Okinawa-based Correspondence High School Focused on Entrepreneurship Education to Open in April 2027

The Niwa Gakuen School Corporation (Okinawa Prefecture/Chairman: Ara Niwa), FROGS Inc. (Okinawa Prefecture/Representative Director & CEO: Akira Yamazaki), and Seisa Kokusai High School (Broad Correspondence/Seisa Gakuen Educational Foundation) today announced the opening of a correspondence support school centered on entrepreneurship education, "Ooba FROGS Innovation High School" (hereinafter, OFI High School), in Okinawa Prefecture in April 2027. With the concept of "High school doesn't have to be a preparation period," the school will offer learning that connects each student's "passion" to society over three years. Tuition is 50,000 yen per month, with an initial enrollment capacity of 60 students.

Official Website: https://ofi-ed.jp/ (Scheduled to go live on July 1, 2026)

Background of Establishment: Creating a school that delivers entrepreneurship education over three years.

According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "School Basic Survey," the number of students enrolled in correspondence high schools reached a record high of approximately 290,000 in fiscal year 2024, an increase of about 1.6 times over the past 10 years. However, many of these schools are designed primarily for academic support or support for school refusal, and there are limited opportunities to foster the ability to "formulate questions, experiment, and deliver to society" over the three years of high school.

Akira Yamazaki, representative of FROGS Inc., has been operating the Okinawa-based entrepreneurship human resource development program "Ryukyu Frogs" since 2008, producing a total of 232 graduates from four locations in Hokkaido, Ibaraki, Miyazaki, and Okinawa. Approximately 15% of the graduates have started their own businesses (the national average startup rate is about 4-6%), and their career paths are diverse, including admission to prestigious universities, overseas study, and success in startups.

OFI High School is an initiative to expand the 17 years of practical knowledge gained from Ryukyu Frogs from a six-month selection program to "three years of high school."

Overview of OFI High School

Item

Details

Name

Ooba FROGS Innovation High School (Abbreviation: OFI High School)

Opening Period

April 2027

Location

Okinawa Prefecture

Format

Support school for Seisa Kokusai High School (High school diploma obtained from Seisa Kokusai High School)

Initial Enrollment Capacity

60 students per grade

Tuition

50,000 yen/month (600,000 yen/year) / 50,000 yen admission fee / Correspondence high school (Seisa Kokusai) tuition approx. 140,000 yen/year required separately (eligible for High School Student Support Program)

Management Structure

Niwa Gakuen School Corporation x FROGS Inc. x Seisa Kokusai High School

Roles of the Three-Party Collaboration

Seisa Kokusai High School will award the high school diploma, and Niwa Gakuen School Corporation, which has been involved in education in Okinawa for a long time, will provide operations and learning spaces. FROGS Inc., which has operated Ryukyu Frogs for 17 years, will provide the original curriculum and an entrepreneur network, creating an open innovation-style school.

● Niwa Gakuen School Corporation (Operations/Learning Space): As a school corporation with a long history in education in Okinawa, it will be responsible for operations and daily learning spaces.

● FROGS Inc. (Curriculum/Network): Based on 17 years of practical knowledge from Ryukyu Frogs, it will provide the entrepreneurship education curriculum and a network of current entrepreneurs and mentors.

● Seisa Kokusai High School (High School Diploma/Diversification of Learning): Utilizing the flexible curriculum unique to correspondence education, it will provide diverse learning opportunities that expand each individual's potential. In addition to obtaining a high school diploma, it will provide support to help students advance to their next steps.

Three Features of OFI High School

1 A Genuine "It's Okay to Fail" Curriculum Designed for Slow but Sure Change Over Three Years

First year: A period to experience "it's okay to fail" and discover one's "passion" and questions. Second year: A period to nurture ideas into business hypotheses and test them with the community and companies. Third year: A period to conduct verification experiments and present results to society through a final pitch. By experiencing "real" opportunities every year throughout the three years, students will develop the confidence that "I can do it too."

2 Practical Curriculum Learning from Real Entrepreneurs, Shaping Ideas with AI, and Learning About Financial Flows

Once a month, current entrepreneurs will serve as instructors. Practical classes such as shaping apps through dialogue with AI, addressing regional issues using design thinking, and learning about "living money" including sales, costs, and fundraising will be incorporated into the daily curriculum, providing practical experience not found in textbooks.

3 Not "Freedom = Neglect," but Mentorship More Than Once a Month and Visible Growth Records for Parents

One-on-one meetings with mentors are planned at least once a month. Learning and growth over three years will be recorded as a portfolio and shared visibly with parents. The organization will systematically ensure that the "freedom" of correspondence high school does not turn into "neglect."

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Message from the Founding Members

Feeling restless at school. Having a clear goal. Not knowing anything yet.

We have faced students with such eyes in our respective places.

Let's create a school that truly promises the obvious: "It's okay to fail," "It's okay to be different," "It's okay to go at your own pace."

To achieve this, professionals in the community, practice, and systems have joined forces.

Information on Information Sessions and Experience Sessions

In preparation for the opening in April 2027, OFI High School will exhibit at "School Festival 2026 in Okinawa." You can experience learning that cannot be encountered in textbooks, such as a trial lesson on creating apps while conversing with AI, before the school opens. https://www.iged.or.jp/school-festival/

Please apply for individual consultations from the official website.

https://ofi-ed.jp/

Contact for Inquiries Regarding This Matter

OFI High School / Kuniyoshi, Toei

Email: info@ofi-ed.jp

TEL: 050-3540-5932

(Phone reception hours: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Weekdays)