CANVAS TOYBOX OF JAPAN 2 Opens! The company has received accreditation from the Malaysian Ministry of Education and is expanding into ASEAN countries! “TOYBOX OF JAPAN,” an experiential educational content program jointly developed by the NPO CANVAS and Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “DNP”), has been certified as “Smart Partnership” by the Private Education Division(the Private Schools Division of the Ministry of Education Malaysia) as content that enhances critical thinking skills in accordance with the human resource development policy advocated by the Ministry of Education Malaysia.
This marks the first time such recognition has been granted to content originating outside Malaysia, and the first time a Japanese company has received this certification.
Moving forward, the content will be offered as special exhibitions not only within Malaysia but also at shopping malls and other venues across ASEAN countries.
Furthermore, following our previous exhibition held from April to June 2017 at “CUBE_1,” an event space within ISETAN The Japan Store in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia—which attracted approximately 3,000 visitors—“TOYBOX OF JAPAN 2” is currently being held at the same venue.
Based on the concept of “fostering creativity and imagination,” the original “toy” content—which was popular in the previous exhibition—has evolved into a new form and makes a comeback. With the addition of mysterious content that visualizes sound, the exhibition features hands-on displays spanning a wide range of genres, including sculpture, music, and digital media.
Additionally, the “International Digital Picture Book Fair” (Digital Ehon Co., Ltd.)—the world’s first digital book fair featuring “digital picture books” that can be enjoyed on tablets and smartphones from Japan and abroad—makes its overseas debut as part of the exhibition.
■Exhibition Details
[Title] “TOYBOX OF JAPAN 2 -Let’s Discover Your Children’s Creativity & Inspiration!-”
[Dates] February 25, 2018 (Sun) – April 22, 2018(Sun)
【Hours】 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. (Last admission: 8:30 p.m.)
*Operating hours follow the business days of ISETAN The Japan Store Kuala Lumpur.
【Venue】 “ISETAN The Japan Store Kuala Lumpur,” 3F THE CUBE/CUBE_1
【Admission】 Children (ages 2 and up): RM25 (Malaysian Ringgit); Free for children under 2
*Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Adults (13 and older): RM10 (Malaysian Ringgit)
*Parents or guardians accompanying children pay RM10 regardless of the number of children.
【Organizers】 ICJ DEPARTMENT STORE (M) SDN. BHD. / Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
[Sponsors & Supporters] Sony Electronics (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., YAMAHA MUSIC (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD.
[Curated by] NPO CANVAS
■ About the Malaysian Ministry of Education’s “Smart Partnership” Program
Under the “Student Aspiration” section of the “Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013–2025”—an educational guideline proposed by the Malaysian Ministry of Education—“Thinking Skills,” which enhance critical thinking abilities through creative experiences and activities, are emphasized.Since 2013, the Ministry has been certifying “Smart Partnership” initiatives that contribute to the promotion of its educational policies, and to date, nine companies have received this certification. This time, “TOYBOX OF JAPAN” became the first Japanese company—and the first foreign entity (excluding the introduction of computer-related educational systems)—to receive Smart Partnership certification.
■Related Links
http://canvas.ws/project/toybox-of-japan
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.”
