrance exams.
• Opened Z-kai Study Mishima Headquarters School (currently Z-kai Preparatory Laboratory Mishima)
• Entered a business and capital alliance with Eikoh Inc.

2010

• Launched a distance correspondence course for 4/5 year-old preschool students.

2011

• Launched a preschool distance correspondence course for four-year-olds.

2013

• Launched a preschool distance correspondence course for three-year-olds.
• Established Z-kai CA Inc.

2015

• Opened “Z-kai Todai Private Lesson” school
• Established Z-kai Learning Technology Inc.
• Established Z-kai Educe Inc.
• Established ZE Holdings Inc. (currently Z-kai Holdings Inc.) and made Eikoh Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary.
• Established 21st Century Learning Research Institute, Inc. (currently Z-kai Solutions Inc.)
• Established Zenis Inc.
• Made ISS Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary.

2016

• Business alliance with RareJob, Inc.
• Opened Montessori preschool for children from 0 years old “ICE Montessori Kodomo no Ie”
• Release of assessment series “LIPHARE”
• Licensing agreement with LEGO^(R) for education and programming education services.

2017

• Launch of Z-kai Asteria.
• Opening of “E-style Produced by Eikoh Seminar” a cram school for preparing for entrance exams for high-level public junior high and high schools in Tokyo.
• Opening of a new Nagoya office for Educational Network Inc.
• Made Masuda Juku (MYFRONTIER Inc.) a wholly owned subsidiary.
• SuRaLa Net Co.,Ltd. and ZE Holdings Inc. (currently Z-kai Holdings Inc.) forms a business partnership.
• Made SMARTKIDS Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary.
• Made Aoi Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary.

2018

• Established Z-kai Solutions Inc.
• Capital alliance with Lentrance Inc.
• Made ALTIA CENTRAL Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary
• Established Eikoh North America Inc.
• Business alliance with Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Z-kai Inc. selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's “Classroom of the Future'” demonstration project.
• Surugadai Gakuen Educational Corporation and Z-kai Inc. enter into a business partnership.
• Space BD, Z-kai Group, and JAXA begin activities to create educational projects within the framework of the JAXA research and development program “J-SPARC”
• Business alliance with EduLab, Inc.

2019

• Capital and business alliance formed between SEG Corporation and Z-kai Inc.
• Established Z-kai USA Inc.
• Capital and business alliance with Studyplus, Inc.
• Z-kai Inc. selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's “Classroom of the Future” demonstration project.
• Business alliance with atama plus Inc.

2020

• Business alliance with Sony Global Education Inc.
• Business alliance with TOKYO SHOSEKI CO., LTD.
• Business alliance with Wacom Co., Ltd.
• Integration of Nellie's Inc. into Shane Corporation Ltd.

2021

• Launch of Z-kai Distance Correspondence Education “Tablet Course” for junior high school students.
• Launch of Eikoh Inc. online cram school “EIKOH LiNKSTUDY”

2022

• Launch of Z-kai Distance Correspondence Education “Tablet Course” for first- and second-year high school students.
• Opening of “Eikoh Seminar Entrance Exam Preparation Center for Highest Level Junior High Schools for Girls”
• Capital and business alliance with EduLab Inc.
• Management integration of Masuda Juku Inc. into Eikoh Inc.

2023

• Launch of Z-kai Distance Correspondence Education “Tablet Course” for university entrance exam students.