OSAKA - Once considered a relic of the Showa era, the abacus is experiencing a revival across Japan. Children once again gather in classrooms, repeating the familiar call of "13 yen, 25 yen, 81 yen," as they practice calculations that many thought had been replaced by digital tools. Demand is spreading so quickly that production centers in Hyogo Prefecture are struggling to keep pace.
In Osaka’s residential neighborhoods, after-school abacus classes are filling with children from kindergarten through high school. The scenes resemble those of half a century ago, when more than 13,000 abacus schools operated nationwide. Enrollment numbers, which had been shrinking for decades, doubled this April compared with the previous year. According to a survey, abacus ranked sixth among extracurricular activities chosen by elementary school students, ahead of baseball and soccer.
The appeal lies not only in mental arithmetic skills. Children say they like being able to calculate change instantly and plan what to buy next. Parents see it as an antidote to overreliance on devices. "We’ve grown so dependent on machines that quick mental calculation is disappearing," one mother said. "Abacus helps children handle errands on their own."
Demand is also tied to education trends. More than half of parents who enroll their children in abacus lessons say they are considering junior high school entrance exams. "Kindergarteners and first graders are especially common now," said Tajuku, head of a nationwide federation of abacus schools. "Parents recognize again that abacus is necessary for building calculation ability, and it is gradually reviving."
The renewed boom is most visible in Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, known as Japan’s top abacus production center. The town features abacus patterns on manholes and even a dedicated museum. "We are delighted to see the popularity returning," a city official said. Local manufacturers are also feeling the surge. One major maker reported producing about 60,000 abacuses per month, though the figure remains far below Showa-era peaks. Orders increased during the pandemic, coinciding with the rise of online lessons. At the same time, shortages of skilled artisans are forcing companies to reduce orders despite high demand.
The shift to online classrooms has expanded access nationwide and even overseas. At one Himeji-based abacus school, monitors display rows of students across Japan and abroad, including participants from the United States. Nearly 450 students now attend remotely, double the number five years ago. "With online lessons, people everywhere can learn," said the instructor. "It has created an environment for global participation."
The abacus’s reach extends beyond Japan. Today it is taught in 108 countries and regions. Competitions are held internationally, with students racing to perform calculations using both real and "air" abacuses. At a recent tournament in Lebanon, contestants were seen moving their fingers dynamically in mid-air, simulating the beads.
Teachers emphasize that abacus education is about more than arithmetic. "It builds concentration, discipline, and even stimulates the brain," one instructor explained. From Showa classrooms to Reiwa online platforms, the abacus is evolving while preserving its core training in mental calculation. Far from disappearing, it is once again becoming a skill that children and parents alike see as essential.
Source: KTV NEWS
