CREATIVE KIDS TOP Blab B Lab Newsletter, Vol. 32

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2025.01.20
B Lab Newsletter, Vol. 32

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Vol. 32 (January 2025 Issue)

◆ Featured Project: 

Neurodiversity Training Held at Wayo Women’s University!
On November 21, 2024, we held a training session at Wayo Women’s University for students enrolled in the teacher training program, designed to prepare them for the educational field.Participants shared feedback such as, “I realized how important it is to create an environment tailored to each individual,” “This was a valuable opportunity that will help me manage my classroom once I become a teacher,” and “I was reminded of the importance of seeing things from the students’ perspective.” Please take a look at the highlights of the training session !
◆ What’s New! for Each Project:

Superhuman Sports Project
As part of our new product development efforts, we have launched a corporate project in collaboration with 38 certified sports and sports organizations. For our first initiative, we partnered with DMO Shiba Tokyo Bay and others to launch “Superhuman Sports Day,” a tourism product featuring Skeltonics, R-FIGHT, Slide Lift, and HAKKAKU.We created a custom-designed competition experience featuring an interactive tournament format and AI-powered background music and scoring. Looking ahead to a full-scale rollout starting next year, we’ll continue to offer new Superhuman Sports experiences!

Neurodiversity Project Interview Series, Part 5
For the fifth installment of our interview series, we welcomed Mr. Akihiko Murai from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to discuss “The Pursuit of Technology to Unlock ‘Unconscious Abilities’—The Challenges Facing the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.” We’ve published the report, so please be sure to check it out!

Neurodiversity Project Interview Series, Part 6
For the sixth installment of our interview series, we welcomed Mr. Takuya Handa from NHK Technical Research Laboratories to discuss “The Future of Broadcasting You Can Feel: The Potential of Tactile Media to Support Neurodiversity.” We’ve published the report, so please be sure to check it out!

Neurodiversity Project Interview Series, Part 7
For the seventh installment of our interview series, we welcomed Professor Yuji Wada from the Multisensory and Cognitive Design Laboratory at Ritsumeikan University to discuss “Visualizing Taste by Expressing Taste Impressions in Abstract Forms.” We’ve published the report, so please take a look!

iU e-Sports Project
In December 2024, iU signed a partnership agreement with NASEF Japan: NPO International Educational Esports Federation Network Japan Headquarters to promote educational esports (ee-sports). We will explore ways to implement this initiative in Japan—including by involving other educational institutions—to bring NASEF USA’s educational esports research to Japan.


◆ B Lab Chapter News: B Lab chapters are spreading across the globe, both virtually and in person. This month, we’re bringing you news from B Lab Hong Kong♪
[A STEAM Learning Experience
Merging Art and Music] In December 2024, we held a workshop that blended art and music using the “Van Gogh Explorer Set.”Six families participated and created ukuleles inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” Under the guidance of experts, they experienced the joy of crafting unique, playable ukuleles, resulting in works that symbolize the fusion of musical craftsmanship and artistic expression.
⇒ Continue reading here

◆ Announcements
from Participating Organizations and Researchers
● Tokyo Innovation Camp Held at TIB
(Hideaki Suzuki, Social Design Association)
We will build a network of startup founders, business successors (second and third generations), aspiring startup founders, and investors (those planning to provide mentoring support), and provide opportunities to refine business ideas. We have implemented a system allowing participants from regional areas and around the world to join online, aiming to foster exchanges on a national and global scale.
⇒ For details, click here

● A new article has been published on Toyo Keizai Online
(Study Abroad Sommelier Co., Ltd. / Shoichi Okawa)
An article covering domestic “study abroad” from urban areas to rural regions, titled “Why Remote Islands in the Seto Inland Sea Are Gaining Attention as ‘Study Abroad Destinations,’” has been published on Toyo Keizai Online
⇒For details, click here

● Student Entrepreneurs × Female Entrepreneurs Ideathon Event Held!
(Yell Co., Ltd.)
We’re hosting an event together with student entrepreneurs from iU!
Participants will take part in workshops aimed at ideation and co-creation regarding their businesses, and the event will also feature pitch sessions by six selected participants as well as networking opportunities. We welcome not only student entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs but also corporate new business developers, investors, and the general public!
⇒ Click here for details

●Our service website is now live!
(Shiori Teshima, an expert in applying behavioral analysis to drive behavioral change)
We’ve launched our service website, “The Behavioral Analysis Toolbox.” This service is designed for people who struggle with thoughts like, “I’m motivated, but for some reason, I just can’t take action…”
⇒ Click here for details

●26th FR High School Free Seminar
(Masato Mori, Principal and Chairman of FR High School)
Analysis of an XR entertainment facility for
entrepreneurs, undergraduate and graduate thesis students × a private professional baseball tryout × a Hinata City idol event featuring Hinatazaka46 [FR High School Free Seminar]
January 24, 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Free via Zoom.
⇒ Click here for details.

● We are hosting an online symposium
(Learning of Tomorrow)
We will be holding online symposia during lunch hours (12:00 PM – 12:55 PM). We look forward to your participation.
・January 29 (Wed): “Creating New Spaces for Belonging and Learning in the Metaverse: Drawing on Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Virtual Learning Platform”
・Mr. Toru Egawa, Director, Digital Promotion Division, General Affairs Department, Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education
・Keizo Yoshida, Managing Director, Deloitte Tohmatsu Risk Advisory LLC
・Ayako Saito, Manager, Deloitte Tohmatsu Risk Advisory LLC
⇒ For details, click
here

・February 5 (Wed) “How Generative AI Is Transforming Classrooms: Aiming for Personalized Learning”
・Ms. Ikumi Matsusue, Deputy General Manager, Education DX Business Development Department, ICW Business Division, Konica Minolta Japan, Inc.
・Mr. Yasuhiro Imori, Senior Supervising Instructor, ICT Promotion Group, Education Promotion Division, Osaka City Comprehensive Education Center
⇒For details, click
here
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January 2025, Vol. 32
Publisher: Nanako Ishido
Editor: Chika Masuda
Address: 1-18-13 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
         info@blaboratory.org

　

Profile


  • Digital Picture Book Author

    Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
    Director, B Lab
    Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
    Chairperson, CANVAS

    After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
    He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
    His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”