Ehonnavi
1 known investors
Japanese picture-book information and parenting site offering online trial reading, an unlimited-reading subscription and book sales.
Also known as Ehon Navi · EhonNavi Corp · 株式会社絵本ナビ · 絵本ナビ
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Ehonnavi (株式会社絵本ナビ / EhonNavi Corp) operates "Ehon Navi", a Japanese picture-book information and child-rearing support site and mobile app. The service catalogues approximately 40,000 picture books searchable by age and theme, and lets users sample titles before buying: a "quick read" mode covering more than 10,000 books shows a few pages, while an "all pages trial reading" mode covers roughly 2,200 books that can be read through once (free members are limited to three books per month). A "picture book concierge" recommendation function suggests titles to users.
The company also runs a paid unlimited-reading subscription, "Ehon Navi Premium", priced at 1,480 yen per month or 14,800 yen per year (tax included). As of June 2025 the subscription catalogue included roughly 800 picture books, about 200 picture-book videos, about 200 children's reading books, about 150 educational manga and riddle volumes, and about 1,600 audiobooks, drawn from publishers including KADOKAWA, Kaiseisha, Kodansha, Gakken, PHP Institute, Shogakukan, Kin no Hoshisha and Discover 21. Alongside digital content, Ehon Navi sells physical books and goods through an online store with free shipping, with payment handled on the Ehon Navi website. Bloomberg describes the company as a provider of publishing services covering book sales and distribution, an online picture-book reading service, and a platform for book reviews and ratings, serving parents and children throughout Japan.
Business model
Ehonnavi combines a free, advertising-and-discovery-oriented picture-book information site with a paid consumer subscription and e-commerce. Free registration gives limited trial reading; the Ehon Navi Premium subscription unlocks unlimited reading of a curated catalogue of picture books, videos, children's books, educational manga and audiobooks. Purchases of physical books and goods are transacted on the Ehon Navi website, positioning trial reading as a route to book sales.
Recurring subscription fees for Ehon Navi Premium (1,480 yen per month or 14,800 yen per year, tax included), in-app purchases through the mobile app, and sales of books and goods via the Ehon Navi online store.
Traction
The official Android app has over 100,000 downloads; the service is described as used by 20 million people a year, listing about 40,000 picture books, with over 10,000 titles in quick-read mode and roughly 2,200 in full-page trial reading as of June 2025.
Latest developments
As of June 2025 the Ehon Navi Premium catalogue spanned roughly 800 picture books, 200 picture-book videos, 200 children's books, 150 educational manga and riddle volumes and 1,600 audiobooks; the Android app listing was last updated in July 2026 with minor fixes.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Described as Japan's largest picture-book information and child-rearing support site, with the service stated to be used by 20 million people a year. It received the Grand Prize at the 11th E-Publication Award from the Japan Electronic Publishing Association.
Technology
A web platform and companion iOS/Android application providing paginated digital trial reading and full-book reading, picture-book video and audiobook playback, a recommendation feature ("picture book concierge"), and a "Kids View"/"Kids My Page" mode letting children browse independently while recording ratings and viewing history.
Go-to-market
Distribution through the Ehon Navi website and an official mobile app on Google Play (100,000+ downloads), with free member registration as the entry point and conversion to the Premium subscription and book purchases. Consumer awareness is supported by appearances on Japanese television programmes and coverage in outlets such as Nikkei Trendy.
Parents of children aged 0-2; children aged roughly 3-12 in nursery school, kindergarten and elementary school together with their parents; and general picture-book enthusiasts in Japan.
Geography
Japan; the company serves parents and children throughout the country.
Compiled by commissioned research from 4 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsEhon Navi is listed as the Grand Prize winner of the 11th E-Publication Award from the Japan Electronic Publishing Association.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 4
primary sources listed
- 絵本ナビ：絵本が読める＆読み放題も 絵本4万冊を掲載！ - Apps on Google Playplay.google.com · web
4 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Ehonnavi do?
- Japanese picture-book information and parenting site offering online trial reading, an unlimited-reading subscription and book sales.
- Who are Ehonnavi's investors?
- Ehonnavi's investors include Globis Capital Partners.