Commemorating the Decision to Hold the "Theo Jansen Exhibition"! Gakken Begins Limited-Time Sale of the World's Only Official Kit!!
Gakken is launching a limited-time sale of the "Theo Jansen's Strandbeest Miniature Kit," the world's only officially recognized kit, from May 8 to June 28, 2026, in commemoration of the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" to be held at the Toyama Prefectural Museum from July 2026. This kit, which faithfully reproduces Theo Jansen's "wind-powered artificial life forms," has been featured on NHK Special.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 19:00
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Gakken Inc. (Tokyo, Shinagawa / Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Shinagawa / Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara), will begin selling the "Theo Jansen's Strandbeest Miniature Kit" for a limited time from May 8, 2026, to June 28, 2026, at "Shop Gakken+" in advance of the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" to be held at the Toyama Prefectural Museum from July 2026.
What are "Strandbeests," the "wind-eating artificial life forms"?
Have you ever seen mysterious structures made of plastic tubes walking on the beach as if they were alive?
These mysterious "creatures" are works called "Strandbeests," created by Dutch artist Theo Jansen. Strandbeest is a coined word combining the Dutch "strand" (beach) and "beest" (creature).
Theo Jansen himself was astonished. The world's only official kit.
Theo Jansen's Strandbeests have surprised and moved people all over the world. The editorial department of Gakken's "Otona no Kagaku Magazine" was also a fan, captivated by Strandbeests.
The "Otona no Kagaku Magazine" editorial department, rooted in "Science" and "Learning," specializes in creating original "furoku" (appendices). They wondered if they could somehow create an assembly kit for Strandbeests. Driven by this desire, they finally succeeded in reproducing it. Theo Jansen, upon seeing the prototype, was astonished by its completeness. He recognized Gakken's miniature assembly kit as the world's only official kit.
Featured twice on NHK Special "Jintai III"
Gakken's Theo Jansen Strandbeest kit was featured on NHK Special "Jintai III" (Human Body III), starring Tamori and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka.
In the first episode, the kit was used to explain "how intracellular substances can move despite being mere cells." And in the final fourth episode, it was used to explain the hypothesis about the 4-billion-year-old mystery of "how life first began."
Limited-time sale of a kit only available at the exhibition venue, until June 28, 2026!
This time, a special original kit that can only be purchased by those who visit the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" venue will be specially sold at "Shop Gakken+" prior to the exhibition.
Why not assemble it at home before going to the exhibition and "preview" the mechanism of how Strandbeests move? Please experience the mystery of the "life forms" created by Theo Jansen.
[Caution]
The official kit for Theo Jansen's Strandbeest is manufactured only by Gakken Inc. and is sold only at the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" venue and "Shop Gakken+".
Please note that we cannot respond to malfunctions or other issues if you purchase similar products.
[Project Overview]
■ Project Name: Commemorating the Decision to Hold the Theo Jansen Exhibition Theo Jansen's Strandbeest Assembly Kit (Limited-Time Sale)
■ Sales Period: May 8, 2026 - June 28, 2026
■ Planning and Sales: Gakken Inc.
■ Sales Site: Shop Gakken+ ▶https://gakken-mall.jp/ec/plus/sp/slist/theojansen2026_list
■ Gakken Inc.
https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo
・Date of establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed October 1, 2022)
・Capital: 50 million JPY
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
・Business activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, kindergarten and school business, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.
■ GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
https://www.gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara
・Date of establishment: March 31, 1947
・Capital: 19,817 million JPY
・Sales: 199.1 billion JPY, 82 consolidated subsidiaries (as of September 2025)
・Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities Code: 9470)
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8510
・Phone number: 03-6431-1001 (main)
・Business activities: Holding company engaged in education and medical/welfare related businesses, founded in 1946.
Education field: Classroom and cram school businesses including "Gakken Classroom," learning...
What are "Strandbeests," the "wind-eating artificial life forms"?
Have you ever seen mysterious structures made of plastic tubes walking on the beach as if they were alive?
These mysterious "creatures" are works called "Strandbeests," created by Dutch artist Theo Jansen. Strandbeest is a coined word combining the Dutch "strand" (beach) and "beest" (creature).
Theo Jansen himself was astonished. The world's only official kit.
Theo Jansen's Strandbeests have surprised and moved people all over the world. The editorial department of Gakken's "Otona no Kagaku Magazine" was also a fan, captivated by Strandbeests.
The "Otona no Kagaku Magazine" editorial department, rooted in "Science" and "Learning," specializes in creating original "furoku" (appendices). They wondered if they could somehow create an assembly kit for Strandbeests. Driven by this desire, they finally succeeded in reproducing it. Theo Jansen, upon seeing the prototype, was astonished by its completeness. He recognized Gakken's miniature assembly kit as the world's only official kit.
Featured twice on NHK Special "Jintai III"
Gakken's Theo Jansen Strandbeest kit was featured on NHK Special "Jintai III" (Human Body III), starring Tamori and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka.
In the first episode, the kit was used to explain "how intracellular substances can move despite being mere cells." And in the final fourth episode, it was used to explain the hypothesis about the 4-billion-year-old mystery of "how life first began."
Limited-time sale of a kit only available at the exhibition venue, until June 28, 2026!
This time, a special original kit that can only be purchased by those who visit the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" venue will be specially sold at "Shop Gakken+" prior to the exhibition.
Why not assemble it at home before going to the exhibition and "preview" the mechanism of how Strandbeests move? Please experience the mystery of the "life forms" created by Theo Jansen.
[Caution]
The official kit for Theo Jansen's Strandbeest is manufactured only by Gakken Inc. and is sold only at the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" venue and "Shop Gakken+".
Please note that we cannot respond to malfunctions or other issues if you purchase similar products.
[Project Overview]
■ Project Name: Commemorating the Decision to Hold the Theo Jansen Exhibition Theo Jansen's Strandbeest Assembly Kit (Limited-Time Sale)
■ Sales Period: May 8, 2026 - June 28, 2026
■ Planning and Sales: Gakken Inc.
■ Sales Site: Shop Gakken+ ▶https://gakken-mall.jp/ec/plus/sp/slist/theojansen2026_list
■ Gakken Inc.
https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo
・Date of establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed October 1, 2022)
・Capital: 50 million JPY
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
・Business activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, kindergarten and school business, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.
■ GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
https://www.gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara
・Date of establishment: March 31, 1947
・Capital: 19,817 million JPY
・Sales: 199.1 billion JPY, 82 consolidated subsidiaries (as of September 2025)
・Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities Code: 9470)
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8510
・Phone number: 03-6431-1001 (main)
・Business activities: Holding company engaged in education and medical/welfare related businesses, founded in 1946.
Education field: Classroom and cram school businesses including "Gakken Classroom," learning...