Nakayoshi Gakuen Presents for the Third Time at UN ACUNS International Academic Conference

Nakayoshi Gakuen Project, a specified non-profit organization, announced its educational model "CoRe Loop (Co-create & Return Loop Model)" which connects Japanese school education with global initiatives, at the "39th ACUNS Annual Meeting" held in Lisbon, Portugal, from July 1st to 3rd, 2026. The presentation was delivered by Representative Yuichi Nakamura and Secretary-General Rie Nakamura.

Representative Yuichi Nakamura presenting at the United Nations Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) conference.

ACUNS (Academic Council on the United Nations System) is an international academic network that brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers related to the UN system. The 2026 annual meeting was held at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa under the theme "Multilateralism under Challenge and the Future of the Pact," discussing the crisis in multilateral cooperation facing the UN system and the implementation challenges beyond the Pact for the Future.

In September 2024, the UN adopted the "Pact for the Future," outlining a new direction for international cooperation encompassing sustainable development, peace and security, human rights, youth and future generations, and global governance reform. However, a significant challenge in the post-SDGs era is how the ideals espoused at international conferences translate into the daily lives of local communities, schools, and children.

Nakayoshi Gakuen presented its practical model, "Learning Connected to the World," designed to bridge this "gap between declaration and implementation." This model delivers learning generated in Japanese classrooms to educational sites worldwide and brings back the feedback to Japanese classrooms.

Nakayoshi Gakuen's presentation this time, titled "Cultivating Grassroots Multilateralism through Education."

The "CoRe Loop" transforms UN ideals into children's actions.

The theme of this presentation was "Cultivating Grassroots Multilateralism through Education — The CoRe Loop Model as a Research–Policy Tool."

Yuichi Nakamura posed the following question at the international conference:

A slide showing last year's achievements, introducing the CoRe Loop model as a method to "practically implement" the UN's Pact for the Future. Over 10,000 teachers and students nationwide participated.

"What if multilateralism began in the classroom?"

Multilateralism is typically discussed in the context of international organizations, diplomatic negotiations, treaties, and resolutions. However, the foundation of civil society that supports international cooperation is not built overnight. It requires experiences of knowing the existence of others far away, cooperating across cultural and positional differences, and considering one's own actions.

What if multilateralism began in the classroom?

Nakayoshi Gakuen's proposed "CoRe Loop" is a cyclical educational model where Japanese children learn about global issues, create teaching materials, messages, soaps, disaster preparedness materials, peace karuta, quiz cards, flying discs, etc. Nakayoshi Gakuen then delivers these to schools, refugee camps, and post-conflict regions worldwide, where they are implemented in classes. The feedback from these implementations is then returned to Japanese classrooms.

This process consists of four stages: Create, Deliver, Co-create, and Return. Japanese children learn about global issues and create materials and messages. These are delivered to schools and post-conflict regions abroad, where local children and teachers use them in classes. Feedback such as photos, videos, impressions, and letters of gratitude is sent back to Japanese classrooms.

The four models of CoRe Loop.

While traditional international cooperation often tends to be a one-way model of delivering goods from "donors" to "recipients," the CoRe Loop ensures that learning always returns. This allows Japanese children to feel that "their actions have benefited someone in the world," and local children become active participants by sending back their learning and feedback to Japanese children.

Nakayoshi Gakuen positions this cycle as "mutual learning" rather than "donations."

Nakayoshi Gakuen's activities featured on the UNESCO website in February of this year.

"Peace can be practiced, tested, and returned."

In the presentation, Yuichi Nakamura explained that peace is not just negotiated in the conference rooms of international organizations but is practiced, tested, and returned within the classroom.

Participants worldwide holding teaching materials actually created by Japanese students. Nakayoshi Gakuen's teaching materials are "implemented" in various countries worldwide. Flying discs made from recycled marine plastic from Tsushima made a significant impact. The peace efforts of Japanese students and children received great praise from participants.

Nakayoshi Gakuen's presentation materials organized the CoRe Loop as a "research and policy tool," presenting it as a replicable model connecting school education, local communities, and international fields. The presentation also highlighted the importance of "traceability"—recording who made what, where it was delivered, which classes used it, and what kind of reactions were received—to move peace education beyond mere "good stories" or "touching exchanges."

Nakayoshi Gakuen's CoRe Loop thoroughly pursues "on-site implementation" and "traceability."

This initiative responds to the "ability to implement international goals on the ground" called for by the Pact for the Future, from the perspective of school education. It enables children to understand the grand concepts of SDGs, peace, human rights, inclusion, and future generations set forth by the UN, and translate them into actions that involve their hands and connect them to the world. Nakayoshi Gakuen presented CoRe Loop as the implementation device for this.

Grassroots multilateralism born from practices involving 50 schools and 10,000 people.

Nakayoshi Gakuen's "Learning Connected to the World" has expanded to over 50 schools nationwide, involving approximately 10,000 students and staff annually. The presentation materials organized data from overseas fields in 10 countries, over 11,000 learning outcomes, 193 types of teaching materials, and over 500 overseas implementation cases.

These practices demonstrate that learning that takes place daily in various regions of Japan can transform into global peacebuilding and educational support.

Soaps made by children in Hiroshima were used in WASH education in Rwanda and Nepal. Peace karuta made by Japanese children became dialogue materials at a university and refugee camp in Syria. Disaster preparedness books and newspaper slippers from Anpachi Town, Gifu Prefecture, were implemented in disaster preparedness education in schools in Nepal. Learning about marine plastic from Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and OISCA Hamamatsu International High School has been developed into sports-based peace education through recycled flying discs and ultimate frisbee.

Common to all these cases is that local learning is used in the field globally, and the results are returned to Japan.

This is "grassroots multilateralism" that involves children, teachers, schools, and communities, rather than leaving international cooperation solely to a few experts and diplomats.

Introducing practices that build peace in remote corners of the world through "Learning Connected to the World," which connects Japan and the world.

Disaster preparedness implemented globally from Anpachi Town, Gifu Prefecture. This project in June was carried out at the request of the Nepalese government.

"From being supported to becoming supporters"—Internationally recognized as inclusive education.

Nakayoshi Gakuen's initiatives are also gaining international attention from the perspective of inclusive education.

On the international knowledge platform "Inclusive Education in Action," which involves UNESCO and the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education, the activities of Hiroshima Municipal Hiroshima Special Needs School and Nakayoshi Gakuen are featured as "From being supported to becoming supporters." This is a model where children with disabilities and those in vulnerable positions are encouraged to become peacebuilders by creating teaching materials and inspiring children worldwide.

Peace posters from Hiroshima Special Needs School delivered to Rwanda. Peace posters from Hiroshima Special Needs School delivered to Rwanda. Nakayoshi Gakuen positions children with disabilities not just as "recipients of support" but as agents contributing to the world. Peace posters and teaching materials created by children from special needs schools in Japan reach children in countries like Rwanda, Cambodia, Syria, and Nepal, and their feedback returns to Japan. Through this cycle, children gain the realization that "they too can be of help to someone."

This is an initiative that concretely implements the UN's principle of "leaving no one behind" within school education.

Rie Nakamura, Secretary-General, speaks about the awareness reform among Japanese educators.

During this presentation, Secretary-General Rie Nakamura also gave a short speech, discussing the changes that "Learning Connected to the World" brings to Japanese educators.

In Japanese school settings, it is not easy for teachers to engage in new educational activities amidst their busy schedules. However, in Nakayoshi Gakuen's activities, teachers are seen in various locations, working with children with shining eyes to create teaching materials and messages to be sent to the world, and being moved by the feedback received from abroad.

Rie Nakamura presented these changes as "the necessary form for the future of Japanese education."

"High-quality Japanese education to the world."

This phrase does not simply mean exporting Japanese education overseas. It means sharing the inquiry-based learning, disaster preparedness, peace, human rights, environment, food education, craftsmanship, and local studies conducted in Japanese classrooms with children around the world, and through receiving their feedback, Japanese children and teachers themselves engage in relearning.

After the presentation, the disaster preparedness karuta, quiz cards, and marine plastic recycling flying discs brought by Nakayoshi Gakuen attracted significant interest from researchers and practitioners from various countries. International conference participants picked them up, asked questions, and inquired about their practical applications, demonstrating that teaching materials born in Japanese classrooms are also effective in international educational and peacebuilding forums.

Rie Nakamura speaks about "Japanese teachers' activities for peacebuilding," introducing educational methods that enhance engagement and self-efficacy.

Secretary-General Rie Nakamura giving a short speech.

Yuichi Nakamura, from presenter to discussion facilitator at the international conference.

At this ACUNS Annual Meeting, Yuichi Nakamura served not only as a presenter but also as a session Chair and moderator.

This marks Nakayoshi Gakuen's third time presenting at ACUNS. Previously, as a Japanese NPO, Nakayoshi Gakuen reported on its field practices at international conferences. This time, the organization took on the role of organizing discussions, connecting presenters, and facilitating sessions in a forum attended by international researchers and practitioners.

This indicates that Nakayoshi Gakuen is increasingly recognized not just as an "organization that introduces Japanese educational practices" but as a key actor with practical knowledge in discussions shaping the future of the UN system and international cooperation.

The challenges facing the UN are shifting from setting ideals to the stage of how to deliver them to the ground. The Pact for the Future's emphasis on responsibility towards future generations, building a society looking beyond SDGs, peacebuilding, human rights, inclusion, and quality of education—all share the common question: "Who, where, and how will it be implemented?"

Nakayoshi Gakuen answers this question by connecting Japanese classrooms with classrooms around the world.

At the ACUNS conference venue. Representative Yuichi Nakamura and Secretary-General Rie Nakamura of Nakayoshi Gakuen.

Transforming the UN's grand pronouncements into children's "actions for today."

In the domestic teaching material created by Nakayoshi Gakuen, titled "Learning Connected to the World Can Be a Force for Creating the Future," the UN's core principles—"abolish war," "protect human rights," "eliminate poverty," "expand education," "protect the global environment," and "leave no one behind"—are organized in terms understandable to children.

This material illustrates the distance between the UN's grand pronouncements and on-the-ground learning, explaining the necessity of transforming concepts like SDGs, Leave No One Behind, Future Generations, Inclusion, Peacebuilding, and Human Rights into learning that can be understood within schools and classrooms.

Nakayoshi Gakuen's role lies precisely here.

Transforming UN language into materials that children can physically engage with. Transforming international conference ideals into lessons that teachers can use tomorrow. Connecting global issues with local learning and actions. And turning the small actions of Japanese children into the joy of someone somewhere in the world.

A selection of examples of peacebuilding education activities practiced throughout Japan. A selection of examples of peacebuilding education activities practiced throughout Japan.

"The world is not something distant; it is connected to our classrooms."

Through "Learning Connected to the World," Nakayoshi Gakuen practices education that empowers children to become creators of the future, rather than passive recipients waiting for it.

Peacebuilding is practiced, tested, and repeated before it can be truly implemented. With this statement, the lecture concluded.

Comment from Representative Yuichi Nakamura:

At this ACUNS International Academic Conference, we were able to present "Learning Connected to the World," which Nakayoshi Gakuen has been developing with schools across Japan, in connection with the challenges facing the UN system.

The UN has adopted the Pact for the Future, once again calling upon the world for future generations, peace, human rights, and sustainable development. However, without a mechanism to deliver these ideals to the ground, children's lives will not change.

We have created a system where learning originating in Japanese classrooms is used in classrooms worldwide, and the feedback returns to Japan. While this may seem like a small activity, the experience of children thinking about distant others, considering what they can do, and taking action forms the foundation of civil society that will support future multilateral cooperation.

Peace is not made solely in conference rooms. It is practiced in classrooms, tested globally, and returned to classrooms once more. Nakayoshi Gakuen will continue to implement global peace from the grassroots, together with Japanese children, teachers, and communities.

Representative Yuichi Nakamura, making his third appearance at the UN ACUNS.

Comment from Secretary-General Rie Nakamura:

Through this presentation, researchers and practitioners from around the world showed strong interest in the disaster preparedness karuta, quiz cards, and marine plastic recycling flying discs created by Japanese children.

Japanese teachers, amidst their daily busy schedules, face children and create learning experiences. When that learning leads to smiles from children around the world and feedback returns from the field, the teachers' expressions change. They begin to think with the children, "What more can we do?"

"Learning Connected to the World" is not just an activity for children abroad. It is also a time for Japanese children and teachers to rediscover the value of their own learning.

High-quality Japanese education to the world. And learning returned from the world to Japanese classrooms. We want to continue creating education that makes children and teachers shine, together with our global partners.

Secretary-General Rie Nakamura, engaged in peace activities worldwide.

Future Developments:

Nakayoshi Gakuen will continue to expand "Learning Connected to the World" in collaboration with elementary, junior high, and high schools, special needs schools, municipalities, corporations, and community organizations nationwide.

By implementing learning cultivated in Japanese schools and communities—such as disaster preparedness, peace, WASH, food education, environment, sports, human rights, and inclusive education—in educational settings worldwide and returning the results to Japan, we will broaden the cycle where children become stakeholders in global peace.

Achieving the UN's Pact for the Future requires the participation not only of nations and international organizations but also of communities, schools, teachers, and children.

Nakayoshi Gakuen will continue to practice "grassroots multilateralism" that creates the future of the world from Japanese classrooms.

Nakayoshi Gakuen's activities, highly regarded domestically.

About Nakayoshi Gakuen Project, Specified Non-Profit Organization:

Nakayoshi Gakuen Project is an NPO that conducts educational support and peacebuilding activities both domestically and internationally, under the theme "Supporting Global Learning with Japanese Learning." It implements "CoRe Loop," which delivers teaching materials, artworks, local resources, and research learning outcomes generated in Japanese schools to schools, refugee camps, post-conflict regions, and impoverished areas overseas, and returns the feedback to Japanese classrooms.

Its areas of activity extend to Rwanda, Syria, Cambodia, Nepal, East Timor, South Sudan, and other parts of the world. Domestically, it collaborates with elementary, junior high, and high schools, special needs schools, municipalities, corporations, and community organizations nationwide.

Official Website: https://nakayoshigakuen.org

CoRe Loop Introduction Page: https://nakayoshigakuen.org/coreloop

Previous Press Releases: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/166170