Kairyudo Publishing Co., Ltd.

Kairyudo Publishing Co., Ltd. (開隆堂出版株式会社) is a Japanese publisher of school textbooks and educational materials, headquartered in Tokyo. The company traces its origins to 1926, when it was founded as Kairyudo Shoten, and was incorporated under its current name in 1946. It is recognized as the first private-sector textbook publisher established in post-war Japan. Kairyudo publishes Ministry of Education–approved textbooks for elementary, junior high, and high schools, focusing on subjects such as English, home economics, art and craft, and technical arts. Its textbook publisher number is 9. In addition to textbooks, the company produces digital teaching materials, reference books, and educational journals. It operates a digital platform called "kAIryu-kun" and has developed digital textbooks and AI-supported learning tools. The company remains privately held and active in the Japanese education market.

Kairyudo Publishing traces its origins to 1926, when it was founded as Kairyudo Shoten (開隆堂書店). In 1935, it began publishing English textbooks for old-system middle schools, high schools, and universities. In 1946, the company was reorganized and incorporated as Kairyudo Publishing Co., Ltd. (開隆堂出版株式会社). Following the implementation of the textbook authorization system for elementary, junior high, and high schools in 1949, Kairyudo began issuing authorized textbooks. In 1958, it established the Japan Institute of English Education (日本英語教育研究所). In 1964, it founded a subsidiary, Kairyokukan Publishing and Sales Co., Ltd. (開隆館出版販売株式会社). The company is noted as the first private-sector textbook publisher in post-war Japan. It publishes authorized textbooks for elementary school (English, arts and crafts, home economics), junior high school (English, art, technical arts and home economics), high school (English, home economics, information), and for technical colleges and universities (English). Its textbook publisher number is 9. In recent years, Kairyudo has expanded into digital education, offering digital textbooks, an AI-supported digital textbook site, and a digital platform called "kAIryu-kun". It also publishes educational journals such as 'Zokei Journal' for arts and crafts and 'Metis' for home economics. In 2009–2014, the company was involved in a scandal where it showed textbooks under authorization to 185 teachers.

• 1964

  Founded subsidiary Kairyokukan Publishing and Sales Co., Ltd.

• 1958

  Established the Japan Institute of English Education

• 1949

  Began issuing authorized textbooks following the implementation of the textbook authorization system

• 1946

  Incorporated as Kairyudo Publishing Co., Ltd.

• 1935

  Began publishing English textbooks for old-system middle schools, high schools, and universities

• 1926

  Founded as Kairyudo Shoten

A long-established, specialized textbook publisher focused on English language education and practical subjects, with a growing digital presence.

• Elementary school textbooks (English, arts and crafts, home economics)

• Junior high school textbooks (English, art, technical arts and home economics)

• High school textbooks (English, home economics, information)

• Technical college and university textbooks (English)

• Digital textbooks and AI-supported digital textbook site

• kAIryu-kun digital platform

• Educational journals: Zokei Journal, Metis

1. 1開隆堂出版株式会社 公式サイトkairyudo.co.jp
2. 2開隆堂出版 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Kairyudo Publishing - Wikidatawikidata.org