ABOUT US
JAKUETS
JAKUETS began our journey over 100 years ago by establishing its kindergarten. We started crafting teaching materials and playground equipment by hand to support early childhood education. Today, we work with over 60% of Japan’s 40,000+ kindergartens and nursery schools. Our collaborations now extend beyond schools — to parks, museums, and commercial complexes. We also engage in a wide range of child- and play-related projects, including product design, architecture, landscape planning, research, and consulting.
PHILOSOPHY
At JAKUETS, we believe that “play” extends beyond the human realm to include nature, AI, and every form of life. This inclusive approach cultivates empathy and fosters a positive social impact, reminding us that we share a holistic habitat. We call this the Ecology of Play, where all voices co-create a more harmonious tomorrow.
We design playful sculptures guided by affordance, ensuring every setting offers a good experience. By embedding timelessness and future value into each design, we are passing on a positive legacy to future generations.
Established in 1916, JAKUETS is a 100-year company that continues to evolve. We ask, “How can we become The Good Ancestor?”—a question that anchors our commitment to learning by making, promoting well-being for all who share this planet.
>>Read more from the tabs below
-
Today, we find ourselves in a time of deep change—climate crises, rapid AI development, and social fragmentation challenge us to rethink our place on this planet. At JAKUETS, we believe “play” extends beyond humanity, encompassing nature, AI, and every life form. Rather than viewing Earth merely as a resource, we envision it as a holistic habitat shared by people, animals, plants, and artificial intelligence—all with unique perspectives. This mutual interdependence resonates with the Buddhist concept of Interbeing, reminding us that our social impact stretches far beyond human boundaries.
Why focus on play in addressing these global shifts? For JAKUETS, play is more than children’s entertainment: we embrace The Ecology of Play—an interconnected system where curiosity, cooperation, and exploration thrive. True play fosters empathy, creativity, and timelessness in our relationships with each other and the world. We pay close attention to affordance, designing “playful sculptures” that naturally sparks wonder. Such designs create a genuinely good experience for people of all ages, inspiring them to recognize one another—and the planet itself—as co-creators of a shared tomorrow. -
Our approach goes beyond theory; it is grounded in physical experience and active engagement. In Zen and other Buddhist traditions, wisdom is cultivated through embodied practice rather than abstract thought alone. This echoes the constructivist idea of “learning by making,” where children and adults alike shape materials, test ideas in real time, and collaborate with others—integrating each discovery in both mind and body. By designing for playful and affordance-rich interactions, we nurture empathy, resilience, and a sense of collective growth. We view play as a form of activism: through doing, we shape who we become.
-
At JAKUETS, we do more than just manufacture equipment for children. We create playgrounds as microcosms of what an inclusive, holistic society could look like. Whether it’s a child with physical constraints, a parent rediscovering the wonder of exploration, or an AI designed to assist rather than compete, each participant contributes to a living “ecology of play.” Our designs spark ongoing dialogue and collaboration, encouraging diverse perspectives to flourish. By focusing on affordance, we make each setting naturally welcoming, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a meaningful, good experience—and fostering a deeper sense of shared responsibility.
A Note on Japanese Sensibility:
In Japanese culture, classical poetry—sometimes referred to as yamato-uta—often personifies animals and natural elements, underscoring a deep empathy for nature. This tradition reflects a worldview in which humans and non-humans share the same tapestry of existence. For instance, one of our new designs is named “OMOCHI,” after a soft, round rice cake symbolic of warmth and togetherness in Japan. By drawing on the comforting shape and playful word-sound, we blend cultural nuance with universal design principles, offering a tangible example of how language, tradition, and environment can align to celebrate our shared habitat. -
Imagining the world of 2125 compels us to ask: What kind of society will we leave behind? JAKUETS takes this long view in our educational, design, and social practices. We strive to create environments that offer future value and stand the test of time—embedding timelessness so they remain relevant across future generations. By backcasting from a more inclusive and sustainable world, we continually refine our methods to ensure we are passing on a positive legacy that benefits all forms of life.
-
To be a “good ancestor” means caring for more than our immediate circle. It requires us to acknowledge that each choice reverberates across time and space, affecting countless beings—present and future. Drawing on our Buddhist heritage, we recognize that no one exists in isolation. This perspective urges us to move beyond human-centered success and toward holistic well-being for all. By centering our designs on mindful stewardship, we hope to cultivate a world that future generations can inherit with optimism and gratitude.
-
Established in 1916, JAKUETS has devoted over a century to designing early learning environments and playgrounds. We are proud to be a 100-year company committed to passing on a positive legacy. Seeing ourselves as “a company from 100 years in the future,” we continually ask how best to serve those who will come after us. We believe in placing long-term benefits above short-term gains, ensuring our works embody genuine future value.
-
“How can we become The Good Ancestor?” is not a one-time query; it is our daily compass. Each playground we create reflects our commitment to respecting local environments, welcoming cultural differences, and inspiring new forms of teaching, collaboration, and community-building. We invite everyone to join us in imagining fresh possibilities for tomorrow, and taking the steps today that only true ancestors would make.
COMPANY DATA
| Company name |
JAKUETS Inc. |
|---|---|
| Address |
Tokyo Head Office: 4-24-50 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan (Google Maps) |
| Company Representative |
CEO Tatsuro Tokumoto |
| Founded |
September, 1916 |
| Bisiness sites |
67 business offices and 8 architectural firms in Japan |
| Main customers |
Kindergarten, Nursery school, and Certification Children Garden across Japan／Local Authority／Commercial Mall／Public Space／Cultural Facility／Leisure Facility etc. |
| Number of employees |
Total 630 employees |
| Sales revenue |
16,026 million yen (Total : As of July, 2024） |
| Qualified people |
21 Architects ,86 Construction Engineers , 27 Landscape Engineers , 5 Civil Engineers , 7 Plumbing Engineers |
| Certification |
|