When asked about the last time they used an abacus, most people typically respond, "It's been a long time."

With the popularity of calculators, the abacus is no longer found in homes and offices. Now, even the calculator is gradually replaced by the calculation app on cell phones.

Along with the development of the information age, the abacus market has shrunk dramatically. In its heyday, there were nearly 20 abacus companies, but now there are few left.

However, Abacus has found another way to open up new markets. One of the new markets for the abacus is children's classes.

Previously, abacus and calligraphy were compulsory. After that, there was a sharp increase in all kinds of learning classes, such as swimming and English conversation, and the abacus gradually faded out of people's sight.

In 2000, the decline in the basic arithmetic skills of college students became a topic of discussion, and the abacus came back into the limelight as a tool for exercising students' ability to add and subtract.

Recently the abacus has regained its popularity. Abacus is consistently ranked among the top ten lists of the most wanted learning classes for children.

TOMOE Fujimoto takes over the family business and becomes the second president of TOMOE Abacus from an English teacher.

The popularity of the abacus was also boosted by the Momoyu Abacus, a product of Tomoe Abacus that reproduced the abacus used in textbooks during the Meiji era.

The abacus was introduced into the lower elementary school classroom because it helped children understand numbers better.

In this day and age, it is easy for anyone to do calculations with calculators and cell phone apps.

As a result, the abacus is once again being emphasized as a tool to "visualize" numbers and to "improve children's ability to calculate.

In addition, the abacus can be used as a tool to prevent dementia.

President Fujimoto said, "Doing calculations helps increase blood flow to the brain. The abacus needs to be operated with the fingers, which can increase blood flow."

"Our company conducts abacus lectures to prevent Alzheimer's disease for daycare centers, and they are well received by the participants."

"While there are also people who don't like to use the abacus, we have again designed bingo games with the abacus, or playing cards to add to the fun of using the abacus."

"Older adults are less talkative and need us to intentionally use the abacus to increase opportunities for communication among them."