Kokudosha

Kokudosha (株式会社国土社) is a Japanese publishing house specializing in children's books, educational books, and educational magazines. It traces its origins to 1937, when Taizo Nagamune founded Atokushoin in Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. The company changed its name to Kokudosha in 1947 and launched the magazine Kokudo; thereafter it increasingly focused on educational and children's publishing. It joined the Japan Children's Book Publishers Association in 1953, the 'Four Companies Group for Recommending Good Books' in 1957, and the 'Association of Ten Children's Book Publishers' in 1974. The company celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2017 and moved its office to Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, in 2018. Kokudosha's list includes picture books, children's fiction, nonfiction and reference works for young readers, as well as educational titles for teachers and schools. It has published magazines such as Sugaku Kyoshitsu (Mathematics Classroom), Gekkan Shakai Kyoiku (Monthly Social Education), and Rika Kyoshitsu (Science Classroom), and has issued multi-volume series including 'Sekai no Denki' (World Biographies), 'Junior Edition World Masterpieces,' the complete works of Kihaku Saito, and 'Gendai Nihon Doyo Shizenshu' (Complete Collection of Modern Japanese Children's Songs). The company is led by representative Katsuya Tasaki. Its head office is at 2-5 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. In 2015 Kokudosha applied for civil rehabilitation proceedings; in January 2018 it was announced that the company had become a consolidated subsidiary of Nippon BS Broadcasting (BS11), and that the peer publisher Rironsha was also made a consolidated subsidiary. Today Kokudosha continues to publish children's and educational books under the BS11 group.

Kokudosha's history begins with Taizo Nagamune (1901–1986), who founded Atokusha Printing Works in what is now Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, in 1929. In 1937 he established the publishing division Atokushoin in Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku. In 1946 he founded Kokudosha, and in 1948 it was incorporated as a joint-stock company, with Nagamune as president. In 1947 the company changed its name to Kokudosha and launched the magazine Kokudo; from then on it increasingly focused on publishing educational books and children's books. In 1951 it launched the magazine Kyoiku (Education) and strengthened its commitment to educational and children's publishing. In 1953 Kokudosha joined the Japan Children's Book Publishers Association. In 1957 it formed and joined the 'Four Companies Group for Recommending Good Books.' In 1974 it formed and joined the 'Association of Ten Children's Book Publishers.' Over the decades it published magazines such as Sugaku Kyoshitsu (Mathematics Classroom), Gekkan Shakai Kyoiku (Monthly Social Education), and Rika Kyoshitsu (Science Classroom), as well as multi-volume series including 'Sekai no Denki' (World Biographies), 'Junior Edition World Masterpieces,' the complete works of Kihaku Saito, 'Tsukuba Tsuneharu Denki Monogatari Zenshu,' and 'Gendai Nihon Doyo Shizenshu' (Complete Collection of Modern Japanese Children's Songs). Nagamune's son-in-law Masaaki Suzuki succeeded him, and later Rimei Suzuki, Yasuo Nishimura, Kenzo Nomura, and Jiro Uchida served as representatives. In 2015 the company applied for civil rehabilitation proceedings. In January 2018 it was announced that Kokudosha had become a consolidated subsidiary of Nippon BS Broadcasting (BS11), and that the peer publisher Rironsha was also made a consolidated subsidiary. In 2017 the company celebrated its 80th anniversary, and in 2018 it moved its office to Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Today it continues to publish children's and educational books under the BS11 group.

• 2018

  Moved its office to Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; announced it had become a consolidated subsidiary of Nippon BS Broadcasting (BS11).

• 2017

  Celebrated its 80th anniversary.

• 2015

  Applied for civil rehabilitation proceedings.

• 1974

  Formed and joined the 'Association of Ten Children's Book Publishers.'

• 1957

  Formed and joined the 'Four Companies Group for Recommending Good Books.'

• 1953

  Joined the Japan Children's Book Publishers Association.

• 1951

  Launched the magazine Kyoiku (Education).

• 1948

  Kokudosha was incorporated as a joint-stock company, with Nagamune as president.

• 1947

  The company changed its name to Kokudosha and launched the magazine Kokudo.

• 1946

  Kokudosha was founded.

• 1937

  Nagamune founded Atokushoin in Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.

• 1929

  Taizo Nagamune founded Atokusha Printing Works in present-day Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.

A long-established Japanese publisher of children's and educational books, known for series that support school education and reading, now operating under the BS11 group.

• Sekai no Denki (World Biographies)

• Junior Edition World Masterpieces

• Saito Kihaku Zenshu (Complete Works of Kihaku Saito)

• Tsukuba Tsuneharu Denki Monogatari Zenshu

• Gendai Nihon Doyo Shizenshu (Complete Collection of Modern Japanese Children's Songs)

• Sugaku Kyoshitsu (Mathematics Classroom)

• Gekkan Shakai Kyoiku (Monthly Social Education)

• Rika Kyoshitsu (Science Classroom)

1. 1子どもの本 - 国土社kokudosha.co.jp
2. 2沿革 - 国土社kokudosha.co.jp
3. 3会社案内 - 国土社kokudosha.co.jp
4. 4プライバシーポリシー - 国土社kokudosha.co.jp
5. 5Kokudosha - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6国土社 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org