Wakara, who has run math classes for adults for 15 years, now offers an online math tutoring service that builds critical thinking skills starting from age 4.
- The following is content from the press release -
Wakara Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Tomoyuki Horiguchi) has established and launched Kids Data Lab, an online math thinking skills learning center for elementary school students. Kids Data Lab is a fully online learning center requiring no transportation, designed to cultivate children who can "formulate questions and explain why things are so," rather than merely memorizing formulas and techniques.
Official Website:https://wakara.co.jp/kidsdatalab
Background of Establishment
Since its founding in 2010, Waka Corporation has provided educational services focused on mathematics and statistics for working professionals. What became apparent through this work was...The reality is that many students struggle with "data sense"—the ability to handle numbers—in areas like word problems, ratios, probability, and graph interpretation, even before tackling advanced mathematical formulas.With these challenges in mind,"A system is needed to naturally cultivate foundational mathematical thinking skills from childhood."With this in mind, we began developing the Kids Data Lab concept.
On the other hand, looking at the educational environment at home, learning based on the premise of entrance exams has become commonplace from an early age, and the heavy academic burden and financial costs have emerged as significant issues. In other words, I have long been deeply concerned that learning becoming overly focused on test scores and homework undermines the inherent “interest” and "connection to daily life" of mathematics, ultimately stifling children's curiosity.Kids Data Lab is designed to restore math as a "discovery-based learning experience" rather than an "obligation," even within these circumstances.
Against the backdrop of a declining birthrate, as the structure where educational opportunities tend to be concentrated in certain households intensifies, we recognized the importance of "online learning less influenced by region or environment." We designed our service with the premise of offering it as an online tutoring service, aiming to provide a form of learning that is accessible to everyone and enables the continuation of high-quality education. We officially launched in October 2025 with the release of our official website.
Kids Data Lab places at the core of its development"Mathematical Thinking Skills"It is not limited to computational skills. We position it as the “foundational thinking ability” that supports everyday decision-making activities such as estimation, comparison, inference, and explanation. Our founding purpose is to provide a learning experience where children acquire arithmetic not as a "subject" but as "a thinking tool they can use for life," continuously drawing out their curiosity and spirit of inquiry.
The Secret to Developing Math Thinking Skills Even in Kindergarten
How did people in the past keep secrets—in what situations, and with what ingenuity? Understanding the background makes cryptography instantly fascinating.
Furthermore, using the mechanisms covered in class,Create your own cryptographic puzzles and challenge your friends and familyThe following is a list of the most important factors that will help you to make the most of your time in the future.
In the process of "creating → solving → explaining" a cipher,
Identifying patterns, organizing conditions, categorizing cases, reasoning, and verificationMathematical Thinking Skillswill be naturally strengthened.
Features of Kids Data Lab
1) By treating math as a "practical skill for real life," children become eager to learn.
At Kids Data Lab, we treat math not merely as calculation practice, but as a “tool for understanding” connected to daily life and society (money, units, large numbers, etc.). We design learning as an experience, guided by the message: “Give math ”feelings'."
2) Focus on honing your reasoning rather than just finding the “right answer”
We build a solid foundation of understanding through challenges that compel you to ask "Why does this happen?" and instinctively reach for your tools to experiment and refine your approach. This ultimately cultivates essential foundational skills for the future, such as logical thinking, data analysis, and computational strategy.
3) Representative: Tomoyuki Horiguchi provides direct instruction as lead instructor and supervisor.
Kids Data Lab is led by Tomoyuki Horiguchi, who serves as both the CEO of Waka Corporation and the representative of Kids Data Lab (for a detailed profile, seethis way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker)Horiguchi will serve as the lead instructor and supervisor. As founder of “Nagomi® Math Classroom for Adults,” he has been dedicated since 2010 to transforming mathematics and arithmetic into "practical skills for real life." Beyond founding Nagomi Co., Ltd., she brings solid experience working at junior high entrance exam prep schools and learning centers. She has also delivered lectures for elementary school students at multiple housing exhibitions and published books for young learners, such as "Secret Calculation Methods for Elementary Students to Mental Calculate Up to 110×110" (Kinnoshosha).
Learn in just 10 sessions One-time course available
At Kids Data Lab, we are currentlyA 10-session standalone course you can start with any topic that interests youWe offer nationwide participation, featuring a 30-minute live Zoom class each session, plus collaborative learning on Discord and post-class review videos (accessible for one year).
Currently available one-time courses
Large Numbers Exploration Course (Available from November 2025)
Using population, distance, and data as subjects, experience the “scale of reality” while entering the world of spatial orientation, unit conversion, and exponential/logarithmic scales. (Recruitment page isthis way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker)※Recruitment is currently closed.
Computational Strategy Course (Available from January 2026)
Master strategies like distribution, complements, digit decomposition, approximation, and verification as a “strategy catalog,” evolving from "computing as a task" to "computing as a way of thinking." (Recruitment page isthis way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker))
Mystery-Solving Cipher Detective Course (Available February 2026)
Through cryptographic games, we emphasize the process of discovering patterns → organizing conditions → forming hypotheses → verification, and ultimately reaching a point where we can provide an explanation. (Recruitment page isthis way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker))
2026 Online Information Sessions (60 minutes per session)
We provide an overview of our services, learning methods, course experience, and how families can engage. Please check the schedule for information sessions from January to March 2026 below. (For details, see the page)this way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker))
- Sunday, January 4, 2026, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
- Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday, January 24, 2026, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday, February 28, 2026, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday, March 21, 2026, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Future Development
Kids Data Lab builds the foundational skills needed for the AI era.We define this as "mathematical thinking skills (questioning, data, explanation)" and will advance learning designs that go beyond merely acquiring computational techniques.Moving forward, we will expand our thematic courses and year-long programs that foster enduring “thinking patterns,” connecting them to inquiry skills applicable across subjects.
Furthermore, while learning outcomes can vary significantly depending on how children are engaged at home, parents taking on the role of "teacher" often increases their busyness and anxiety.Therefore, we will provide parents with a “support framework” designed to foster children's autonomy, establishing a system that keeps learning moving forward while reducing academic stress at home.By fostering an environment where children can explain concepts in their own words and choose their next steps independently, we aim to establish a new mathematics learning model that connects learning across home, school, and society.
About Us
Company Name: Wakara Co., Ltd.
Location: 8F Shibuya Hikarie, 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8510 Creative Lounge MOV
Established: March 3, 2011
Capital: 3,141,592 yen
Representative Director: Tomoyuki Horiguchi
Phone Number: 050-5490-7845
Business Activities: Mathematics for Adults Classroom Wa® / Statistics for Adults Classroom Wa / Corporate and Organizational In-House Training / Event Management, etc.
