Takafumi Horie's Alternative School "Zero Elementary School" Begins Recruitment for Fall 2026 Enrollment
Zero Elementary School, an alternative school led by entrepreneur Takafumi Horie, has started recruiting students for its Fall 2026 intake. The school will reduce its capacity from 35 to 25 students from 2026, further strengthening its small-group, bilingual Japanese and English environment, focusing on project-based learning (PBL) and individualized learning.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 14:31
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Zero Elementary School, an alternative school led by entrepreneur Takafumi Horie and operated by Global Tree Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hitomi Iwasaki), has begun recruiting students for its Fall 2026 intake. Concurrently, from the 2026 academic year, the school will change its capacity from the previous 35 students to 25 students, further strengthening its small-group education system centered on project-based learning (PBL) and individualized learning within a Japanese and English bilingual environment.
■ Led by Takafumi Horie ── "New Choices for Education."
Takafumi Horie, entrepreneur and head of Zero Elementary School
Takafumi Horie, an entrepreneur, serves as the head of Zero Elementary School.
"In an era where technological evolution and societal changes are accelerating, what children need is not the ability to memorize correct answers, but the ability to question and think deeply.
Zero Elementary School is an alternative school that fosters children's ability to learn independently and create the future, starting from each child's curiosity.
Towards a society where all children can envision their own future. The first step begins here."
── Takafumi Horie (Entrepreneur / Head of Zero Elementary School)
■ "Rather than 'children who memorize correct answers,' 'children who can ask questions.'"
The message Zero Elementary School champions for 2026 is: "Rather than 'children who memorize correct answers,' 'children who can ask questions.'"
We place the process of children actively asking questions, thinking, experimenting, and learning through dialogue at the core of their daily learning.
In daily learning, we have established an environment where children can design their learning based on their interests and deepen their inquiry beyond age and grade levels, utilizing project-based learning (PBL) and individualized learning as pillars.
■ A Place for Children with Diverse Backgrounds to Learn
Since its opening, Zero Elementary School has attracted children from various backgrounds.
Children who are gifted and find existing curriculum paces insufficient for their interests and abilities. Children who want to continue deepening their English-based learning cultivated in international schools within a bilingual environment. Returnee children who have lived abroad and wish to continue learning both Japanese and English without letting either go. Children who have chosen not to attend school by their own will, so-called active truants. A place where children with diverse backgrounds can continue learning safely at their own pace is increasingly needed in future society. Zero Elementary School, with its Japanese and English bilingual environment, has served as a haven for such children, maintaining linguistic and cultural continuity in learning while allowing each individual to deepen their inquiry at their own pace.
Our aim is not to "give special treatment" to anyone, but to create an environment where everyone can learn as they are. Children with diverse backgrounds gather in the same place, sharing their differences as learning resources – we believe this itself is the form of learning required in the coming era.
■ Capacity Reduced to 25. A Decision for Serious Implementation of Individualized Optimization
The decision to change the capacity from the previous 35 students to 25 students from the 2026 academic year is an educational judgment made to more deeply implement an individualized optimization approach.
By maintaining a scale that allows sufficient attention to each individual's interests, progress, and amount of dialogue, we will further enhance the quality of education as a community where children, parents, and staff know each other's faces and progress.
■ About the Admission Selection Process
Zero Elementary School conducts admission selection based on document screening, behavioral observation, and parent interviews.
However, we do not make admission decisions by comparing multiple families or children and judging superiority or inferiority. We engage with each family one by one in the order of application, carefully confirming the child's demeanor and the compatibility of the family's educational philosophy before offering admission.
Currently, we are accepting requests for資料請求 (brochures) and applications for information sessions.
■ Information Sessions / Individual Consultation Sessions (All held online)
Online information sessions and individual consultation sessions are held for those considering admission.
[2026 Session Dates] May 30 (Sat), June 13 (Sat), July 31 (Fri)
Information session: Explanation of educational policy and curriculum, followed by Q&A.
Individual consultation session (30 minutes): Limited to 3 groups per day. For those attending an information session for the first time.
▶ Apply via the official website
■ Experience Learning at Zero Elementary School ── Summer School
The opportunity to experience learning at Zero Elementary School's actual campus is through the "Summer School," a fully English inquiry program held every summer.
Duration: July 21 to August 21, 2026 (4 weeks total)
▶ Summer School: Details and application
■ Application Guidelines
▶ Zero Elementary School Fall 2026 Admission Application Guidelines
■ About Zero Elementary School
"Rather than memorizing correct answers
■ Led by Takafumi Horie ── "New Choices for Education."
Takafumi Horie, entrepreneur and head of Zero Elementary School
Takafumi Horie, an entrepreneur, serves as the head of Zero Elementary School.
"In an era where technological evolution and societal changes are accelerating, what children need is not the ability to memorize correct answers, but the ability to question and think deeply.
Zero Elementary School is an alternative school that fosters children's ability to learn independently and create the future, starting from each child's curiosity.
Towards a society where all children can envision their own future. The first step begins here."
── Takafumi Horie (Entrepreneur / Head of Zero Elementary School)
■ "Rather than 'children who memorize correct answers,' 'children who can ask questions.'"
The message Zero Elementary School champions for 2026 is: "Rather than 'children who memorize correct answers,' 'children who can ask questions.'"
We place the process of children actively asking questions, thinking, experimenting, and learning through dialogue at the core of their daily learning.
In daily learning, we have established an environment where children can design their learning based on their interests and deepen their inquiry beyond age and grade levels, utilizing project-based learning (PBL) and individualized learning as pillars.
■ A Place for Children with Diverse Backgrounds to Learn
Since its opening, Zero Elementary School has attracted children from various backgrounds.
Children who are gifted and find existing curriculum paces insufficient for their interests and abilities. Children who want to continue deepening their English-based learning cultivated in international schools within a bilingual environment. Returnee children who have lived abroad and wish to continue learning both Japanese and English without letting either go. Children who have chosen not to attend school by their own will, so-called active truants. A place where children with diverse backgrounds can continue learning safely at their own pace is increasingly needed in future society. Zero Elementary School, with its Japanese and English bilingual environment, has served as a haven for such children, maintaining linguistic and cultural continuity in learning while allowing each individual to deepen their inquiry at their own pace.
Our aim is not to "give special treatment" to anyone, but to create an environment where everyone can learn as they are. Children with diverse backgrounds gather in the same place, sharing their differences as learning resources – we believe this itself is the form of learning required in the coming era.
■ Capacity Reduced to 25. A Decision for Serious Implementation of Individualized Optimization
The decision to change the capacity from the previous 35 students to 25 students from the 2026 academic year is an educational judgment made to more deeply implement an individualized optimization approach.
By maintaining a scale that allows sufficient attention to each individual's interests, progress, and amount of dialogue, we will further enhance the quality of education as a community where children, parents, and staff know each other's faces and progress.
■ About the Admission Selection Process
Zero Elementary School conducts admission selection based on document screening, behavioral observation, and parent interviews.
However, we do not make admission decisions by comparing multiple families or children and judging superiority or inferiority. We engage with each family one by one in the order of application, carefully confirming the child's demeanor and the compatibility of the family's educational philosophy before offering admission.
Currently, we are accepting requests for資料請求 (brochures) and applications for information sessions.
■ Information Sessions / Individual Consultation Sessions (All held online)
Online information sessions and individual consultation sessions are held for those considering admission.
[2026 Session Dates] May 30 (Sat), June 13 (Sat), July 31 (Fri)
Information session: Explanation of educational policy and curriculum, followed by Q&A.
Individual consultation session (30 minutes): Limited to 3 groups per day. For those attending an information session for the first time.
▶ Apply via the official website
■ Experience Learning at Zero Elementary School ── Summer School
The opportunity to experience learning at Zero Elementary School's actual campus is through the "Summer School," a fully English inquiry program held every summer.
Duration: July 21 to August 21, 2026 (4 weeks total)
▶ Summer School: Details and application
■ Application Guidelines
▶ Zero Elementary School Fall 2026 Admission Application Guidelines
■ About Zero Elementary School
"Rather than memorizing correct answers