Intensifying Competition in the Cram School and Childcare Industries
First written in FY2016. 20 of 26 entries say "Worsened", first in FY2017-Q2. Latest entry: 2026-08-07.
Seigakusha moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2016, 7 years before the typical company in this theme (2023).
The whole theme swung hardest in 2026: 31 of 91 companies on the "Worse" side.
27 other companies' latest entry also says "Worsened".
- 2026-08-07WorsenedEarnings
「学習塾部門では、クラス指導部門の塾生募集が不調であったものの、個別指導部門の塾生数の増加等により売上高は増加いたしました。」
クラス指導部門の塾生募集不調が第１四半期の実績要因として記載された。 - FY2026WorsenedAnnual report
「The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined as weak recruitment for summer courses weighed on results.」
The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 5.8%, from 6,412 in the same month of the previous year to 6,038. Weak recruitment for summer courses was explicitly identified as a factor behind the decline. - 2026-05-14WorsenedEarnings
「The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined as weak recruitment for summer courses weighed on results.」
クラス指導部門の在籍者数が6,412人から6,038人へ5.8％減少し、夏期講習の募集不調が要因として記載された。 - FY2026-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined as weak recruitment for summer courses weighed on results.」
The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 5.6%, from 6,345 in the same period of the previous year to 5,990. Weak recruitment for summer courses was explicitly identified as a factor behind the decline in actual results. The difficult competitive and recruitment environment continues. - FY2025Assessment of competitive risks and explicit disclosure of countermeasuresAnnual report
「2. Impact of competition (likelihood: medium; impact: high)" In the group's cram schools, the company seeks to attract students by highlighting its distinctive features, including the use of proprietary educational content and strong entrance examination results. It also offers courses such as "Online Individual Instruction Freestep Link One," providing online as well as in-person classes.」
The company specified the likelihood and impact of the risk of increasing competing services and described its responses, including proprietary content, entrance examination results, and online classes. - FY2024WorsenedAnnual report
「Online content has also become more extensive with the emergence of generative AI and other developments, and competing services are increasing.」
In addition to the declining birth rate and increasingly diverse demand, the company explicitly identified the increase in competing services arising from generative AI and online content as a new competitive factor. - FY2024-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「Although the course for Osaka municipal public integrated junior and senior high schools remained strong, the number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined as the weak recruitment for summer courses and other factors weighed on results.」
Although the course for Osaka municipal public integrated junior and senior high schools performed well, the number of students in the class-based instruction segment was 6,401, down 6.8% year on year, due to weak recruitment for summer courses and other factors. - FY2024-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「Although student recruitment was weak in the Class Instruction segment, revenue in the cram-school segment increased owing to growth in student numbers and tuition fee revisions in the Individual Instruction segment.」
Student recruitment in the class-based instruction segment was weak, indicating that the difficult competitive and market environment is reflected in recruitment results. This contrasts with the increase in the individual instruction segment. - FY2023WorsenedAnnual report
「Competition in the industry is becoming even more intense due to the declining school-age population resulting from the declining birth rate and increasingly diverse educational needs.」
The company stated that competition is becoming even more intense against a backdrop of the declining birth rate and increasingly diverse educational needs. - FY2023-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In the class-based instruction segment, revenue in the cram school segment declined because the winter courses also failed to gain momentum as a result of the decline in student numbers.」
In the class-based instruction segment, student numbers declined and winter courses also failed to gain momentum, resulting in lower revenue in the cram school segment. The difficult market and competitive environment is reflected in actual results. - FY2021WorsenedAnnual report
「In this industry, competition is intensifying due to the declining school-age population resulting from the declining birth rate and increasingly diverse educational needs. In addition, the business environment surrounding the industry is changing significantly due to growing demand not only for conventional education services but also for ICT-based education services and childcare services such as nursery schools and after-school childcare.」
The competitive environment is becoming more difficult against a backdrop of the declining birth rate, increasingly diverse needs, and changing demand for ICT-based education and childcare services, while student numbers in the cram school segment also declined. - FY2020WorsenedAnnual report
「The class-based instruction segment had 7,556 students, down 6.0% year on year.」
The effects of competition and market contraction continued, and the number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 6.0% year on year. - FY2020-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「The class-based instruction segment had 7,556 students, down 6.0% year on year. The segment attracted a new customer group by introducing a course specializing in instruction for Osaka Municipal integrated junior and senior high schools, as well as content designed for the full implementation of programming education in elementary schools.」
While advancing measures to attract a new customer group, the number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 6.0% year on year, and the impact of the contracting market continued. - FY2020-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「The class-based instruction segment is attracting a new customer group by introducing services including Prosta Kids, which teaches visual programming, in preparation for the full implementation of programming education in elementary schools.」
While advancing measures to attract a new customer group, the number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 6.4% year on year, from 7,981 to 7,471. - FY2020-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「The number of students and revenue in the class-based instruction segment continue to decline, partly due to the contraction in market size.」
The company continues to recognize the ongoing contraction of the class-based instruction market and declines in student numbers and revenue. The impact of the market contraction risk is reflected in actual results. - FY2019WorsenedAnnual report
「In this industry, competition is intensifying amid an uncertain economic outlook, a declining school-age population due to the declining birth rate, and increasingly diverse educational needs.」
The annual report also stated that competition in the industry is intensifying against a backdrop of the declining birth rate, increasingly diverse educational needs, and entry by companies from other industries. - FY2019-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「The class-based instruction segment had 8,042 students, down 2.9% year on year. The segment introduced a new course specializing in instruction for Osaka Municipal integrated junior and senior high schools, where strong demand is expected, and attracted a new customer group.」
While the number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 2.9% year on year, the company described the acquisition of a new customer group through the specialized course. Its recognition of the market and competitive environment remains unchanged. - FY2019-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「The number of students in the class-based instruction segment continues to decline, partly due to the contraction in market size. Revenue declined from the same period of the previous year, partly because the company is strengthening efforts to attract students in lower grades, whose tuition fees are relatively low, in anticipation of future business expansion.」
The company continues to recognize the ongoing contraction of the class-based instruction market and decline in student numbers. The impact on average fees from strengthening efforts to attract students in lower grades was also described. - FY2018WorsenedAnnual report
「The class-based instruction segment remains in a difficult position below the previous year, partly due to the contraction in market size. The weak results during the initial student recruitment period affected performance throughout the year, and the number of students had declined as of the end of November.」
The contraction in market size and weak student recruitment during the enrollment period affected performance throughout the year, and the number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 7.0%, from 8,900 to 8,279, as of the end of November. - FY2018-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「As of November, when the group student count usually peaks, the total number of group students at company-operated classrooms was 25,737, up 2.3% year on year. By segment, the class-based instruction segment had 8,279 students, down 7.0% year on year, the individual instruction segment had 16,954 students, up 6.6%, and other instruction segments had 504 students, up 43.2%. The class-based instruction segment declined because the weak results during the student recruitment period affected performance throughout the year, in addition to the overall contraction of the class-based instruction market.」
The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 7.0% year on year, with the contracting market and weak student recruitment during the enrollment period identified as factors behind the decline throughout the year. - FY2018-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「The class-based instruction segment remains in a difficult position, partly because the overall market for class-based instruction is contracting. The number of group students declined because the number of classrooms fell year on year and student recruitment during the enrollment period was weak.」
The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 7.7% year on year, from 8,880 to 8,195. In addition to the contracting market, the decline in the number of classrooms and weak student recruitment during the enrollment period were identified as specific factors behind the decline. - FY2018-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「In the Class Instruction Division, both the number of cram-school students and revenue declined from the same period of the previous year due to the continuing challenging market environment and the impact of a decline in the number of classrooms.」
The company stated that the difficult market environment surrounding the class-based instruction segment continues, reflecting an ongoing awareness of competition and market contraction. - FY2017WorsenedAnnual report
「In this industry, competition is intensifying amid an uncertain economic outlook, a declining school-age population due to the declining birth rate, and increasingly diverse educational needs. In addition to conventional education services, demand is growing for ICT-based education services and childcare services such as nursery schools and after-school childcare, resulting in more companies from other industries entering this industry.」
Competition is intensifying due to the declining birth rate, increasingly diverse demand, and entry by companies from other industries, while student numbers in the class-based instruction segment also declined 7.4% year on year. - FY2017-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「As of November, when the group student count usually peaks, the total number of group students at company-operated classrooms was 25,157, down 1.5% year on year. By segment, the class-based instruction segment had 8,900 students, down 7.4% year on year, the individual instruction segment had 15,905 students, up 1.6%, and other instruction segments had 352 students, up 25.7%. The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined due to the contracting market, as well as the weak participation in summer courses, which contributes to student growth.」
The number of students in the class-based instruction segment declined 7.4% year on year, with the contracting market and weak participation in summer courses identified as specific factors behind the decline. - FY2017-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「The class-based instruction segment remains in a difficult position, partly because the overall market for class-based instruction is contracting.」
The class-based instruction market continues to contract, and the difficult competitive and market environment was explicitly identified. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「In the cram school industry, more companies are expanding into education fields beyond cram schools, such as early childhood education and after-school childcare, intensifying competition to acquire customers from younger age groups.」
Entry into new education fields and competition to acquire customers from younger age groups were described as external factors.