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 Benesse Corporation and Sega Toys recently announced the release of English learning materials for elementary school children aged six to eight years old at toyshops nationwide. Composed of software for the CoCoPad(R) Learning System*, videotapes and activity books, the new material was designed for the first lesson in the Korasho English Course introductory series of three lessons, which were developed by Benesse.

The Korasho English Course is an optional correspondence course for Shinkenzemi Elementary School Courses, taken by a total of 36,000 children, mainly Shinkenzemi students, since opening in July 2003 (as of February 2004). Course materials have been sold primarily to Shinkenzemi students; however, the new material is available to non-Shinkenzemi members through the Sega Toys retail network in Japan. Materials for the second and third lesson can be obtained through Benesse. This collaboration is consistent with Sega Toy's goal of expanding the contents of the CoCoPad(R) Learning System for elementary school students and fits with Benesse's aim to develop new sales channels other than the optional contents for its members.

*The CoCoPad(R) Learning System is the Japanese version of the interactive learning platform, the LeapPad(R) Learning System, developed by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., which allows children to learn through voice, sounds, and music. LeapPad recorded sales of 8.6 million units worldwide, mainly in the United States, while the sales of CoCoPad(R) totaled more than 200,000 units since its release in March 2002. Sega Toys and different educational institutions have jointly developed more than twenty software titles, some of which Benesse has adopted for its course materials. The CoCoPad(R) Learning System now has a strong position in the learning materials field.