On Sunday, June 28, we held our first Online Workshop Collection. We have conducted approximately 3,000 workshops nationwide to date, with roughly 500,000 children participating, and we took on the challenge of expanding our activities online to create a new space for play and learning.

Over 100 different workshops all in one place!

The event featured a wide variety of workshops spanning various genres, including programming, science, dance, film, and art. From STEAM programs—such as programming lessons using free apps, easy crafts made with everyday materials, and fun-to-watch science experiment videos—to a wealth of online content for learning and playing at home, this event was packed with activities!

The workshop will be conducted as an "in-depth hands-on experience" in small groups using Zoom, with a focus on maintaining close communication with participants.

We held the event in two formats: the “Watch Together” format (live stream), which allowed anyone to join on the day of the event and interact with other participants via YouTube’s chat feature, and the other format.

Participants joined us not only from Japan but also from overseas, including Australia, and I feel that the ability to participate from all over the world is one of the unique benefits of online events—it really highlights the potential of online workshops. Now, here’s a glimpse of what happened on the day of the event!

Instructors also stream from their homes or workplaces

[Science] A Science Experiment with Color! Let’s Make a Colorful Letter Using Chromatography! (Provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Group) Headquartered in the United States, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Group is a world-leading scientific services company whose mission is to make the world we live in “a healthier, cleaner, and safer place.” We held a science experiment workshop together with the team from Thermo Fisher Scientific.

In the workshop, participants created letters using a technique called “chromatography,” which separates the colors mixed in the ink.When asked, “Who would you like to send this colorful letter to?” the children’s answers—such as “my great-grandma” and “Grandma”—overflowed with the desire to send them to loved ones they don’t get to see often, making for a truly heartwarming workshop.

　

[Programming] Let's Create a Digital Ehon with the Theme of "Rain"! (Sponsored by the CTC Future Foundation)

In collaboration with the CTC Future Foundation, a general incorporated foundation whose mission is “Nurturing Children and Youth to Support the Next Generation,” we held a programming workshop using “Scratch Junior,” a programming environment designed for children.This time, we worked with preschoolers and elementary school students to create digital picture books centered on the theme of “rain.” Participants created programs to make it rain and programs for plants that grow when touched by rain. Although many of the participants were new to programming, everyone produced truly wonderful works.

　

[Video] Let’s Take on the Challenge of Becoming an Editor-in-Chief of a TV Show as a Family! (Source: TBS Holdings, Inc.)

We learned how TV programs are produced and what criteria the editor-in-chief uses to select news stories. We took a quiz on media terminology, and the participating children took on the role of editor-in-chief to select news stories, with each child explaining their reasoning. It seemed that this experience helped deepen their understanding of the media. It was a truly valuable opportunity to learn from Announcer Ogawa, who is active on the front lines of the industry.

　

[Art] Where Are They? All Kinds of Tails! (Source: National Museum of Nature and Science, "Parent-Child Exploration Plaza: Compass")

We were also featured at the National Museum of Nature and Science, a hugely popular attraction that draws over 2 million visitors annually.It was also a huge hit online, with a flood of registrations. We received some very heartwarming feedback from the National Museum of Nature and Science: “This was our first time holding an online workshop, and we were very anxious right up until the day of the event. However, we were deeply moved to see each and every child who participated express their individuality and enjoy themselves right through to the very end.”

　

　

Content that combines laughter and learning in collaboration with “#Yoshimoto Home Theater”

We held a workshop where participants could laugh and learn, in collaboration with “#Yoshimoto Home Theater,” a new initiative currently being run by Yoshimoto Kogyo to bring “smiles” from comedians and entertainers at home to your homes.

The workshops featured some of Japan's most popular comedians as instructors, including Obata's Older Brother, Panther Ogata, Trendy Angel Saito, and Shakariki.

　

[Painting & Illustration] Let's Make Drawing Masks! (Instructors: Shakariki, Hope Mans, and Morikawa Yarushikane)

This popular activity reached capacity in just one day. The kids drew their favorite designs on masks to create their very own original masks. Not only the children but also the parents watching from the sidelines joined in, and everyone had a lively, fun time together.

　

[Physical Expression] Online Manzai Workshop (Instructors: Saito and Tengu of Trendy Angel)

We recently held an online version of our manzai workshop, which is always a huge hit in person. It was a truly special experience to learn manzai directly from Saito of Trendy Angel, the M-1 Grand Prix champion.

　

[Programming] Let's Have Fun Programming with Obata-no-Oniisan and the Latest Robot Toy, "toio™"! (Provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. / Starring: Obata-no-Oniisan)

We held a programming workshop using “GoGo Robot Programming: The Secret of Logibo,” a game designed exclusively for “toio™,” a robot toy developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. that fosters children’s creativity.

This workshop was designed to help participants have fun learning the basic concepts of programming without using computers. Together with Obata-san, the kids learned through physical play.The workshop was held as a live stream, and we worked through problems together while receiving comments from participants via chat. We received many comments such as “Programming is interesting” and “This is fun,” and it seemed like everyone was able to learn programming while having fun.

This was our first time hosting a large-scale online event, and I was amazed at how comfortable the children were with the online format. Since they belong to the “digital native” generation—having grown up familiar with digital technology and the internet from a young age—it may well become the norm for them to participate in events like this and learn in this way. We plan to continue holding the Online Workshop Collection on a regular basis. Stay tuned for the next one!

To everyone who participated and to everyone who helped with the event operations that day, thank you very much.