Report on Donation Recipients of 'Hiragajong: Connecting to the Future' Plan

Total Support Amount

26,625,000 JPY

Number of Supporters

3,030

Funding Achievement Rate

26,625%

Makuake: Hiragajong Pro (https://www.makuake.com/project/hiragajong_pro/)

NEXT Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masato Suzue), a company specializing in the development and sale of educational products, has successfully concluded its crowdfunding campaign 'Hiragajong Pro' on Makuake. The campaign received a total of 26,625,000 JPY in support from 3,030 backers. Thanks to the generous contributions from supporters who chose the 'Connecting to the Future' plan, 10 sets of 'Hiragajong' game boards have been donated to various educational institutions and support facilities. We sincerely express our gratitude.

■ About the 'Connecting to the Future' Plan (100,000 JPY)

This plan includes standard rewards for supporters (one set of Hiragajong Pro, five signed photos by actress Saka Okada, a personalized video message, and an autographed color paper) and additionally donates 10 sets of 'Hiragajong' game boards to schools and child welfare facilities. The goal is to provide more children with the opportunity to encounter language through play.

■ List of Donors and Recipient Facilities

Donor

Recipient Facility

1

Kawachan

Saitama City Miyahara Elementary School

2

Takashi Tonegawa

Hokkaido University of Education Affiliated Asahikawa Elementary School

3

23

Hamasaka Higashi Elementary School, Shinonsen Town

4

Yamashita

Moriguchi City Kaneda Elementary School

5

Anonymous

Kototoko Development Support Center

* Recipient facilities were selected by our company.

■ Comments and Photos from Recipient Facilities (Selected Excerpts)

・Comment from Moriguchi City Kaneda Elementary School

We immediately played 'Hiragajong' with our second-grade students. Although a few children were initially unfamiliar with the rules, after a brief explanation, they quickly began finding words and greatly enjoyed the game. Seeing the children enthusiastically searching for words with smiles on their faces brought us great joy.

Additionally, our school has been designated as a 'Promotion School for Language Skills Development' for the upcoming academic year. We believe 'Hiragajong,' which allows children to engage with language in a fun way, will be highly beneficial for language development. We plan to actively incorporate it into our educational activities next year.

We deeply appreciate this wonderful donation and thank you once again.

・Comment from Kototoko Development Support Center

Children showed great interest in this new teaching material, with many expressing enthusiasm by saying, 'I want to try this!' They engaged proactively, and we observed increased motivation toward learning while enjoying the game.

Our center serves many young children and those who require more time to understand concepts. By adapting gameplay—such as word collection and vocabulary building—we can tailor interactions to each child’s developmental stage. We find great value in the natural learning that occurs through play.

Staff have also implemented visual aids to indicate tile placement and illustrated rule guides to create a safe and supportive environment where children can participate with confidence.

Even children who typically struggle with or feel anxious about reading and writing were able to naturally engage with the game. We have truly seen an expansion in our support capabilities.

We sincerely appreciate this valuable opportunity and will continue to use the game thoughtfully to support children’s growth.

Photos: Hokkaido University of Education Affiliated Asahikawa Elementary School

Photos: Kototoko Development Support Center 1, Kototoko Development Support Center 2

■ Message to Our Supporters

Thanks to your support, the circle of children’s smiles and learning continues to expand. As reflected in feedback from educators, 'Hiragajong' is being used across various settings as an effective educational tool that helps children, including those with reading difficulties, naturally encounter language through play. We kindly ask for your continued support. (https://www.makuake.com/project/hiragajong_pro/)

■ Inquiries

NEXT Co., Ltd., Edisonbrain Division
Contact: Yuki Sugaura
TEL: 03-5244-9650
Email: edisonbrain@nextjp.co.jp
Address: 1-3-8 Shibamichi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://hiragajong.com/