【Eng / 2023】Joint Press Conference Highlights: Namerikawa Future School (Summer School) for learning and practicing inquiry-based learning in the Scandinavian-Danish style
In August 2023, Japan witnessed the establishment of a Scandinavian-Danish style inquiry-based learning summer school. Known as Namerikawa Future School, this four-day program takes place in Namerikawa City, Toyama Prefecture.
"Come join us if you are interested in creating a more exciting Namerikawa together!”
Attracted by this theme, a total of 18 people gathered together: seven fifth and sixth grade students and five junior high school students living in Namerikawa City as well as six high school, university, and graduate students living in Toyama prefecture.
With 26 adults participating here, members of all ages, from children to adults, interacted and did fieldwork and group work together.
We will report on the "Namerikawa Future School" over a total of seven articles.
About Namerikawa City
Namerikawa City, which once flourished as a post town on the Hokuriku Highway, is located slightly northeast of the center of Toyama Prefecture, with an area of 54.62㎢ and a population of approximately 33,000. Facing Toyama Bay, the city is rich in marine resources such as firefly squid and deep sea water, rural scenery, and a natural environment with the 3,000-meter-high Tateyama Mountain range in view.
Under the leadership of Mayor Tatsuo Mizuno, who took office in February 2022, the city is promoting the realization of Namerikawa City's “Smart City Vision" and the development of a city that will be selected as an "SDGs Future City”.
Reference: Namerikawa City Website / Namerikawa City
What is “Namerikawa Future School”?
The "Namerikawa Future School" is a summer school established by the "Namerikawa Future School Council" to nurture the inquisitiveness of children, the future leaders of Namerikawa City, and to solicit proposals for making Namerikawa City more interesting and meaningful by the voices of young citizens.
The council consists of nine organizations, including Namerikawa City, Namerikawa Board of Education, Laere inc., Project Design Corporation, Toyama Prefecture, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Namerikawa Lions Club, Sompo Risk Management Inc., Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
Laere Inc., which takes inspiration from educational programs in Scandinavia and Denmark, played a central role in putting together the "Namerikawa Future School" program. Over the course of four days, children visit companies and major facilities in the city, formulate their own "aspirations" through group work, and propose ideas to make Namerikawa's future desirable.
Features of Namerikawa Future School
There are two features of "Namerikawa Future School" that make it different from other summer schools.
Cross-Generational (different age groups)
Introduction of the essence of Scandinavian Danish education
The first is that elementary and junior high school students learn from each other while interacting with people of all ages (high school students, university students, and adults). The aim is to create new ideas for children by interacting with people from different backgrounds and experiences.
Second, the program incorporates the strengths of Scandinavian Danish education, focusing on the development of inquiry skills through dialogue and experiences. Through dialogue, individuals contemplate how they can contribute to society in various inquiries. While delving into what they want to do by reflecting, they polish their "personal aspirations." This can be considered as the Danish-style inquiry-based learning.
Denmark's education system combines a focus on acquiring knowledge in school education with social education aimed at cultivating autonomous citizens who can participate in a democratic society.
In particular, Denmark's culture is rooted in accepting human diversity, creating relationships and environments for continuous learning, consensus-building processes, and incorporating design thinking. Denmark places great emphasis on both process and results to bring out human potential and contribute to creating a better society. There are many aspects that can be considered as valuable references for Japan and local communities in the future.
Joint Press Conference
The program of "Namerikawa Future School" will last for four days from Friday, August 25 to Monday, August 28, 2023. Prior to this, a joint press conference was held on Thursday, August 3, by the "Namerikawa Future School Council".
Mayor Mizuno, and Aya Omoto, co-founder of Laere Inc.
The venue for the joint press conference is the Namerikawa City complex facility "Merica," located in the central part of Namerikawa City. Opened in April 2023 as a facility for creating vibrancy in the town center and serving as a base for disaster prevention, it is also used as a venue for the "Namerikawa Future School."
First, Tatsuo Mizuno, the mayor of Namerikawa City, explained the project and conveyed its purpose.
Mayor Mizuno: During the summer vacation, we want children to experience various learning opportunities in a different environment and feel the regional resources and charm of Namerikawa. We aim to foster talents that not only stay in Namerikawa but also contribute globally, connecting the joy and excitement of learning and inspiration.
Next, as the person in charge of operating the "Namerikawa Future School," Aya Omoto, co-founder of the Laere Inc., delivered a speech.
Aya Omoto is a graduate of KAOSPILOT, Denmark's renowned hybrid business design school that attracts innovators worldwide. As the first Japanese individual to achieve this milestone, she went on to co-found Laere.
Omoto: This summer school was made possible by the strong aspiration of Vice Mayor Kakizawa, whom I met in 2021. He created a place for diverse members to gather and learn from each other, and to develop entrepreneurship and inquisitiveness. We want to create hope for the next generation together through generating new ideas with the mindset of "Let's try it because we have our own aspirations."
Following this, there was an introduction of the members of the Namerikawa Future School Council.
＜Members of the Namerikawa Future School Council>
Mr. Kawabuchi of the Governor's Policy Bureau, Toyama Prefectural Government
Ms. Yoshimi Ueda, Namerikawa Board of Education
Mr. Kakizawa, Vice Mayor Namerikawa City
Mayor Mizuno
Aya Omoto, Co-founder, Laere Inc.
Yukie Sakamoto, Co-founder, Laere Inc.
Ayane Togawa, Project Director Laere Inc.
Mr. Takeda, Director Project Design Co.
Mr. Tsutsumitani Namerikawa Lions Club
Mr. Suzuki and Mr. Ihashi, Sompo Risk Management Inc. (participated online)
*Presented in order from left to right in the group photo.
Furthermore, responding to questions from reporters representing Toyama Television Broadcasting, Hokuriku Chunichi Newspaper, Hokuhoku Newspaper, and Yomiuri Newspaper who were visiting for coverage, each of them shared their thoughts.
Mayor Mizuno: I want the children of Namerikawa to feel fortunate to live in this city and to have opportunities to think about how they can progress towards the future.
Omoto: I aim for children to experience beyond the routine commute between home and school, including encounters with new people and exciting events.
Sakamoto: In Japan, the income disparity between families creates an education disparity, but by creating opportunities like in Denmark where any child can easily participate, it will lead to career design in the future. Immersive experiences act as catalysts for reflecting on future career paths and work role models. Learning from the thoughts and ideas of children, the future protagonists, adults in the community can nurture and transform children's aspirations into hopes for the community.
In addition, Omoto introduced the following four principles to enjoy the Namerikawa Future School.
It all starts with me.
Take the first step, failures are welcome.
Believe in the power of dialogue.
Learn from practice.
Exploring Namerikawa City, engaging in dialogues with numerous people, and introspecting one's own heart through experiences during the summer school – all these elements hold profound significance for shaping the future.
★Media Coverage
The press conference can be viewed on the websites of various media outlets.
Programs of "Namerikawa Future School
The program of "Namerikawa Future School" was as follows.
Thursday, August 3, 2023 Day 0
Orientation
Ice break
Self-introduction
Enthusiasm for the summer school
Friday, August 25, 2023 Day1
Fieldwork to visit companies in the city and learn from Namerikawa’s landscape
Input based on design thinking
Visit to the head office and Hayatsuki Plant of Sugino Machine Ltd., an industrial machinery manufacturer
Presentation of “Personal Aspirations” within group
Play on the riverbank of the Hayatsuki River
River tour at Minowa Onsen Village upstream of the Hayatsuki River
Tofukujino Nature Park
Saturday, August 26, 2023 Day2
Group work to formulate questions
Visit major facilities in Namerikawa City* and conduct interviews
Group work
※Visits to two of the following six locations per group: *City Hall, Merika, Firefly Squid Museum, City Museum, Shopping Center Yale, and Suzakudo
Sunday, August 27, 2023 Day3
Workshop to think about a “Desirable Future”
Lecture on how to draw illustrations
Prototyping a four-frame manga (comic strip)
Monday, August 28, 2023 Day 4 (final day)
Presentation of ideas and awarding of "Namerikawa Future Creators Certificate" to participants
Polish four-frame manga
Presentation by each group
Presentation of "Aspirations" as a whole
Awarding of "Namerikawa Future Creators Certificate”