THE MEANING BEHIND THE KUMON LOGO

At Kumon, we’re often asked interesting questions about our logo: “How was it designed?”, “Where does the word ‘Kumon’ come from?” Occasionally, some even wonder if there’s a sad face in the ‘O’ of Kumon!

The truth is, our logo holds profound significance as each element represents the values that hold great importance to our company and all our team members. If you’re eager to learn more about the meaningful symbolism behind the Kumon logo, do continue reading.

The expression on the face in the ‘O’ of Kumon

The face is widely recognised all over the world as the most distinguishing and interesting feature of the Kumon logo. It is in fact called the ‘Thinking Face’.

The Kumon Method of Learning strongly promotes students to attempt at problem solving on their own, which will further boost their confidence as self-learners. This emphasis on tackling problems independently requires deep thinking. Thus, the face within the ‘O’ represents the expression of Kumon students all around the world who display profound thought, active engagement in learning and continuous growth.

Similarly, the Thinking Face mirrors the expressions of all Kumon staff members, including Instructors and Associates as well. Everyone shares a common desire to help students, learn from them and in turn, grow as individuals. Kumon Instructors, for example, are constantly asking themselves, “How can I facilitate this child’s progress?” The Thinking Face serves as a powerful representation of the collective commitment and dedication of everyone associated with Kumon.

The blue colour

The iconic ‘Kumon blue’ colour of the logo represents the sky that stretches across the world. Did you know that over 3.5 million children in more than 60 different countries study Kumon today? The blue colour reminds us of all the children around the planet who are learning and growing through the Kumon Maths and English Programmes.

The colour blue is traditionally associated with intelligence, wisdom and honesty, adding deeper significance to the thoughtful design of our logo.

The word ‘Kumon’

Kumon gets its name from the founder of the Kumon Method of Learning, Toru Kumon, who was a Maths teacher in Japan in the 1950s. When he discovered that his son, Takeshi, was struggling with Maths at school, Toru started creating worksheets and handmade booklets for him to complete at home every day. Word got around and soon, friends and neighbours were requesting booklets for their children too. And thus, the Kumon Method was born!

Established over 60 years ago, Kumon has grown into the largest supplementary education provider globally. In Malaysia alone, approximately 200 committed Instructors take pride in supporting local students, helping them become confident and accomplished learners through the Kumon Programme. Hence, the Kumon logo has rightfully earned its status as a widely recognised symbol. Now armed with this newfound knowledge about its meaning, you can astound your family and friends too!