LA-based edtech company Age of Learning has partnered with global e-tailer Rakuten to launch a joint-venture that’s all about teaching English to Japanese kids.

Age of Learning Japan will pool resources from both companies to build up the user base of English-language educational service ABCmouse English (pictured), which has been available in Japan since 2020.

Owned by Age of Learning, ABCmouse English features more than 260 lessons and 6,000 pieces of original content—including videos, game books and songs—that teach language fundamentals to kids ages three to eight. Speech recognition tech and AI/machine-learning help adapt the lessons to each individual child’s learning needs.

This partnership expands Rakuten’s English-language services, which it began offering in 2017 through its Rakuten Super English Learning platform. For Age of Learning, the joint-venture will help build its audience in Japan, says chief innovation officer Sunil Gunderia.

“We see a strong value proposition with a product that personalizes learning in a market where families are pursuing English-language education in a big way,” he says. “This is part of our goal to engage kids in both the US and globally, and to get kids where they want to be with their learning.”