Yondemy Creates 1.5 Million 'Reading Experiences' in 5 Years Since Service Launch. Students Read 8 Times More Than Average Households.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Yondemy, an online reading enrichment program, has generated 1.5 million 'reading experiences' for its 30,000 students, boosting their reading volume to eight times the national average. By using AI for personalized book selection and gamified lessons, the service tackles declining youth literacy and is expanding through partnerships with schools, bookstores, and publishers. The company aims to evolve from a simple tutoring service into a comprehensive reading education platform, making reading accessible and enjoyable for children across Japan.
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- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 00:34
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Yondemy Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Sota Sasanuma) is pleased to announce that its online reading enrichment program for children, "Yondemy," will celebrate its 5th anniversary in December 2025, having surpassed 30,000 cumulative students and 1.5 million submitted book reports.
With the mission "to deliver rich reading experiences to children all over Japan," Yondemy is tackling the social issue of children's declining interest in reading by providing "Yondemy," Japan's first online reading education service. (*1)
"Yondemy's" strength lies in its AI-powered book selection function that tailors recommendations to each child's reading level and preferences, as well as its mini-lessons that teach how to read in an enjoyable way, thereby expanding reading opportunities and supporting children's growth. Currently used by 30,000 children across all 47 prefectures, the service has addressed concerns like "I'm not good at reading" or "I can't keep it up," generating 1.5 million book reports in the five years since its launch.
That's 1.5 million reading experiences that would not have existed without Yondemy.
The experiences are as varied as the children themselves: reading has sparked conversations between parents and children, provided moments of calm, and improved reading comprehension and academic performance. Yondemy will continue to move forward, cherishing each and every one of the experiences created over these five years.
To commemorate the 5th anniversary, CEO Sasanuma will start publishing a series of articles on the platform 'note' starting today, March 26th (Thursday). A new article is scheduled to be released daily in a three-part series.
▼note (3-part series)
URL: "Bookworms are the ones who quietly change the world"
We will continue to deliver "rich reading experiences to children all over Japan" through Yondemy.
(*1) As of the service launch in December 2020, it was the first "online reading education service" in Japan (according to our research).
From Hating Reading to Loving It—The Changes Yondemy Brings to Children
In 2025, the National Assessment of Academic Ability for elementary and junior high school students revealed that the percentage of students who "like reading" hit a record low. (*2) Furthermore, the government's "Longitudinal Analysis Survey" (FY2024) showed a significant drop in average scores across all subjects, making the decline in children's learning ability a serious social issue. One contributing factor is the decrease in time spent on learning and reading due to increased use of games and smartphones following the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a decline in reading comprehension.
"Yondemy" brings about change not only in children who already enjoy reading but also in those who find it difficult. We have received numerous testimonials from students about the changes they've experienced, such as "A child who disliked words so much they wouldn't even read signs or menus now lists 'reading' as a hobby on school surveys," "A child who only read game strategy guides has become such a book lover that they've read continuously for over 200 days," and "In less than a year, a student leveled up from 'Kaiketsu Zorori' to 'Harry Potter'." The average monthly reading volume for our students is 25.6 books, which is about 8 times that of an average household. (*3)
We will continue to use "Yondemy" to help children who already love reading explore new genres and further develop their reading skills, while providing new and positive encounters with reading for those who dislike it.
(*2) Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology "National Survey of Academic Performance and Learning Situation (National Scholastic Ability Test)"
The Effects of "Yondemy" as Seen from its Introduction in Elementary Schools
Starting in June 2025, a pilot program for "Yondemy" was launched in two municipal elementary schools in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture. (*4)
In about six months since its introduction (July to December), the number of books checked out from the school libraries increased by 2.24 times compared to the previous year. Even during the summer vacation, 71% of all students used the service voluntarily, confirming that reading habits are taking root and motivation to learn is being sustained. (*5)
The changes are not limited to academics. As one teacher noted, "A child who used to be restless has become calmer since they started reading." The establishment of reading habits is also leading to positive changes in students' posture and concentration.
(*5) PR TIMES "Yondemy Helps Children at Toyohashi Municipal Tsuda Elementary School Read More Than Double the National Average"
Providing Rich Reading Experiences to Children Across Japan
Currently, "Yondemy" students are not only in urban centers but have also spread to regional cities, with users in all 47 prefectures. The percentage of municipalities with students has reached 66%, and in more than half of the prefectures, Yondemy is used by families in over two-thirds of the local municipalities.
Because "Yondemy" is an online service, it can deliver rich reading experiences to children anywhere in the country, regardless of where they live. By utilizing school and local libraries, we provide a learning environment at an affordable price compared to the average cost of other extracurricular activities, without requiring additional textbook fees.
There have been cases where a child who is not a native Japanese speaker read 100 books in just two months, contributing to the learning of children from diverse backgrounds.
Through these initiatives, we aim to eliminate educational disparities, including those based on "regional gaps" and "economic gaps," and to provide equal learning opportunities for all children.
From a "Reading Lesson" to a "Reading Education Platform"
Through its online reading education service, Yondemy has proposed a new style of learning where children enjoy the process of learning.
In September 2025, we welcomed Professor Mutsumi Imai, a leading expert in cognitive science, as an advisor (*6). We will incorporate academic knowledge from fields such as cognitive psychology and developmental psychology into the service design of "Yondemy" to further evolve it as a service that fosters learning skills that will be useful even in adulthood.
Yondemy is now transitioning from a "reading lesson" business to becoming a "reading education platform" that connects children with books.
Through partnerships with public educational institutions such as schools and after-school clubs, we are creating reading opportunities for children. Additionally, through collaborations with tutoring centers like Hamagakuen (*7) and Shingakukai (*8), we support the improvement of reading skills, which are the foundation for all subjects.
Through partnerships with bookstores like Maruzen Junkudo (*9) and Mirai Shoten (*10), we provide places where children can discover the joy of reading.
Furthermore, in collaboration with Kodansha's Aoi Tori Bunko, we will leverage our accumulated customer base, including children's book review data, to contribute to the publication of books that will leave a lasting impression on children's hearts. (*11)
We will continue to provide a service where children can develop lifelong learning skills through reading while having fun. As a "reading education platform" connecting children and books, we will accelerate our growth.
(*6) PR TIMES "Leading Cognitive Scientist and Keio University Professor Emeritus Mutsumi Imai Appointed as Yondemy Advisor"
(*7) PR TIMES "'Yondemy,' an Online Lesson to Get Kids Hooked on Reading, Becomes Mandatory at Major Kansai Cram School Hamagakuen"
(*8) PR TIMES "Reading Habits Significantly Improve Standard Scores in 'All Subjects' — Results of Pilot Study by Cram School Shingakukai x Yondemy Released"
(*9) PR TIMES "'Yondemy,' the Online Lesson That Gets Kids Hooked on Reading, Announces Partnership with Maruzen Junkudo Bookstore"
(*10) PR TIMES "'Yondemy,' the Online Lesson That Gets Kids Hooked on Reading, Begins Partnership with Mirai Shoten"
(*11) PR TIMES "Yondemy Begins Collaboration with Kodansha's 'Aoi Tori Bunko'"
Company Profile
Yondemy Co., Ltd. develops and operates "Yondemy," an online enrichment program that helps children enjoy and develop a habit of reading.
We support children's growth by conveying the joy of reading and expanding reading opportunities tailored to each individual, and we are challenging ourselves to create a new culture of "learning to read."
Company Name: Yondemy Co., Ltd.
Representative: CEO Sota Sasanuma
Date of Establishment: April 13, 2020
Location: Room 810, Okazaki Building, 2-14-13 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002
Business Activities: Development and operation of the online reading enrichment program "Yondemy," etc.