Shinkeisha Partners with Japan's First Career Design School 'Gakyukan'

Shinkeisha Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kensaku Oka) announces the conclusion of a business partnership agreement with "Gakyukan," Japan's first career design school operated by Japan Business Lab. Co. Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO and Director: Takako Sugimura). This partnership marks the first full-scale business collaboration for Shinkeisha since its establishment.

## About Gakyukan
Founded in 1992 by Taro Sugimura, Gakyukan is Japan's first career design school. As a pioneer that systematically introduced the concept of "self-analysis" into the job-hunting process, it has supported the life choices of many young people for over 30 years.

- The first career design school in Japan to incorporate "self-analysis" into job hunting
- 93.4% first-choice company offer rate
- Over 2.31 million copies sold cumulatively of the "Zettai Naitei" (Absolute Job Offer) book series by founder Taro Sugimura*1

Starting from "self-analysis," looking deeply into one's past, present, and future to find the path one truly wants to take—this methodology is read across generations as a philosophy that applies to all life choices beyond just job hunting.
*Cumulative total published by Magazine House and Diamond.

## Background of the Partnership: The Value of "Self-Analysis" in the AI Era
Driven by technological innovations such as generative AI, we are entering an era where many domains, including knowledge acquisition, processing, and analysis, are being automated. In such times, the technology of deeply articulating "who I am, what I value, and where I am going"—namely "self-analysis"—is increasing in value as a uniquely human endeavor.

As the originator who systematically formulated the concept of "self-analysis" for job hunting in Japan in 1992, Gakyukan has refined its methodology for over three decades. Now that human roles are being questioned by AI, we believe there is great significance in delivering the knowledge Gakyukan has built to a broader society.

This business partnership has been formed as a collaboration to jointly carry forward this long-term vision.

## Details of the Partnership
Under this partnership, Shinkeisha will act as the editorial department for Gakyukan's owned media, translating and transmitting the philosophy and methodologies built by founder Taro Sugimura into a format that resonates with today's youth.

Specifically, we will collaborate in the following areas:

- Formulating editorial policies and creating articles for Gakyukan's owned media
- Modern reconstruction of content originating from the writings and philosophy of founder Taro Sugimura
- Designing and managing communications across various channels, including social media
- Formulating media strategies to deliver Gakyukan's methodology widely to society

To crystallize the philosophy and techniques of "self-analysis" that Gakyukan has honed over 30 years into a new vessel that reaches the sensibilities of today's youth without compromising its essence—this partnership is positioned as a long-term collaboration to achieve this goal.

## About Shinkeisha's Business
Shinkeisha Inc. focuses on "outsourcing owned media editorial functions" for companies and educational institutions as its core business.

In recent years, while many organizations recognize the importance of owned media, there is a constant stream of cases where the foundational philosophies of management and business become diluted in the content due to a prioritization of search rankings and viral metrics. By entirely taking over the owned media editorial function, Shinkeisha establishes a system where executives can concentrate on their core business, while translating and transmitting the thoughts and philosophies embedded in their business to modern readers without compromise.

Leveraging the knowledge in education and editing that CEO Kensaku Oka has cultivated over many years, Shinkeisha identifies the core of each company's business philosophy and crystallizes it into the optimal expression according to the medium, readers, and era—this is the essence of Shinkeisha's editorial business.

The business partnership with Gakyukan is positioned as a symbolic case of this editorial business.

## Comment from Kensaku Oka, CEO of Shinkeisha Inc.
"I first picked up 'Zettai Naitei' in my twenties. To be honest, I don't think I fully understood the true value of its methodology back then.

However, as I later started my own company, led organizations, and built my career as a professional, I have come to acutely realize year by year how essential and valuable the self-analysis systematized by Taro Sugimura-san was. It was not just a methodology for the youth, but a profound philosophy and technique for people to face their own lives throughout their lifetime.

I feel that this philosophy and technique are more necessary than ever for the younger generation today, as we enter an era where AI handles many areas.

To deliver the value that Gakyukan has protected and refined for over thirty years to the next generation in a new vessel without compromising it—I will commit myself to this task heart and soul."

## Comment from Takako Sugimura, CEO and Director of Gakyukan
"What Gakyukan has consistently conveyed for over thirty years since its founding in 1992 is not mere job-hunting techniques, but a philosophy of facing the essence of life: 'Why do I live, and why do I work?' This passionate philosophy left behind by founder Taro Sugimura has not faded with changing times and has served as a guidepost for many young people.

However, we strongly felt that to deliver this philosophy to the youth of today—who are social media natives living alongside the new technology of AI—we needed a 'new vessel' and a form of communication suited to the times.

We are extremely encouraged to welcome CEO Oka, who has built scientific and advanced systems in the fields of education and learning, and Shinkeisha as our ideal partner. I feel great potential and excitement that the fusion of Gakyukan's philosophy with Shinkeisha's media strategies and technological capabilities will allow us to pass Gakyukan's methodology more broadly and deeply to the next generation.

'Anyway, move forward'—true to these words left by our founder, we will forge the next 35 years of Gakyukan together."

We will forge the next 35 years of Gakyukan together.

https://shinkeisha.jp/
https://www.gakyukan.net/

## Company Information
Company Name: Shinkeisha Inc.
Established: March 25, 2026
CEO: Kensaku Oka
Headquarters: 3F eco building, 16-19 Yotsuya Saneicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Business Description: Owned media editorial outsourcing, media operations, etc.

Company Name: Japan Business Lab. Co. Ltd.
Established: September 18, 1992
CEO: Takako Sugimura
Headquarters: 39F Shibuya Scramble Square, 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Business Description: Operation of school businesses / Gakyukan, Presence, Well-being Academia, development of learning methods, product development and sales, human resources consulting business, etc.