CREATIVE KIDS TOP Blab B Lab Newsletter, Vol. 51

Blab

2026.08.20
B Lab Newsletter, Vol. 51

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Vol. 51 (August 2026 Issue)

◆ Featured Project:

Neurodiversity Awards 2026: Call for Entries Now Open!
We have opened submissions for the Neurodiversity Awards 2026! Last year, we received entries from 10 countries around the world. With each passing year, interest and participation from both Japan and abroad continue to grow, and the awards are evolving into an international platform for showcasing cutting-edge initiatives related to neurodiversity. We look forward to receiving your submissions this year as well.

Social Creation: Workshop for Elementary and Middle School Students to Create Their Own Magazines!
On July 27 and 28, we held a workshop for elementary and middle school students to create their own magazines at THIRD PLACE in Kaiyo Town, Tokushima Prefecture.Approximately 12 students, ranging from third-grade elementary students to first-year junior high students, participated. Using generative AI and Canva, they created magazines based on themes of their own choosing. The participating children enjoyed the opportunity to express their interests and shared their work with each other within their groups.
◆ A Message from B Lab Hong Kong♪
Strum & Sing SENsation – Chord Hero’s First Co-Hosted Concert!
A diverse group of participants—ranging from seniors to students with special needs and individuals with Down syndrome—gathered to assemble their own ukuleles and paint Van Gogh’s famous masterpiece, “Starry Night.”Then, holding their very own completed ukuleles, they took the stage. With over 200 attendees watching, those who had brought their own instruments joined in the performance from the audience. The stage and audience became one, creating a special moment where the entire venue was connected through music.Additionally, official certificates from the Van Gogh Site Foundation were presented on stage. Co-hosted with the Vienna Boys’ Choir Music Academy Foundation, this was a participatory and inclusive concert where everyone could take part through music and express their individuality and creativity.

◆ What’s New! for Each Project:

Online Symposium: “Expanding the Possibilities of Special Education with Generative AI”
The symposium on Wednesday, August 26, will feature Kazuyuki Kuroda, a teacher at Hyogo Prefectural Hikami Special Needs School and author of *A Guide to Using Generative AI for Teachers in Special Education*.He will share examples of AI applications and discuss the potential of generative AI in special education, as well as the expected benefits and points to consider in practical settings. We hope you’ll join us.

Online Symposium: “There Is No Single Definition of ‘Easy to Read’—Reflections on Developmental Dyslexia and Learning Environments from the MyType Project”
For the symposium on Wednesday, September 2, we are pleased to welcome Mr. Atsushi Hasegawa, Professor at Musashino Art University and Representative Director of Concent Co., Ltd.Through the “MyType Project,” children with developmental dyslexia have collaborated with designers and font experts to explore what constitutes “easy-to-read” text and layouts for each individual. In this presentation, we will introduce the diversity of “readability” and consider an educational approach that allows everyone to choose a learning environment suited to their needs.

Neurodiversity Project Interview Series, Episode 41
For the 41st installment of our interview series, we welcomed Ms. Takiko Shiroza, Director of Diverse Learning Development at Benesse Corporation, who spoke about “Benesse High School’s Challenge to Create ‘Ease of Learning’ for Each Individual, Allowing Them to Choose Their Own Learning Style.” Click here for details.


◆ Announcements
from Participating Organizations and Researchers
● “Electronic Devices Strategy Map 2026–2027” Published!
(Noboru Ishihara, Visiting Researcher, Waseda University Institute for Advanced Study; Visiting Professor, iU)
AI and semiconductors are listed at the top of the government’s 17 strategic fields.As Vice Chair of the Japan Electronic Device Industry Association (a general incorporated association), I contributed an article titled “Electronic Device Technology Heading Toward an Unknown World” to the organization’s annual report, outlining the role of electronic devices, scenarios for strengthening competitiveness, and recommended strategies.
⇒ Click here for details

● Launch of a New Newsletter☆ (August 7)
(The Last Mediator / Kunihiko Shimada)
“The Last Mediator: Kunihiko Shimada Deciphers the Backstory of International Affairs—Strategic Intelligence Report” (Published every Friday)
Using analytical frameworks unique to a mediator—such as “leverage” and “escalation dynamics”—gained from nearly 30 years on the front lines of conflict mediationand “trust capital”—gained from nearly 30 years on the front lines of conflict mediation—to decipher the stories behind the news.
⇒ For details, click
here
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August 2026, Vol. 51
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.”