Key facts
- Recruit Holdings plans to sell its online learning service, Study Sapuri.
- The company is sharpening its focus on its human resources business, including job search platform Indeed.
- Study Sapuri offers over 40,000 video lectures for students and is used by approximately 2,000 schools in Japan.
- As of December 31, 2020, Study Sapuri had 1.57 million members.
- Japan's EdTech market reached $14.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a 20% CAGR through 2033.
Recruit Holdings, a major Japanese staffing services group, is planning to sell its online learning service, Study Sapuri, as it seeks to streamline its business portfolio and concentrate on its core human resources operations, including the prominent job search platform Indeed. This strategic shift follows Recruit's earlier divestment of its Philippine learning platform operator, Quipper, to Singapore-based Manabie in April.
Study Sapuri, launched by Recruit Group, provides over 40,000 video lectures from skilled instructors for students from elementary to high school, as well as those preparing for university entrance exams. The platform has also been adopted by approximately 2,000 schools across Japan. As of December 31, 2020, it had amassed 1.57 million members. The service played a role during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Aichi Prefecture implementing it for its high schools to support online learning, although initial adoption faced challenges among educators unfamiliar with ICT.
Japan's education technology market is substantial, valued at $14.8 billion in 2024 and projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 20% through 2033, according to IMARC Group. This growth is driven by government initiatives like the GIGA School program and increasing demand for digital education and corporate reskilling. However, global EdTech companies face hurdles entering the market, including complex procurement processes, localization requirements, and competition from established domestic players like Benesse and Study Sapuri itself.