Freestyle school "Lagoon" for gifted children sponsors the "World Edamame Speed Eating Championship"!

Lagoon Inc. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Mai Muramatsu), which operates freestyle schools and individual tutoring for children with gifted characteristics, is pleased to announce its sponsorship as a "Shirogane Mame" sponsor for the "9th World Edamame Speed Eating Championship" to be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture.

On the day of the event, three Lagoon staff members will participate as a team in the team competition, aiming for victory. Additionally, an "Educational Consultation Booth for Parents and Children" (free of charge) will be set up at Aore Nagaoka to support parents concerned about school refusal, reluctance to go to school, or their child's specific characteristics.

Three staff members participating in the team competition for the "9th World Edamame Speed Eating Championship"

About the "World Edamame Speed Eating Championship"

Niigata Prefecture boasts the largest acreage for edamame cultivation. This major event, held in the renowned production area of Nagaoka City, expresses love for edamame and promotes its deliciousness to the world.

This is an international competition where participants compete to see "how many edamame they can eat beautifully within the time limit of 100 seconds." Many challengers gather from all over the country for both individual and team competitions.

The "Edamame Marche" at the venue will feature booths themed around Nagaoka's food and agriculture. It serves to convey the appeal of local agricultural products and is loved as a festival that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

This year, the 9th event, will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at "Aore Nagaoka," a landmark in Nagaoka City. (Official Website: https://edamame.world/)

Background of Sponsorship

This sponsorship and participation originated from everyday conversations with Lagoon's students. It all began when students learned about the "World Edamame Speed Eating Championship" through their freestyle school activities and became interested.

Lagoon values student initiative in its activities. This time, a training camp plan for Niigata began to take shape in response to the students' voices saying, "We want to go to the Edamame Championship" and "We want to exhibit something ourselves."

To give form to the students' curiosity and desire to "try things," the company decided to sponsor the competition. On the day of the event, in response to the students' request to "see the staff eating," three staff members will compete, and a "Parent-Child Educational Consultation Booth" planned and operated by the students themselves will be set up at the venue.

Here is a video message expressing their enthusiasm for participation: https://youtu.be/vYgLT8vOgQM

Consultation Booth Details

"Parent-Child Consultation Booth" Setup Overview

Date and Time: Saturday, July 11, 2026, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Target Audience: Families concerned about their child's school life, future path, gifted/2E characteristics, developmental differences, etc.

Content: Educational consultations with Mai, Lagoon's representative and expert in gifted/2E education (free, no reservation required), and children's events (craft workshops, etc.) run by Lagoon's junior and senior high school students.

Key Features: In addition to educational consultations with Representative Mai, it is a warm space where you can hear directly from junior and senior high school students who attend the freestyle school. Events for children will also be held simultaneously.

Please feel free to stop by, as if you were taking a short break and chatting after enjoying some delicious edamame!

Profile of Representative Mai

Expert in gifted/2E education. Born in 1995. Completed the Gifted Education Specialist Course (Extension) at the University of California, San Diego. IQ 142 (WAIS-IV), member of JAPAN MENSA. Felt a strong sense of difference from others since childhood and experienced school refusal in junior high school. Opened Lagoon, a freestyle school and individual tutoring service for children with gifted characteristics, in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, in September 2024. Currently, 70 elementary, junior high, and high school students with gifted characteristics attend. Since December 2024, has been serializing a column in the Mainichi Shimbun's online media "Hanasone." Total social media followers: 20,000 (as of June 2026). Over the past three years, has been involved in educational consultations for over 400 parents concerned about "anxiety about raising children" or "not being understood by others regarding their child's characteristics," and has provided individual support to over 200 individuals. Known for support that is tailored to individual characteristics and challenges.

Profile and Comments of Participating Staff

Staff: Kanai

Profile: Staff at Lagoon Inc. Member of JAPAN MENSA, graduate of the Faculty of Letters, Hokkaido University. As a field staff member at the freestyle school, is involved in the education and support of children in a wide range of genres, including not only academic instruction but also support for creative projects based on experience in music, video, and art. Also handles the operation of events initiated by students and the organization of the school's first cultural festival. At the Edamame Speed Eating Championship, as Lagoon's top eater, he eats edamame day and night to deliver courage to the children at the school with the title of "World's Best."

Comment: Lagoon has taken on various challenges in response to the children's "desire to do it," and this time we will challenge for the "World Edamame Speed Eating Championship" in Nagaoka, Niigata! Leading the reliable ace Yamane-san and the promising rookie Fuuka-san, we will do our best while savoring the delicious edamame of Niigata!

Through the figures of the three champions, we want to convey to the children at the school the importance of shining in their own way. Thank you for your support!

Staff: Yamane

Profile: COO of Lagoon Inc. After obtaining a Ph.D. in Medicine from Osaka University Graduate School, worked as a researcher at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the University of Edinburgh in the UK, and the National Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition. Engaged in regenerative medicine research at domestic pharmaceutical companies and bio-venture companies. In addition to basic medical research, has been involved in business development as a business-side professional. Assumed current position in 2026. This competition is the first major task since joining the company.

Comment: I am honored to be able to stand on the prestigious stage of the World Edamame Speed Eating Championship. On the day, I will aim for victory with all my might, expressing gratitude to the edamame farmers, everyone involved in the competition, and each and every grain of edamame. I will do my best to meet the expectations of everyone who supports us.

Staff: Fuuka

Profile: Staff at Lagoon Inc. After living abroad in Bangkok, Thailand, experienced learning at a correspondence high school. While attending Lagoon as a student herself, she forged her own path and is now active as Lagoon's first "staff member from a former student." Her strength lies in her ability to relate to children from their perspective, and despite being the youngest staff member, she has earned deep trust. She also possesses professional-level drumming skills and is well-versed in music and creative fields. She supports children's challenges while embracing each individual's unique personality and potential.

Comment: During my elementary school days in Thailand, edamame was always in my bento box. At the time, it was "something that was always there," but now I understand how much that small bean gave me a sense of security and comfort in a foreign land. This world competition is a stage where I will face edamame head-on with heartfelt gratitude. With the warm memories of that day in my heart, I will give it my all!

Event Outline

Event Name: 9th World Edamame Speed Eating Championship

Venue: Aore Nagaoka (1-4-10 Ote-dori, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture)

Organizer: Nagaoka Nouchalle Project Executive Committee

Official Website: https://edamame.world/

Company Profile

Company Name: Lagoon Inc.

Representative: Mai Muramatsu, Representative Director

Location: Kawata Building 101, 2-43-2 Akabane, Kita-ku, Tokyo, 115-0045

Establishment Date: June 2024

Business Activities: Operation of freestyle schools for children with gifted characteristics and unique personalities, fully one-on-one individual instruction, provision of psychological exploration sessions.

URL: https://gifted-lagoon.com/

Contact Information for Inquiries

Email: info@gifted-lagoon.com