Benesse Corporation ( ベネッセコーポレーション , Benesse Kōporēshon ) is a Japanese company which focuses on correspondence education and publishing. Based in Okayama , it is the parent company of Berlitz Language Schools , which in turn is the parent company of ELS Language Centers . Benesse is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (listing code 9783).
13-457: The company name is derived from the Latin words "bene" (well) and "esse" (being). The company was founded in 1955 as Fukutake Publishing Co., Ltd. ( 株式会社福武書店 , Kabushiki-gaisha Fukutake Shoten ) by Tetsuhiko Fukutake, a publisher of educational materials. In 1986, Soichiro Fukutake succeeded his father as president on the latter's death. His son Hideaki Fukutake is a company director. In 1994,
26-592: A Japanese New Zealand businessman and arts patron based in New Zealand since 2009. He is CEO of New Zealand company STILL that is focused on New Zealand-based opportunities to enhance art, culture and community through business, social enterprise and projects. He is a Director of Benesse Holdings in Japan and Chairman of the Fukutake Foundation which operates Benesse Art Site Naoshima and is an important contributor to
39-470: A private company once again. In 2023, Swedish private equity firm EQT AB together with Benesse's founding family announced their intention to buy the company and take it private in a deal valued at US$ 1.78 billion ( ¥ 270 billion). On March 3, 2024, it was announced that EFU Investments Ltd. and a fund managed by BPEA EQT completed the purchase of a 70.1% stake in Benesse. The Benesse House
52-449: A publishing company called Fukutake Publishing Co. in the 1950s focusing on education and correspondence. The company later developed simulated exams and correspondence courses and became successful in the field of education. Following Tetsuhiko's death in 1986, Soichiro Fukutake , took over the business. The company's name was changed to Benesse Corporation in 1990 taking the Latin words bene (well) and esse (being). The company's mission
65-805: Is a 10-room hotel located inside a contemporary art museum, the Benesse Art Site, on the island of Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea. Built in 1992, it was designed in partnership with architect Tadao Ando . It was built by the Benesse Foundation which is funded by the Benesse Corporation. Benesse is the originator of the Kodomo Challenge educational program, which debuted in April 1988 and introduced three young-animal mascot characters: Shimajiro
78-495: Is a Japanese billionaire, and the former chairman of the Benesse Corporation , a publishing firm and juku company known for its patronage of the arts. Fukutake inherited Benesse, which his father founded in 1955 as Fukutake Publishing. After his father's death in 1986, he renamed it Benesse (Latin for well-being), and expanded the company, and his family owns 15% of the company. Benesse owns 275 nursing homes in Japan and
91-590: Is companies that enhance art, culture and community and is an intergenerational organisation with a long term outlook. STILL is a group of New Zealand companies including the World of Wearable Art , SHAPE Energy, National Candles, design agency DDMMYY, Queenstown's Hulbert House Hotel, Consult Recruitment, and Auckland's Metro Magazine. STILL's urban green division owns the nursery King's Plant Barn, No More Boring workspace design and office plant supplier, Awa Nursery and Humphreys Landscaping. Tetsuhiko Fukutake founded
104-472: Is to support people's well-being over the generations. In 2023, Fukutake announced the intention to privatise the company via a management buyout with Swedish investment house EQT. In 2012 Soichiro Fukutake and his family gifted 5.2% of Benesse stock to launch the foundation which was raised to 8% in 2020. Hideaki Fukutake is expected to take over the foundation. Soichiro Fukutake Soichiro Fukutake ( 福武 總一郎 , Fukutake Sōichirō , born 1945)
117-593: The Berlitz language schools. Fukutake is married, with one son Hideake, and lives in Auckland , New Zealand. He has created four museums or "art shrines" on the islands of Naoshima , Teshima and Inujima in an archipelago in Japan's southern Seto Inland Sea , including the Chichu Art Museum . They have been built in collaboration with the architect Tadao Ando . This biographical article related to Japan
130-544: The Seto Inland Sea which were polluted by copper refineries emitting sulphur dioxide and by illegally dumped industrial waste. Fukutake is a director of Benesse Holdings, Japan, a company founded by his grandfather, and previously worked at Japanese companies SMS Corporation and KEYENCE Corporation. In 2020, he set up a New Zealand company STILL with the mission to acquire or start 100 New Zealand businesses that are fundamentally good for New Zealand. STILL's interest
143-624: The company completed the construction of the Fukutake Shoten Tokyo Building (now Benesse Corporation Tokyo Building) in Tama , Tokyo. In April 1995, the company was renamed Benesse Corporation. A major breakthrough in the company's history was the acquisition of a majority stake in Berlitz Language Schools , which had gone public in 1989. In 2001, Benesse completed the take-over by acquiring 100% ownership of Berlitz and making it
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#1732852830413156-399: The tiger, Torippi the parrot, and Ramurin the sheep. These characters, along with later 1991 addition Mimirin the rabbit, would appear in a long-running series of Shimajiro anime starting in 1993. This article about a Japanese corporation- or company-related topic is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Hideaki Fukutake Hideaki Fukutake (born c. 1977) is
169-514: The world-renowned Setouchi Triennale. Fukutake was raised in Okayama , Japan and attended Chuo University where he studied a Bachelors of Commerce. Fukutake is married with three children and lives in Auckland , New Zealand following moving to the country in 2009. Fukutake's family is known their work creating Benesse Art Site and for revitalising Naoshima , Teshima and Inujima islands in
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