Child Honsha Co., Ltd.
A Japanese publisher specializing in early-childhood education, known for the monthly picture-book series Child Book sold directly to kindergartens and nursery schools.
Last updated September 28, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Child Honsha Co., Ltd. (株式会社チャイルド本社) is a Japanese publisher based in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, specializing in early-childhood education. Its business centers on publishing for young children and on creating environments for childcare, distributed mainly through kindergartens, nursery schools (hoikusho) and certified centers for early childhood education and care (nintei kodomoen) rather than through general bookstores. Its best-known product is the monthly picture-book series Child Book (チャイルドブック), a comprehensive childcare picture book tied to Japan's early-childhood education frameworks such as the 'five domains' and the 'ten images of children'. The company also publishes childcare books, illustrated reference works, single-volume titles, and childcare supplies, and it operates the Select Pal line of workwear and private wear for childcare workers. Its official online shop is called Palmo (ぱるも). The company traces its origins to the pre-war and wartime publishing activities of Sadao Ohashi, who joined the publishing department of the Imperial Education Association and began independent publishing in children's literature, working on the monthly childcare picture book Kodomo no Hikari. In 1944 several similar monthly picture books were merged into Nihon no Kodomo, and Kokumin Tosho Kankokai Co., Ltd. — the predecessor of today's company — was established in Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, with Ohashi as president. After a temporary suspension in 1945 and a restart in Hakusan, Koishikawa in 1946, the magazine was renamed Child Book in 1949 and its character as a quasi-textbook for kindergartens and nursery schools was established, with sales shifting from bookstores to direct sales. The company took its current name, Child Honsha, in 1960, and built a nationwide network of sales offices and agents, functioning as a specialist trading house covering not only childcare publications but all early-childhood education-related goods. Over the decades the company expanded its product range: it began the Select Pal business for kindergarten and nursery teachers in 1984, moved to a database-based computer system in 1987, introduced a web ordering system in 2002, and launched the online shop Palmo. In 1981 it established the affiliate Hisakata Child Co., Ltd. to handle sales through the general bookstore channel, converting its monthly magazines into hardcover trade editions. The company states that its Child Book series has been trusted by kindergartens, nursery schools and certified centers nationwide and loved by children for 85 years. It remains a private, family-linked Japanese publisher led by president Jun Ohashi, and it is distinct from the unrelated company Child Sha (チャイルド社).
History
The origins of Child Honsha lie in the publishing activities of Sadao Ohashi, third son of Mitsukichi Ohashi, president of Kyodo Printing. Sadao Ohashi joined the publishing department of the Imperial Education Association (Teikoku Kyoiku Kai), where, alongside publishing works such as the famous 'Mikan Kokubun Kochushaku Taikei', he began independent publishing in the field of children's literature and started work on the monthly childcare picture book Kodomo no Hikari. In 1944, Kodomo no Hikari and several other similar monthly picture books then being published were merged under wartime corporate consolidation into Nihon no Kodomo. To publish this magazine, Kokumin Tosho Kankokai Co., Ltd. — the predecessor of the present company — was established in Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, with Sadao Ohashi as president and capital of 1.5 million yen. In 1945, with the war outlook bleak, the company temporarily suspended operations. It resumed business in 1946 in Koishikawa Hakusan Goten-cho (present-day Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku). In 1949 the magazine was renamed from Nihon no Kodomo to Child Book, establishing its character as a quasi-textbook for kindergartens and nursery schools, and the sales method was switched from bookstore sales to direct sales. In 1950 capital was increased to 2.2 million yen, and in addition to childcare magazines and childcare books the company began publishing books, dictionaries and authorized textbooks for elementary and junior high schools. In 1956 the textbook division was transferred to the sister company Nihon Shoseki, and the company narrowed its business to kindergartens and nursery schools as sales targets. In 1960 the company changed its name to Child Honsha Co., Ltd. and completed a nationwide network of sales offices and agents, equipping itself to function as a specialist trading house covering not only conventional childcare publications but all early-childhood education-related goods. Capital was increased to 8.8 million yen in 1964. In 1968 President Sadao Ohashi received the Blue Ribbon Medal, and in 1969 capital was increased to 17.6 million yen. In 1971 Chairman Sadao Ohashi received the Printing Culture Award. In 1973 a new company building was completed in Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku (the current address), and capital was increased to 30 million yen. In 1978 Chairman Sadao Ohashi received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class. In 1980, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founding, the company compiled the 'Child Honsha 50-Year History'. In 1981 the affiliate Hisakata Child Co., Ltd. was established for trade children's-book publishing, its name deriving from the company's founding location, Hisakata-cho in Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku. In 1984 the company began the Select Pal business for kindergarten and nursery school teachers. In 1987 it switched its computer system to a database. In 1990 the Hakusan Building company premises were completed, and in 2002 a web ordering system was introduced. The company's Child Book series has been trusted by kindergartens, nursery schools and certified centers for early childhood education and care nationwide and loved by children for 85 years. The nursery rhyme 'Inu no Omawarisan' originated from Child Book: it first appeared in the October 1960 issue as a maze page in which the reader helps a lost cat reach its mother; at the time a sonosheet was included as a supplement, and it spread after being broadcast on NHK radio. The company continues to publish monthly picture books, childcare books, illustrated reference works and single-volume titles, and childcare supplies, and it operates the Select Pal workwear line and the Palmo online shop. It is a private company led by Representative Director and President Jun Ohashi, and it is entirely separate from the unrelated company Child Sha.
- 2002
A web ordering system is introduced.
- 1990
The Hakusan Building company premises are completed.
- 1987
The computer system is switched to a database.
- 1984
The Select Pal business begins for kindergarten and nursery school teachers.
- 1981
Affiliate Hisakata Child Co., Ltd. is established for trade children's-book publishing.
- 1980
The 'Child Honsha 50-Year History' is compiled to commemorate the 50th anniversary of founding.
- 1978
Chairman Sadao Ohashi receives the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class.
- 1973
New company building completed in Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku (current address); capital increased to 30 million yen.
- 1971
Chairman Sadao Ohashi receives the Printing Culture Award.
- 1969
Capital increased to 17.6 million yen.
Products and positioning
Specialist publisher and trading house for early-childhood education, selling directly to kindergartens, nursery schools and certified centers for early childhood education and care.
Child Book monthly picture-book series
Monthly picture books for young children attending kindergartens, nursery schools and certified centers, incorporating seasons and events and linked to the 'five domains' and 'ten images of children'.
Wakuwaku Utilization Guide
A guidebook to help make better use of Child Book, including weekly and daily childcare picture-book plan examples.
Select Pal
A wardrobe line for childcare workers offering both workwear and private wear.
Palmo official online shop
The company's official online shop for picture books, back issues, attendance books, stickers, gifts and Select Pal items.
Pot childcare support magazine
A comprehensive childcare information magazine that ceased publication with the March 2024 issue; its download service ended in March 2025.
Oyako Pocket
A parent-and-child content section featuring menus, cooking and nature challenges.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/chairudo-honsha · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled