Reviving Real Experiences in the AI Era: 'Gakken Learning: The Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition' Returns After 16 Years

Gakken Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo / President: Tatsuya Minami), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo / President: Hiroaki Miyahara), released 'Gakken Learning: The Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition' on July 9, 2026.

Viral on Media! 'Haniwa' Trends on X

Immediately after the announcement of the 16-year revival of 'Gakken Learning,' it sparked major buzz on social media. The X (formerly Twitter) post announcing the news surpassed 1.688 million views, with 'haniwa' and 'Gakken Learning' trending on X. The release has drawn enthusiastic responses not only from children but also from adults, with comments like 'Nostalgic!', 'So happy it's back!', and 'I loved this as a kid!'

The Legendary 'Gakken Learning' Returns After 16 Years!

Launched in 1946, 'Gakken Learning' was a beloved comprehensive educational magazine featuring supplements, allowing children to learn across subjects such as social studies, math, Japanese, and crafts. After a 16-year hiatus since its 2010 suspension, it has now returned. The new 'Gakken Learning' integrates craft kits, a main magazine, manga, and an online community, transforming into an experiential learning tool that encourages children to learn by doing and expand their curiosity about the world.

First Release: 'The Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition' – A Starter Kit for Hands-On History!

'The Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition' is an experiential kit designed for children encountering history for the first time. Supervised by the Tokyo National Museum, this product allows users to assemble the national treasure haniwa 'Armor-Clad Warrior' (keikō no bujin) and polish a magatama jewel from stone, enabling families to create a mini museum at home and host their own national treasure exhibition. This educational tool encourages hands-on crafting, followed by exploration using the finished items. Through the cycle of making, observing, thinking, and summarizing, children internalize learning as a personal experience.

▲ The Great Treasure Exhibition is a tactile, interactive display. Visitors can even wear some of the exhibited pieces.

▲ The craft-based exhibits are all valuable artifacts from the Tokyo National Museum collection. Each exhibit comes with an explanatory panel featuring a 2D code to access researchers' audio commentary.

Tokyo National Museum-Supervised National Treasure Haniwa Reconstruction Kit!

The highlight of 'The Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition' is the assembly kit that reconstructs the national treasure haniwa 'Armor-Clad Warrior.' Designated as Japan's first national treasure haniwa, it is considered a masterpiece of haniwa art. Based on research-grade 3D data measured from the actual artifact, the kit recreates the piece at 1/6 scale (approx. 20 cm in height). Made with a stone-powder-infused material, it captures the texture and weight of authentic unglazed pottery, offering a tangible presence. By assembling the pieces themselves, children experience real archaeological research.

Name

Kit Version of National Treasure Haniwa 'Armor-Clad Warrior'

Original National Treasure Haniwa 'Armor-Clad Warrior'

Era

Reiwa Era (Present)

Kofun Era (Approx. 1,500 years ago)

Discovery Location

Reader's home

Ota City, Gunma Prefecture

Height

21.7 cm

130.4 cm

Weight

207 g

30.5 kg

▲ The kit version is about 20 cm tall and weighs around 200 g, with a solid feel and detailed surface textures and weathering faithfully reproduced.

▲ A safe, starch-based glue is used for assembly. After attaching the parts, leave it to dry overnight to complete.

Authentic Magatama Crafting: Carving and Polishing Natural Stone!

Carve and polish a soft natural stone called 'talc' to create an ancient accessory—the magatama jewel. Following the national treasure magatama featured in the magazine, use four different-grit waterproof sandpapers to shape and polish it to a brilliant shine.

▲ As you become absorbed in polishing, the magatama sparkles brilliantly!

'Inquiry Panels' for Research and Reflection

The kit includes an 'Inquiry Summary Panel' where children can record their own discoveries and insights based on what they've learned. By summarizing exhibition explanations in their own words, learning becomes deeper and more firmly established.

▲ Inquiry Panel allows children to consolidate their learning.

3D Craft Set for Cutting, Pasting, and Displaying!

Use the 3D craft set bound into the magazine to host your own 'Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition' at home. The displayed haniwa figures are all rare pieces selected by Tokyo National Museum researchers. At 1/6 scale, they allow size comparisons with the self-assembled 'Armor-Clad Warrior.' The accompanying explanation panels are writable, enabling original commentary and presentations. Audio commentary from researchers is available for all exhibits via QR codes.

▲ Writable explanation panels allow personalized insights, creating a truly original exhibition.

▲ Exhibits are designed to be enjoyed on both front and back. Understanding haniwa brings ancient lifestyles to life.

▲ 3D craft set included with the magazine.

Learning Expanded Through Magazine, Manga, and Community

The magazine features a wealth of articles to spark interest in history, including features on archaeologists' jobs, hands-on kofun mound building, and a special message from historian Dr. Michiji Isohata for children beginning their journey into history. It also connects with Gakken's 'Himitsu Series' manga and the online community 'Asobunda Laboratory,' enabling continuous, deepened learning.

▲ In-depth feature on the national treasure haniwa 'Armor-Clad Warrior.'

▲ On-site coverage of the 3D scanning of 'Haniwa: Dancing People' at Tokyo National Museum.

▲ Readers' children helped build a handcrafted kofun mound measuring about 6 meters in length.

▲ The online community 'Asobunda Laboratory,' with over 6,000 members, offers videos and articles linked to the magazine, plus opportunities to interact with readers nationwide.

Supervision: Tokyo National Museum

Opened in 1872 (Meiji 5), Tokyo National Museum is Japan's oldest museum. With over 120,000 artifacts, including 90 National Treasures and 652 Important Cultural Properties (as of March 2026), it is Japan's premier national museum with a world-class collection. 'Gakken Learning: The Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition' was developed under the museum's supervision, using high-resolution 3D research data to create the 'Armor-Clad Warrior' kit. Researchers also carefully curated the exhibits and recorded audio commentaries, ensuring an authentic and scholarly experience.

Special Workshops to Celebrate the Collaboration: Tokyo National Museum × Gakken Learning

To celebrate the release of 'Gakken Learning: The Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition,' special events will be held online on August 18, 2026 (Tue), and in person on October 31, 2026 (Sat). Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear directly from real researchers.

▶ Details: https://gkp-koushiki.gakken.jp/2026/07/09/98337/

▲ Mr. Masanori Kono (right), Chief Researcher (Archaeology Division), and Mr. Ryo Yamamoto (left), Chief Researcher (Center for Cultural Property Utilization), Tokyo National Museum, at the Heiseikan 'Archaeological Gallery.'

[Product Overview]

'Gakken Learning: The Great Haniwa Treasure Exhibition'

Supervision: Tokyo National Museum

Price: ¥4,290 (tax included)

Release Date: July 9, 2026

Format & Specifications: B5 variant, Kit + 84-page magazine + 128-page manga booklet

Digital Edition: Not available

ISBN: 978-4-05-750982-2

Publisher: Gakken Co., Ltd.