【Event Report】"Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Spring Tour Held, Over 1,100 Junior and Senior High School Girls Participated in 41 Corporate Tours Nationwide
The Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Shintaro Yamada D&I Foundation held the "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Spring Tour, providing over 1,100 junior and senior high school girls with opportunities to experience STEM learning and work at 41 companies nationwide. Diverse industries participated, offering a chance for students to consider their future career paths through interaction with female employees.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 14:08 (36 min after Collected)
The Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Shintaro Yamada D&I Foundation (hereinafter, "the Foundation") held the "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Spring Tour, an experiential program for junior and senior high school girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, from March 23 to April 3, 2026. Centered in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kansai region, and Tokai region, 41 corporate tours were held, providing over 1,100 junior and senior high school girls with the opportunity to engage with STEM learning and work.
■ "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Spring Tour Overview
Dates: March 23 (Mon) - April 3 (Fri), 2026
Target Participants: Girls from 6th grade elementary school (new 1st year junior high school students) to 3rd year high school students, who are female by family register or gender identity. *Grade level as of March 2026.
Total Participants: Approximately 1,100 people
Number of Tours Held: 41
Activities:
Visits to company offices and research institutes, experience with cutting-edge technology, and workshops.
Roundtable discussions with female employees and researchers active in STEM fields.
The "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Spring Tour saw participation from a wide range of companies, including media and IT companies like NHK, Microsoft Japan, and Ateam; manufacturers like Kao and Mitsubishi Materials; and infrastructure and manufacturing industries such as Hitachi, Ltd. and West Japan Railway Company. Participants learned how STEM work and learning are applied in society, gaining insights to consider their future career paths.
■ Thematic Highlights
⚪︎ Media & IT
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK): Participants had a special tour of a historical drama filming site and experienced environmental initiatives linked to SDGs. Following a presentation on AI application examples by a female researcher from NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories, participants listened intently to career stories shared by three female staff members from various professions during a roundtable discussion.
Microsoft Japan: In a programming experience workshop using micro:bit, many participants were new to programming, and smiles were seen upon completion. A talk session by female employees working in the IT industry and an office tour were also conducted, providing an opportunity to consider STEM careers as a familiar path.
Ateam Holdings (Aichi): Game planners and designers gave job introductions and held a panel discussion. During the subsequent office tour, participants were surprised by the unique space featuring swings and slides. Specific questions such as "How to decide on a career path" and "The necessity of programming" were exchanged, providing an opportunity to concretely envision their own future.
⚪︎ Manufacturers & Chemicals
Kao (Wakayama): During a visit to the Kao Ecolab Museum, participants learned about eco-technologies across the entire product lifecycle through hands-on experiences. In an exchange session with five researchers from various fields, questions about choosing between humanities and sciences and how to proceed with research were continuously asked, making the time feel too short.
Mitsubishi Materials: Participants learned about the company's business in a fun way through a mystery-solving workshop based on a story of "lost treasure," where all answers were keywords related to the company. In a small group discussion with four female employees from science backgrounds, lively exchanges took place regarding choices between humanities and sciences and the rewards of their work.
⚪︎ Infrastructure & General Electronics
Hitachi, Ltd.: After experiencing observation of dandelion pollen (approx. 1,000x magnification) with a desktop electron microscope, participants learned about the concept of biomimetics—technology applying natural mechanisms—through examples of developing water-repellent materials mimicking the structure of lotus leaves. In a roundtable discussion with female employees from diverse departments such as railway, nuclear power, and AI, participants were interested in real-world stories about how AI is used to improve operational efficiency and how technology contributes to society.
JR West (Osaka): Female employees involved in the construction guided participants through the state-of-the-art Umeda underground station and surrounding urban development. Participants were excited by the operation of movable platform doors and had a special viewing of flood control steel doors not usually open to the public. In the discussion, lively exchanges took place about the appeal and rewards of railway x science careers.
■ Real Voices from Female Employees, Exchange Sessions
Tokyo Metro: Four female employees from different departments, including civil engineering and architecture, participated in a panel discussion and roundtable. They shared their experiences, advising, "Don't worry about others, choose what you like," and "You'll choose from what you've seen, so experience many things."
Nidec (Aichi): Following a "telescope making" workshop utilizing optical principles and a career introduction by a first-year female employee, a roundtable discussion was held with seven female science-background employees. Specific topics such as "Why I chose science" and "What student life was like at university" were discussed, creating a relaxed atmosphere throughout.
■ "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Spring Tour Overview
Dates: March 23 (Mon) - April 3 (Fri), 2026
Target Participants: Girls from 6th grade elementary school (new 1st year junior high school students) to 3rd year high school students, who are female by family register or gender identity. *Grade level as of March 2026.
Total Participants: Approximately 1,100 people
Number of Tours Held: 41
Activities:
Visits to company offices and research institutes, experience with cutting-edge technology, and workshops.
Roundtable discussions with female employees and researchers active in STEM fields.
The "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Spring Tour saw participation from a wide range of companies, including media and IT companies like NHK, Microsoft Japan, and Ateam; manufacturers like Kao and Mitsubishi Materials; and infrastructure and manufacturing industries such as Hitachi, Ltd. and West Japan Railway Company. Participants learned how STEM work and learning are applied in society, gaining insights to consider their future career paths.
■ Thematic Highlights
⚪︎ Media & IT
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK): Participants had a special tour of a historical drama filming site and experienced environmental initiatives linked to SDGs. Following a presentation on AI application examples by a female researcher from NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories, participants listened intently to career stories shared by three female staff members from various professions during a roundtable discussion.
Microsoft Japan: In a programming experience workshop using micro:bit, many participants were new to programming, and smiles were seen upon completion. A talk session by female employees working in the IT industry and an office tour were also conducted, providing an opportunity to consider STEM careers as a familiar path.
Ateam Holdings (Aichi): Game planners and designers gave job introductions and held a panel discussion. During the subsequent office tour, participants were surprised by the unique space featuring swings and slides. Specific questions such as "How to decide on a career path" and "The necessity of programming" were exchanged, providing an opportunity to concretely envision their own future.
⚪︎ Manufacturers & Chemicals
Kao (Wakayama): During a visit to the Kao Ecolab Museum, participants learned about eco-technologies across the entire product lifecycle through hands-on experiences. In an exchange session with five researchers from various fields, questions about choosing between humanities and sciences and how to proceed with research were continuously asked, making the time feel too short.
Mitsubishi Materials: Participants learned about the company's business in a fun way through a mystery-solving workshop based on a story of "lost treasure," where all answers were keywords related to the company. In a small group discussion with four female employees from science backgrounds, lively exchanges took place regarding choices between humanities and sciences and the rewards of their work.
⚪︎ Infrastructure & General Electronics
Hitachi, Ltd.: After experiencing observation of dandelion pollen (approx. 1,000x magnification) with a desktop electron microscope, participants learned about the concept of biomimetics—technology applying natural mechanisms—through examples of developing water-repellent materials mimicking the structure of lotus leaves. In a roundtable discussion with female employees from diverse departments such as railway, nuclear power, and AI, participants were interested in real-world stories about how AI is used to improve operational efficiency and how technology contributes to society.
JR West (Osaka): Female employees involved in the construction guided participants through the state-of-the-art Umeda underground station and surrounding urban development. Participants were excited by the operation of movable platform doors and had a special viewing of flood control steel doors not usually open to the public. In the discussion, lively exchanges took place about the appeal and rewards of railway x science careers.
■ Real Voices from Female Employees, Exchange Sessions
Tokyo Metro: Four female employees from different departments, including civil engineering and architecture, participated in a panel discussion and roundtable. They shared their experiences, advising, "Don't worry about others, choose what you like," and "You'll choose from what you've seen, so experience many things."
Nidec (Aichi): Following a "telescope making" workshop utilizing optical principles and a career introduction by a first-year female employee, a roundtable discussion was held with seven female science-background employees. Specific topics such as "Why I chose science" and "What student life was like at university" were discussed, creating a relaxed atmosphere throughout.