Ajinomoto and NVIC Conduct Special Financial Education Class at Elementary School

Norinchukin Value Investments Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "NVIC"), an investment management and advisory company of the Norinchukin Bank Group, in cooperation with Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (hereinafter "Ajinomoto"), a leading Japanese food manufacturer, held a special class at Katayama Gakuen Elementary School (Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture) on March 10, 2026. In this class, a financial education program was conducted to learn about social structures and the meaning of money, using familiar "food and nutrition" in everyday life as an entry point. The purpose is for children to gain a tangible understanding of "working," "contributing to society," and "the role of money."

■ Background of the Event

This initiative was realized because both companies resonated with the educational philosophy of Katayama Gakuen Elementary School: "For you, 20 years from now." "Food and nutrition" are the most familiar things to children. Behind them lies ingenuity and passion to make someone smile. And gratitude (= money) for that value circulates in society. The joy of "deliciousness" and the "thank you" for it. Through such familiar experiences, the goal was to create a class where children can understand topics about investment and money, which are often perceived as difficult, by connecting them to their own futures.

■ Event Overview

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Location: Katayama Gakuen Elementary School (Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture)
Target: 24 5th-grade students
Content:
Class 1 "The Secret of Umami and Nutrition"
Instructor: Mr. Masato Iimura, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
Class 2 "Money is a Sign of Thank You"
Instructor: Keisuke Nakata, NVIC

■ Class 1 "The Secret of Umami and Nutrition" Instructor: Mr. Masato Iimura, Ajinomoto

In the class, the relationship between food and the body was explained using the phrase "You are made of what you eat" as a keyword. Next, the students learned about the role of umami, one of the five basic tastes for experiencing deliciousness. Umami is the taste you feel when tasting dashi (broth) and is also found in kelp and bonito flakes. The children used small bottles of umami seasoning to experience how the taste changes before and after adding umami to a lightly seasoned miso soup. Through this experience, they learned that skillful use of umami can bring out the deliciousness of dishes without adding more salt, and that "umami" is used as a universal word. Furthermore, the five major nutrients, the importance of a balanced diet, nutritional support for top athletes, and types of dashi were also introduced, deepening the children's understanding of building a healthy body and nutritional literacy.

Experiencing the difference in taste by adding umami seasoning. Experiencing the aroma and texture of kelp with the five senses.

■ Class 2 "Money is a Sign of Thank You" Instructor: Keisuke Nakata, NVIC

In the class, the concept that "Money is a sign of thank you" was explained in an easy-to-understand manner through videos and worksheets. In the worksheet activity, students thought about how to use money and time divided into "for my current self" and "for my future self," and considered what combinations of "likes" x "strengths" make up various jobs in the world. There was also a moment where Mr. Iimura from Ajinomoto talked about his own job and introduced how he receives "thank yous" in society. At the end of the class, homework was given to ask their families how they receive "thank yous" from society through their work, designed to expand learning into the home.

■ About NVIC's Financial Education Materials for Elementary School Students

In January 2026, NVIC developed financial education materials for elementary school students based on the concept of "Money is a sign of thank you." The content incorporates NVIC's unique perspective of "Self-Investment x Financial Investment."

Illustrated Booklet
Teaching material to learn that money is a "sign of thank you" for solving people's problems. Includes a worksheet to think about how to use money for "now" and the "future" (self-investment), and a worksheet to think about future jobs from "likes" x "strengths" (career education). It also provides homework to understand how familiar adults receive "thank yous" from society through interviews with guardians.

Animated Video
A story where the main character Sora cooperates with friends, helping people in need while collecting "fragments of thank you." The content teaches the essence of money and the importance of self-investment, such as "Money is a sign of thank you" and "Future 'thank yous' are born from current choices."

■ Comment from the Principal of Katayama Gakuen Elementary School

Mr. Koichi Haramoto, Principal of Katayama Gakuen Elementary School

"This class was truly a fusion of A&F*, with Ajinomoto taking charge of 'food education' and NVIC taking charge of 'finance.' In the experience-based class using the five senses by Ajinomoto, the children showed strong interest and actively participated, which was impressive. Also, in NVIC's class, Mr. Nakata's way of speaking was devised to attract the children's attention..."