Inquiry-Based Learning × Manga English Extensive Reading: Creating New Value in High School Education
BYD Co., Ltd., a provider of student workshops and educational programs, and Mantra Inc., which develops and operates the English extensive reading app 'Langaku,' have jointly launched an inquiry-based learning program for high school students. This new learning format combines inquiry-based learning with English manga extensive reading, focusing on "Manga × English × DX" to foster students' inquiry skills and DX thinking. A workshop held at Taisei High School on April 22, 2026, received high satisfaction.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 11:59 (27 min after Collected)
BYD Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "BYD," Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Sota Inoue), which provides workshops and educational programs for students, and Mantra Inc. (hereinafter "Mantra," Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Shonosuke Ishiwatari), which develops and operates the English extensive reading app 'Langaku,' have jointly commenced offering an inquiry-based learning program for high school students.
This program is an entirely new form of learning that combines BYD's accumulated know-how in inquiry-based learning and workshops with Mantra's 'Langaku' app, which allows users to enjoy popular manga in English. With the theme of "Manga × English × DX," it cultivates students' ability to proactively explore services and technologies and discover problems.
As the first phase, a workshop was held at Taisei High School in Mitaka City, Tokyo, on April 22, 2026, targeting 118 students, to enhance their interest in English and DX using 'Langaku.'
**Background of the Collaboration**
BYD has been delivering "inquiry-based learning connected to real society" to high schools in collaboration with companies. Through workshops based on actual services and technologies, starting from students' "likes" and "interests," it creates learning experiences where students think from a user's perspective and discover problems. Through these efforts, BYD supports the development of inquiry skills and DX thinking required in the coming era.
Mantra Inc., which collaborated this time, is a startup that develops and operates 'Langaku,' an app that allows users to enjoy extensive English reading with over 100 popular manga titles. Both companies collaborated based on a shared vision of drawing out students' motivation through the experience of "learning is fun," leading to the joint development of this program.
**A New Form of Learning Starting with Manga**
In this program, 'Langaku' is utilized to provide inquiry-based learning from the following three perspectives:
* **Manga × English Extensive Reading:** Experience the discovery of "this line becomes this English" by reading favorite manga in English.
* **Manga × Inquiry:** Deepen thinking through a reading experience where students share impressions with peers and encounter new works.
* **Manga × DX:** Explore the functions of the app with the theme "What kind of service is Langaku?" and learn together about the mechanisms of AI and technology.
Under BYD's facilitation expertise, it is a unique program where students learn proactively through discussions.
**Implementation at Taisei High School**
On April 22, 2026, the program was implemented for a total of 118 students who selected the "IT Course" during the "Comprehensive Inquiry Time" conducted for the entire second-year class. In the post-workshop survey, the overall satisfaction of the class recorded an average of 4.09 on a 5-point scale, and interest in the manga within the app recorded an average of 4.16.
Even among the 65% of respondents who identified themselves as "not good at English," approximately half (52%) felt that "they could read English manga on their own," indicating positive results in both reducing the psychological barrier to English learning and achieving deep learning through inquiry activities.
**《Student Voices》**
* "I felt that there are various ways to learn English. It was impressive that I could learn everyday English while reading my favorite manga."
* "The function to adjust the number of English words was convenient. I also found it easy to use the feature to register unknown words for review."
* "When creating something, a product or service, I thought that if I considered it from 'my own perspective,' I could create something user-friendly."
* "I learned that it's important to have the perspective of being on the development side, not just the app user side."
**《Comment from Mr. Hagiwara, Taisei High School》**
I was surprised by the proactive attitude of students who said they were not good at English. In particular, I was impressed by how they enjoyed saying, "That line, it's like this in English!" for manga they had read before. I believe they were able to experience how new value can be found by combining multiple elements and technologies. I hope that these insights and ways of thinking will serve as a starting point for further deepening inquiry activities tailored to their individual interests.
**Practical Case Study to be Presented at EDIX Tokyo**
The BYD x Mantra joint seminar 'Langaku Inquiry Learning Program' will be introduced at the BYD booth at the Education General Exhibition "EDIX Tokyo," to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from May 13 (Wed) to 15 (Fri), 2026.
**▼ EDIX Tokyo Event Outline**
* **Dates:** May 13 (Wed) - 15 (Fri), 2026
* **Venue:** Tokyo Big Sight
* **Booth:** BYD Booth (3-1)
* **Seminar:** May 13 (Wed) 15:00-15:30
* "Langaku Inquiry Learning Program: ~Manga × English Extensive Reading × DX × Inquiry~ How to Create the Most Enjoyable English Brain"
**Future Developments**
BYD and Mantra will continue to develop this program.
This program is an entirely new form of learning that combines BYD's accumulated know-how in inquiry-based learning and workshops with Mantra's 'Langaku' app, which allows users to enjoy popular manga in English. With the theme of "Manga × English × DX," it cultivates students' ability to proactively explore services and technologies and discover problems.
As the first phase, a workshop was held at Taisei High School in Mitaka City, Tokyo, on April 22, 2026, targeting 118 students, to enhance their interest in English and DX using 'Langaku.'
**Background of the Collaboration**
BYD has been delivering "inquiry-based learning connected to real society" to high schools in collaboration with companies. Through workshops based on actual services and technologies, starting from students' "likes" and "interests," it creates learning experiences where students think from a user's perspective and discover problems. Through these efforts, BYD supports the development of inquiry skills and DX thinking required in the coming era.
Mantra Inc., which collaborated this time, is a startup that develops and operates 'Langaku,' an app that allows users to enjoy extensive English reading with over 100 popular manga titles. Both companies collaborated based on a shared vision of drawing out students' motivation through the experience of "learning is fun," leading to the joint development of this program.
**A New Form of Learning Starting with Manga**
In this program, 'Langaku' is utilized to provide inquiry-based learning from the following three perspectives:
* **Manga × English Extensive Reading:** Experience the discovery of "this line becomes this English" by reading favorite manga in English.
* **Manga × Inquiry:** Deepen thinking through a reading experience where students share impressions with peers and encounter new works.
* **Manga × DX:** Explore the functions of the app with the theme "What kind of service is Langaku?" and learn together about the mechanisms of AI and technology.
Under BYD's facilitation expertise, it is a unique program where students learn proactively through discussions.
**Implementation at Taisei High School**
On April 22, 2026, the program was implemented for a total of 118 students who selected the "IT Course" during the "Comprehensive Inquiry Time" conducted for the entire second-year class. In the post-workshop survey, the overall satisfaction of the class recorded an average of 4.09 on a 5-point scale, and interest in the manga within the app recorded an average of 4.16.
Even among the 65% of respondents who identified themselves as "not good at English," approximately half (52%) felt that "they could read English manga on their own," indicating positive results in both reducing the psychological barrier to English learning and achieving deep learning through inquiry activities.
**《Student Voices》**
* "I felt that there are various ways to learn English. It was impressive that I could learn everyday English while reading my favorite manga."
* "The function to adjust the number of English words was convenient. I also found it easy to use the feature to register unknown words for review."
* "When creating something, a product or service, I thought that if I considered it from 'my own perspective,' I could create something user-friendly."
* "I learned that it's important to have the perspective of being on the development side, not just the app user side."
**《Comment from Mr. Hagiwara, Taisei High School》**
I was surprised by the proactive attitude of students who said they were not good at English. In particular, I was impressed by how they enjoyed saying, "That line, it's like this in English!" for manga they had read before. I believe they were able to experience how new value can be found by combining multiple elements and technologies. I hope that these insights and ways of thinking will serve as a starting point for further deepening inquiry activities tailored to their individual interests.
**Practical Case Study to be Presented at EDIX Tokyo**
The BYD x Mantra joint seminar 'Langaku Inquiry Learning Program' will be introduced at the BYD booth at the Education General Exhibition "EDIX Tokyo," to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from May 13 (Wed) to 15 (Fri), 2026.
**▼ EDIX Tokyo Event Outline**
* **Dates:** May 13 (Wed) - 15 (Fri), 2026
* **Venue:** Tokyo Big Sight
* **Booth:** BYD Booth (3-1)
* **Seminar:** May 13 (Wed) 15:00-15:30
* "Langaku Inquiry Learning Program: ~Manga × English Extensive Reading × DX × Inquiry~ How to Create the Most Enjoyable English Brain"
**Future Developments**
BYD and Mantra will continue to develop this program.