Nikoli

Nikoli is a Japanese puzzle company and publisher best known for creating, compiling, and distributing logic puzzles and puzzle magazines. It has played a central role in the development and dissemination of modern puzzle culture in Japan and around the world. The company is closely associated with the spread of Sudoku, Kakuro, and other logic puzzles.

Founded in Tokyo in the 1980s by Maki Kaji, Nikoli helped shape the modern puzzle landscape. Kaji is often described as the father of Sudoku for his role in promoting and refining the puzzle type. Over the years, Nikoli has introduced and popularized a wide range of puzzle formats that have become staples in newspapers, books, and online platforms.

Nikoli’s puzzle repertoire includes Sudoku, Kakuro, Nonograms (also known as Picross), Nurikabe, Slitherlink, Hashiwokakero, Masyu, and related logic challenges. The company publishes Puzzle Communication Nikoli, a monthly puzzle magazine, as well as numerous puzzle books and collections. It maintains an online portal that hosts a large database of puzzles, supports puzzle submissions from creators, and fosters an international puzzle community.

Through its editorial work, publications, and online presence, Nikoli has influenced both the culture and the terminology of modern puzzles. The brand is credited with helping to popularize Sudoku globally and with providing a platform that connects puzzle creators with solvers worldwide. Today, Nikoli remains a prominent name in Japanese puzzle publishing and in the global logic-puzzle community.