[Largest Scale in Japan] Kyoto Prefecture to Simultaneously Introduce AI English Conversation "ELSA" to 10,000 Prefectural High School Students

ELSA Japan LLC (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Dai Imao) announces that based on Kyoto Prefecture's "Project to Foster High School Students Who Will Carry the Future," they will introduce "ELSA School" from May 2026, targeting approximately 10,000 students across all 46 prefectural high schools.

This will be the largest-scale initiative in Japan for the simultaneous prefectural-wide introduction of an AI English education service provided by a private company to public high schools. *1

■ Background for Introduction: Aiming for the Best English Education in Japan in the International City of Kyoto

For high school students in Kyoto, a city visited by many foreigners as a leading tourist destination and home to companies that disseminate Japanese culture and technology worldwide, English is an essential skill directly linked to their lives in the community and their careers after graduation. *2

Against this backdrop, Kyoto Prefecture has long focused on improving English education. To further strengthen these efforts and foster practical English proficiency, the prefecture has taken the lead nationwide in the simultaneous introduction of an AI English education service.

■ Initiative Details and Goals: Establishing the "Kyoto Model" that Connects to the World through Collaboration Between AI and People

To foster practical English skills, ELSA will provide "ELSA School," an AI English education service, to Kyoto Prefectural High Schools. This service uses AI to analyze each student's pronunciation at the phoneme level and provide immediate feedback.
Furthermore, in collaboration with sales partner Sundai Group, a comprehensive English proficiency development program will be launched, including teacher training and opportunities for exchange with overseas schools.

【Overview of the Initiative】

・Provision of AI English Speaking and AI English Conversation Functions to First-Year Students at Kyoto Prefectural High Schools

Based on ELSA's unique technology for analyzing pronunciation at the phoneme level, features will be provided such as unlimited AI English conversation role-playing and speech practice functions with score predictions based on international benchmarks like CEFR, IELTS, and TOEFL.

・Implementation of Teacher Training Programs

Based on the Sundai Group's extensive teaching expertise, training will be provided to English teachers at each school on how to effectively utilize ELSA School. Support will be offered to enhance teaching effectiveness using a dashboard that allows for centralized management of each school's unique assignment creation/distribution and student learning progress monitoring.

・Realization of International Exchange and Joint Learning with Schools in Other Countries

Leveraging ELSA's user base of over 90 million users in more than 190 countries, opportunities for exchange and joint learning with overseas educational institutions will be created. This will provide a space to learn living English connected to the world within the classroom, supporting Kyoto Prefecture's goal of developing global human resources.

Furthermore, by leveraging the practical experience gained from schools in Kyoto Prefecture that have already introduced ELSA School, such as in Kyotango City *3, the aim is to establish the "Kyoto Model" for developing global human resources that spans elementary, junior high, and high schools.

■ Stakeholder Comments

Associate Professor Toshiyuki Kanamaru, Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University (Chairperson of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Project to Strengthen English Education Through the Use of AI")

There is great educational significance in creating an environment where students can practice speaking in English without fear of making mistakes by utilizing AI. This is to reduce the psychological burden of using English and encourage participation in speaking.
To enhance its effectiveness, in addition to personalization by AI, teacher guidance that connects AI practice and feedback to individualized learning for each student is crucial. The adoption of ELSA is a challenging initiative aiming to realize such learning within public education, and we expect it to become a new model for speaking instruction originating from Kyoto.

Mr. Katsuaki Konno, Director of the Education DX Promotion Division, Guidance Department, Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education, and Director of the Kyoto Prefectural Digital Learning Support Center
Kyoto is a city of history and tradition, and at the same time, a city of innovation where diverse people gather from all over the world, continuously giving birth to companies active on the global stage. For the high school students who will carry Kyoto's future, practical English proficiency is an essential skill to broaden their own potential. By utilizing AI English education services that can dramatically improve the quality and quantity of training required for English proficiency development, we aim to nurture global human resources capable of succeeding in the world from Kyoto's prefectural high schools.

Dai Imao, Country Manager, ELSA Japan LLC

We are deeply honored to be able to support the challenges of the next generation of young people in Kyoto Prefecture, a leading international city in Japan. In this initiative, we will not only provide AI tools but also maximize the use of the educational insights held by the Sundai Group, our global network, and the practical knowledge cultivated in Kyotango City, which has been an early adopter in elementary and junior high schools since 2022. Together with the teachers of Kyoto Prefecture, we will create a new English education model.

■ Company Profile

Company Name: ELSA Japan LLC

Representative: Dai Imao

Headquarters Location: Link Square Shinjuku 16F, 5-27-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku

Business Activities: Development and provision of AI English conversation learning apps and English proficiency improvement support services.

Website: https://elsaspeak.com/ja/english-for-schools/homepage

*1 As of April 2026, this is the largest scale for the simultaneous introduction of a private AI English education service targeting public high schools on a prefectural level (self-researched by ELSA).

*2 Source: Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2025 / FY2024 Kyoto Tourism Comprehensive Survey/ NLI Research Institute

*3 Prior Initiative with Kyotango City: New Model Launched in Kyotango City for Japanese Elementary School Students to Gain Confidence in English through "International Exchange + AI Learning + International Exchange"