You are here

Was There a Coup at GEOS?

When I wrote previously that the takeover of GEOS went smoothly, I remembered an old article sitting in my stack of stuff to do. It comes from JC-NET and was published on April 24, shortly after the bankruptcy was announced. As the title of this post says, the story suggests that there was a coup d'etat at GEOS that allowed for G.communication to swiftly move in and take over the company.

I don't know anything about JC-NET and certainly can't vouch for the accuracy of the article, but when GEOS went bust on April 21, I wondered if anything was going on behind the scences. The bankruptcy was incredbily smooth. G.communication and GEOS apparently reached a deal four days before the bankruptcy was announced. The president of G.communication initially stated he took over the company to protect the students. In a later interview, he said:

"People may be worried because of the experience with Nova. In Nova's case, we took over some of their schools awhile after the company went bankrupt and we had to start in a situation where more than 1,000 teachers didn't have places to work," Sugimoto said.

"This time, we raised our hand (to rescue Geos) at an early time," he said. "If it was a week later, it would have been more chaotic."

So just how early did Sugimoto "raise his hand?" The bankruptcy has been so smooth it's virtually a non-event in the news. The JC-NET article, however, suggests that there was a lot of maneuvering behind the scenes and that Kusunoki was essentially stabbed in the back by a nephew. Here's a summary of that article.

Et tu, Tabuchi?

The JC-NET article starts off with the observation that Kusunoki wasn't present at the press conference announcing GEOS' bankruptcy and that this was odd, especially when you consider that he didn't agree to the bankruptcy in the first place. Instead, leading the coup d'etat was a director named Tabuchi.

The bankruptcy was filed with the Tokyo District Court by Hitomi Suhara and two other directors. Sitting beside Suhara at the press conference was Tabuchi.

However, JC-NET notes that Tabuchi may in fact be Kusunoki's nephew, who happens to have been in charge of operations in the Chubu area, G.education's home turf. So here's the plot: Worried about GEOS's stability, Tabuchi approaches G.communication and offers to sell the company to them. We already know that an agreement was signed on April 16th. The offer to sell, however, may have been made much further in advance of the April 16 signing. G.communication may have decided to sign on the 16th after having reviewed information about GEOS' schools and sorting the schools into the ones it would keep and the ones it would close. A source says this is why GEOS' directors (Suhara and Tabuchi) could speak with such clarity about GEOS's schools during the press conference in the wake of the bankruptcy.

JC-NET believes that Tabuchi and other kept Kusunoki out of the loop. Some reports had Kusunoki considering selling GEOS to another large eikaiwa school other that G.communication. At the same time, two directors approached G.communication. JC-NET says that Tabuchi and Suhara took files on each school to G.communication without telling GEOS's board of directors. In a takeover, the articles of incorporation have to be reviewed, but taking documents without the knowledge of the board would appear to be a breach of confidentiality. JC-NET's source says that Tabuchi did this to save his own skin, but this doesn't make much sense. The backroom dealings aside, there's no way G.communication would go public and employ either Tabuchi or Suhara. If this is true, then it appears that Kusunoki may have been stabbed in the back by his nephew.

As is known from press releases, GEOS filed for bankruptcy on March 16 [sic. Mistake in the report? Should be April 16] and signed an agreement with G.education to take over GEOS, its kodomo schools, and e-GEOS businesses. On April 23, G.education reopened 170 GEOS schools and 223 kodomo classrooms while shutting down 100 other schools. Students affected by the closures were given the option of transferring to the nearest GEOS or Nova school, or taking Ocha no ma ryuugaku lessons online at a 75% discount.

G.communication, the parent company of G.education, held a press conference on April 21, but Kusunoki was not in attendance. According to a JNN interview, Kusunoki maintains that he was looking to sell the company to another school when his directors betrayed him. "It's like a coup d'etat," he said.

Comment: As I said at the outset, I don't know what to make of the allegation that Tabuchi is related to Kusunoki or if there's any truth to the story at all. If it's true, the takeover of GEOS is more a fait accompli on G.communication's part than a coup within GEOS.

Comments

Above post correct. Again, look for the major announcements to come in September. Patience will be lost when summer money runs out.

Well, I know that times are tough in the US. It's hard to get a job and all that. However, it's a little sad to see people constantly posting negative shit about their place of work for months on end. Can't you just, like leave? You know, do something else for a living instead of not only going down with the ship but celebrating as you go?

When this happened at Nova, it was to some extent understandable. The employees were living in a country far away from their own and their options were more limited: but you guys are in the land of your birth - surely you can do something for yourselves.

NA UPDATE: Just an update on where GEOS NA is heading for those who asked...

The only school in the GEOS NA empire (sarcasm) that has shown a profit lately is GEOS Ottawa. Ironic, though, given the former manager was booted for being "unproductive." Maybe a little jealousy was involved. However, it is not a great sign as this profit. And it is small and came from pre-paid summer tuition. Already the are showing a negative cash balance (not meeting monthly cash targets). Essentially, only one or two schools are eking out a profit, but only for one or two months a year during the busiest time (summer rush). Hence why no buyers have come forward. The time has passed for a buyer, so look to late September to really start seeing sh*t hit fan. Can't see Gcomm blindly funding

To the morons who are whining and bitching about the U.S. this, the U.S. that...Just shut up. I am neither American or Aussie...But I also hate niether. Every country has its own mistakes and perils in this world, with most other countries being much worse, so for the morons who spew the bias politics...JUST SHUT UP. Grow up and move on, as one person said. You are not doing . From all the postings (mostly misguided and ill-infomed hatred towards the U.S.), I have to say I feel more for the role and responsibilities the U.S. is burdened with in this nasty. To the people who just spew hatred and nonsense, you haven't converted anyone to your demented view of the world that only seems to include a pre-occupation with the U.S. most likely borne out of a huge inferiority complex. Please keep this board about Japan and not angry politics...The world need LESS politics, not more!

University PATHWAYS now BIG push at GEOS NA. Summer camp pre-paid tuition has dried up........SACB (Saudi) money good but causing administrative problems and demands. PATHWAYS = 12-month prepaid $$$. Only way to get them out of the whole. Unfortunately only one school made money and it was paltry. And that is at the height of the busy season. PATHWAYS is last ditch effort to survive the winter.

Will it work? Who knows......But no buyers for GEOS NA says something.

Kids, it's a dangerous world. If you engage in education with colleges and schools in the private sector that you don't know - always use a CONDOM - pay cash only (for the minimum) next days or months. Never, ever, ever pay more than 8 weeks in advance or you may get a nasty pain and a rash in your wallet when your school of choice goes, as we say in the medical world, belly-up.
WARNING - "If pain persists, see a state or government education organisation."

State or government agency scares me more.

hey everyone,

Have the ex GEOS employees received any papers to claim unpaid wages? I read online that some teacher got their papers, but I haven't been sent anything since the unemployment insurance stuff.

Cheers.

Oh Ozzie Guru, such pearls of wisdom! LOL! People have been raising this issue in here and other places for years! Why do (Japanese consumers/students especially) hand over bucket loads in advance to these charlatan fly-by-night, Yakusa affiliated, money laundering, and notorious bullshit artists, posing to be “educators” to begin with? You are absolutely right! WEAR A CONDOM, because you can indeed, as history shows, expect to catch ESL/EFL syphilis or even worse. If the “school” needs so much cash up front to begin with, well what kind of a tin pot making, dog eat dog ass, rag doll, shonkey motors, wipe your ass with soiled toilet paper outfit is it to begin with? I ask you! When will the consumer advocate agencies step in, and shut these excrement peddling, covered in dog shit, slime ball criminal outfits down! How many shit sandwiches do the public have to eat I ask? How many?

Get a butt plug if you work in a government school pretty much anywhere. Government system is failing miserably here. Kids can:t even read their own name.....Everywhere sucks.

I filed my papers back in June (first couple of weeks) and received notice earlier this week that my unpaid wages are being transferred today. I think the deadline for filing the papers was something like July 9th. I don't know why you didn't receive yours. Did you move house or something while they were sorting it all out?

Well I have no idea, I got the papers for the unemployment insurance so they had my address for that...

Some updates about GEOS NA:

- only one school in Canada made a profit in June and July....small one.
- GEOS Ottawa is targeting $120,000 profit this year...Except there second-best month this year was under $10K...Winter slow season still to come.
- Average school needs $7,000+ per DAY to make their cash targets. yup.
- Yes, all that Saudi money is their main target. Over 50% of students in some schools ("EAST team", yippee!) over 50% Saudi. Yee-hah! Except it is now starting to drain management time with ever-changing demand, etc. from SACB. Hence PATHWAYS.
- The infamous Uri Carnat will make a major announcement come the fall.

Stay tuned as I offer more when it is appropriate.

Rita Chen, GEOS NA regional Marketing Biggie, is out the door....She is heading to Korea to patch things up for GEOS. Korean market needs a little ass kissing and Rita is good at that...No doubt she got tired of Uris Carnatt.

Really, Ms. Ritachen is gone from the Montreal closet? No shit! What is uriiscarnnat the lovesick puppy going to kiss up to now? Sayaka-san is getting older and has two kids and a wary husband that might kick little uri around for his shenanigans...

Here is some more news you boys and girls missed in GEOS NA-land:

- Umima is gone at GEOS Ottawa...Gone rather abruptly...

- GEOS Ottawa did fudge a few things on their financial statement this past month...What else is new from the school that sends it staff to Internet cafes to wire money out the country for unknown reasons?

- GEOS Montreal is still a gossip zone, but even uri carrnat can not identify the leak(s) at his school...Hey, Uri, try a word that starts with the letter 'I'' for your leak. *cough, cough*

- Martha Munroe is off to a good start at another job and very smartly never coming back to the GEOS lair. She will probably live a few years longer with her decision.

The rest can be told later...

Scheming and scamming as usual...

===========================
Unpaid internship at GEOS Montreal (read: FREE SLAVE LABOR!)

GEOS Montreal is always looking for those interested in learning the industry through an unpaid internship. Successful candidates would need to be available for a minimum period of three months and six hours per day during this time. English or French is required, but candidates do not have to be perfect in either. A third language would be especially helpful, specifically Spanish, Korean, or Portuguese. Candidates should also be outgoing and like a fast-paced work environment.

The tasks of the position mainly consist of administrative office work (filing, data entry etc.) and others tasks required upon request by the administrative staff.

======

Lookie here...GEOS is looking at the Russian market. Guess they do not know much about the scheming and scamming of GEOS NA. Play on ignorance. Take heed competitors.

Russian Marketer and Hospitality Industry Specialist

GEOS Montreal is looking for a native Russian speaker with fully fluent English and French to work locally and internationally with the Russian market. Concurrently, the successful candidate will work with the local and international hospitality industry to recruit students to the school. Finally, this work will be combined with leadership of a new television campaign. Applicants must have lived and worked in the hospitality industry locally and internationally, have a formal education in tourism, and have exeperience in TV or in other media. Interested candidates may contact the North American Regional Director at .

...but Rita Chen left the little man's little lair in Montreal? Wow...Guess she got tired of the unwanted advances , or at least that is what I heard. ;-)

Umima in Ottawa is gone, too, for "undisclosed reasons". The drama continues at GEOS Canada.

Just to let all the GEOS NA insiders know, Martha Monroe is doing absolutely fine outside GEOS little grasp. In fact, she is probably going to live a little longer and actually get paid for the hours she works (unlike GEOS Canada positions) now that she is away from the sad state of GEOS Canada...Sad to see Umima go, but sometimes people feel threatened by her performance...kind of like the little u.r.i. guy in Montreal who couldn't take playing second fiddle to a couple of women at GEOS Canada...Taller women at that. ;-)

But look...you gotta give GEOS NA a "BIG A" for at least trying. Partnerships with NA unis, promoting the summer schools this year, boosting the French lesson stuff, more marketing, tarting up websites, sucking up to the Saudis, planning Middle East excursions to Education Promotion events, Rita (apparently) despatched to the depths of Korea, exploring hospitality and media markets, saying hello to the Russians (and, mate, be careful with those boys!!!). Hey, this sort of stuff might even look good on a jobseeker's cv, don't cha know.

The NA unis that they "partnered with" are nothing more than third and fourth-rate institutions that any iodiot could get into WITHOUT GEOS NA. Of course, GEOS has no shame so it will sell its "miracle link" to these unis and how "it is the ticket to getting in"...Parents and certain countries far-removed from the rest of the world (Saudi?) will lap it up like a little puppy with ice cream. The Saudi market is already starting to slow for some GEOS schools and taking up a lot of admin time with their ever-changing demands. And the Russian market? That should be fun.

Rita will need to kiss ass harder than she ever has at GEOS Montreal to be able to regain the trust of the Koreans. I imagine there are some GEOS bucks being passed under the pub table when she meets with them.

Oh, a colleague in the know just sent me an e-mail saying Umima at GEOS Ottawa left under "mysterious circumstances."

Anyone in the know that can confirm this? Sad, if true...She handled all the arab business and brought a lot of $ to the table.

Umima gone? Well, wouldn't surprise me. GEOS is like a fly-by-night organization with extremely high turnover, both teachers and staff. Also, a little insecure manager-type in Montreal likes to "show force/ who is in charge" GEOS Japan-propaganda-style. so it would not surprise me who made the decision. Some people are quit insecure about their height and lack of any decent education. Good, smart people do not stay at GEOS.

An Algonquin College (Ottawa) teaching friend tells me persistant rumours about GEOS sale going round. They heard that there was an email being circulated from Monreal about a sale. Anyone in the know?

Yup, those "rumors" were put out by the "big" guy in Montreal himself. Can't seem to keep the trap door shut, can he. I wouldn't be boasting about a sale, especially given how long it has taken them. And from what I hear, not a done deal...But the "big guy" keeps motoring about it all over. Guess he is getting excited?

Anyone with more details about the "sale"? Suitors? Maybe the Saudis should buy, especially given how they seem to own the student body anyway. ';-)

So, @11.50, is a possible GNA sale the resaon for the Ottawa manager's plans to go to the Middle East in October? Story going round from one of the Ottawa yappers is that he will be in Saudi Arabia and other places. People are asking the question, though, why wouldn't the Montreal boss pick up the trip- and the glory - for himself?

Isn't the Montreal guy going? He loves the "glory"? Actually, it probably has something to do with

Anyone figure why a GEOS Ottawa manager would make a two-week tour of Saudi Arabia? Pretty costly endeavor from a junior manager. Possibly a GEOS sale to Saudi princes? ;-)

Because the Montreal guy is JEWISH...Not to mention he runs his mouth, so probably not a good mix in Saudi Arabia. ;-)

OK, so Mr Campbell is off to Saudi Arabia and he's going to encounter a whole new world of education there. That country is really putting an effort into schooling its youngsters.

If you've got a moment have a look around the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) website

http://inauguration.kaust.edu.sa/

and see where the Saudis are going with education. Opened last year, it's a graduate uni of 9,000 acres with academics and students from all over the world. It baffles me why Saudi government and educationalists who can plan and put together a place like KAUST would even want to bother with a rag-time outfit like GEOS!

The last post is funny because the manager in Montreal always sees Saudia Arabia for its gravy train possibilities, not "education advancements." The talk is

Oh, it IS true that GEOS Canada teachers are now being pushed to be salespeople...Extend students by "encouraging them to stay." Which is a nice way of staying "get your class to re-enrol/ not jump to another school, pre-pay as much tuition as possible so GEOS can claim it as income earned, or kiss your little teacher job good bye."...The used car salesman model continues.

Niall, just a heads up for ya from ah mucker on some wee jobbies goin in SA that might be reet up ya street. Given like yer on the site local an all next monthie doin that thingie for the Little Fella.

Have a a gander at

http://www.esljobs.com/saudi-arabia/english-teachers-wanted-saudi-arabia...

Money's na too bad, scran is OK and a butt 'n ben is parta the package. an all. Ay, having a sesh is a bit of a problem ah no but you'd be a numptie na to ha a thought about givin the possie a go. Particularly with the stoushies that are coming on an all at GEOS. Anyway, must away.....keep yer snottie clean, mon....Alba Gu Brath.

Ah, love it! Some definitely in the know...and not too distant past. Haha!

Little man in Mintrreal must have chickened out on going to SA.

seems like the cynical minds who saw the geos takeover as nothing more than a grab for the student base were right - most schools will be closing the end of this month. students' contracts will be converted to nova contracts.

seems like the cynical minds who saw the geos takeover as nothing more than a grab for the student base were right - most schools will be closing the end of this month. students' contracts will be converted to nova contracts.

This comes from a reliable source? Having seen NOVA and GEOS branches virtually next door to each other in some places I can't say I'm too surprised if this does indeed go ahead.

@ mr.x

reliable. manager told a colleague after his shift today. unfortunately i was out on my own at a small branch, so i only got a few details via a quick phone call (from the co-worker, not the manager).

very little idea how it'll work out, but i'd guess almost all japanese staff are screwed, and most foreigners too. not to mention a reasonable proportion of students.

i'm hoping that there will be posts from people who know more than me, but i wanted to get the news out there.

very little idea how it'll work out, but i'd guess almost all japanese staff are screwed, and most foreigners too. not to mention a reasonable proportion of students.

Probably, I'm sorry to say. Students who don't have NOVA schools nearby to go to might, I suppose, get a tiny amount of money back but a lot more will quit. If G.com follow the same MO as last time, the staff and teachers will be told they're being hired in principle, and then when not many GEOS students change over to NOVA they will be told they have to re-locate or be fired.

This is timed with the GEOS NA sale to Open Hearts. Both are supposed to occur in October. And, yes, that is connected to..Uri Carnat, but that doesn't really matter. Japan is GEOS Japan.

Geos Japan has gone, in case you hadn't noticed. Who cares what connection Uri Carnat has. I don't.

And, yes, that is connected to..Uri Carnat, but that doesn't really matter.

You're right, there is absolutely no connection between Uri Carnat and whatever G.communication might decide to do with all their GEOS schools in Japan. So why even bother mentioning him?

Just checking to see if Uri Carnat is still on here. Must be given the reaction. I noticed that every time some one talked about the Uri guy, Rita Chen, Mathew Chisholm, etc., it wss only Uri Carnat that got singled out by someone who seemed to be very worried about their name getting out in the whole GEOS mess. No one ever said, even though they would be mentioned in the same breath. So either Uri Carnat is on here a lot like some have suggested (maybe he really does try to congtrol his image that much), or their are a lot of Uri lap dogs on here./ My honest feeling is their has been both, but in the end the only person who would write on here so much trying to remove the Uri Carnat name or show their anger when it is stated on here is Uri himself.

Cheers, buddy...But you are not doing yourself a favor by getting all worked up about your name being on here...Guilty? Looks like it. That is the price of being a public figure (and if you screw people over), dear. ;-)

Sorry for the typos, but I just noticed a certain some one only got worked up about the Uei Carnat guy's name being mentioned on here with all the corrupt stuff going on at GEOS . I actually think it is interesting because it must be important to the whole mess.....Rita, Matt and all the other gang that are named never get anyone defending them. Maybe not all of us have enough inside knowledge to understand what this Uri guy did. But search his name on this site and whoa you get a lot off stuff over the past 6 months. All I know is he must of burned bridges with his managers, etc. in the past to be called out so much on this site.

BIG NEWS!

With the sale of GEOS and NOVA just announced (see link: http://www.asahi.com/business/update/1004/NGY201010040010.html), there are some HUGE questions for GEOS NA.

1. If GEOS Japan is now confirmed sold, what is GEOS NA's official business-operating status? How could they be independent right now financially? Or were released with some money in today's Japan sale?

2. If GEOS NA is sold to Open Hearts later this month as was leaked out, what kind of "independent" organization and financial structure exists that they are buying? They would not be GEOS Japan supported...I smell some kind of accounting-re-structuring scam if this is true...Yup, fishy.

If anyone knows that Open Hearts concluded their pruchase today, timed with th GEOS Japan sale, please confirm with a link. Very interesting.........

With the sale of GEOS and NOVA just announced (see link: http://www.asahi.com/business/update/1004/NGY201010040010.html), there are some HUGE questions for GEOS NA.

There's really no information available yet as to what this development will entail, but if you check this link:

http://www.g-com.jp/en/fc/

You'll see all references to NOVA and GEOS in Japan are gone, but they do still have an icon for "Gcom GEOS (an overseas school)." It looks to me like Inayoshi might be getting the Japanese business, while G.communication keep the overseas schools until they can be sold off. I assume this will be pretty soon, as G.com's majority shareholder Harushin Shuhan have made it known they're only interested in the food and drinks business.

Will be very sorry for the Japanese English teachers if this turns out to be true.

Upthread there was a mention of refunds for stundents on cancelled contracts; I believe the ex-geos students had to sign a waiver before they were accepted in to gcomm.

No refunds for anyone I'm afraid.

Does anyone know if the geos teachers who signed on with gcomm couls claim hello work money, or has the ship sailed on that already?

seems some native teachers got offers with nova last week. most everybody else is being canned. they started calling round the native speakers today giving them notice of termination; seems management got the calls friday/saturday with some talk of other job possibilities within the group.

they fucked everybody good, not least the students, and the students know it. will be very surprised if they increase the student base more than 5% in the long run.

On the GEOS NA side of things, a couple of notes:

- The Open Hearts sale is taking longer than head honcho planned. Part of the reason is delays with paperwork over the Japanese sale. The other reason is Open Hearts has requested more financial

- Little guy in Montreal was in the Big Smoke (Toronto) for some serious Saudi ass-kissing. Can't imagine he hyped his own bar mitzvah there much.

- Little guy billed a trip to GEOS (last little invoice before sale) to Brazil for a little fun in the sun....uhhh...."business trip." GEOS has been his little personal travel agent/ sugar momma. The rest just get to sit back and work our asses off in crappy little schools in boring ol'Canada while he jaunts the globe in the name of "business."

- While we were distracted, ANOTHER GEOS manager changed......This time at GEOS Honululu, Hawaii.

- GEOS Torrance/ Sothy Bay/ LA is moving to a small shopping center. Anyone smell GEOS Soth Bay and Los Angeles merging??? Dust of those resumes, GEOS LA staff.

- Open Hearts, Jenny Nieveen and company are goingt to get some surprises when they

-

Going on what it says in The Japan Times today, I can't begin to imagine what Inayoshi even wants to stay in the eikaiwa business for:

According to the trade ministry, average monthly sales at language schools fell to ¥5.1 billion this year from ¥8.1 billion in 2007. The corresponding monthly enrollment figure decreased to 335,827 from 619,642 students.

(http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101006a2.html)

It is interesting, though, that this pretty much covers the period that G.communication has been running NOVA. Any connection, I wonder...

I work for GEOS in Chubu and was givin a 30 day notice of termination on Monday the 4th. My school is being closed and the students are being told to go to the nearest NOVA school some 12 kilometers away, the staff were given employment offers within NOVA...but the staff jobs were spread out all over Japan...nothing local. Teachers were told there are NO job vacancies in NOVA at the present and were given the option of being placed on "unpaid" stand-by in the event a job opening comes open. The bad times keep rolling in.

BTW: The students are demoralized and angry. This buy back to this Inayoshi character is bad for the company in general...the students are already on edge and will bolt at the first sign of trouble and with more schools closing...expect more students to leave. My school was shedding a dozen students a month since June 2010...and its a small school...so Im not at all surprised.

I just discovered that SAHASHI used to be called SARUHASHI, and that SARU means monkey. I laughed very hard when I learned that, because I was looking at a photo of SAHASHI / SARUHASHI at the time in an old on-line newspaper article, and low and behold, he actually does look like a chimpanzee. That’s really funny, don’t you think? Like, you know, his name means monkey, and he looks like a monkey too. Like, wow, what a coincidence! Name means MONKEY, and looks like MONKEY too! “Like, hey, hold on and back up, and take a second look, like, seriously, get out of here”, I said to myself. “You are kidding me right” type of thoughts went through my head, but then I looked at the photo again, and no joke, his name means MONKEY, and he looks like a MONKEY too. Come on, that’s unbelievable, isn’t it? Anyway, I had a good laugh. Name means MONKEY, and looks like MONKEY too. What a giggle!

Really sorry to hear that you're out of a job.

I hope that there are enough potential private students for you to pick up when the school closes.

Best of luck to you.

I wouldn't mind knowing more about these individuals.

Why should anyone feel sad for the students when a place goes down. Do they care how teachers are treated to begin with? The system is designed to keep the teachers under perpetual feal and roathing, right and prop-er the student should get treated the same way for handing stacks of cash to a school which pockets fully half, then treats the teacher like shite!

Pages


Copyright 2022 letsjapan.org