Yondemy/Japan

Yondemy operates an online reading program for children in Japan, delivered through an app that supports the formation of daily at-home reading habits. The service assesses a child's reading level ("Yondemy Level") and recommends books matched to that level, so that children read titles they can handle and enjoy. Short daily lessons of about three minutes are used to sustain continuity, and the experience is framed with a game-like world intended to draw children in.

The stated aim of the program is that, through enjoying books one at a time, children develop reading ability, thinking ability and the capacity to feel or empathize. Supporting materials are offered free of charge to households, including book lists for finding children's books, resources for home study, and guides for writing book reports. The company also runs parent information sessions and offers a 30-day free trial before paid enrolment.

Business model

Yondemy sells a subscription-style online "lesson" service to households, with enrolment fees for the children's reading program; prospective customers can request materials or start with a 30-day free trial. Alongside direct-to-consumer enrolment, the program is adopted by institutional partners including public education bodies, bookstores and cram schools.

Paid enrolment in the online reading program following a 30-day free trial, with fee details provided on request; free downloadable resources serve as an acquisition channel.

Traction

The company reports that enrolled students read an average of 25.6 books per month, and that the program has been adopted in public education including Bunkyo Ward, at large bookstores such as Miraiya Shoten, and in partnership with exam-prep schools including Hamagakuen and Shingakukai. Published customer cases describe outcomes such as a student reading 314 books in eight months.