A journey for high school students to discover their true selves in the "most challenging town in Japan" - The university traveling across regions held a SPRING SCHOOL in Yokoze Town, Saitama Prefecture.
Satonoba University hosted a 4-day 'SPRING SCHOOL' in Yokoze, Saitama, where high school students from across Japan engaged in regional interaction and self-exploration using AI, fostering independent learning through intentional 'white space.'
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 19:30
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Satonoba University (Operated by Asunooto Co., Ltd., Representative Director: Ryosuke Nobuoka, Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), which proposes a "new way of learning" using local regions across Japan as its campus, held "SATONOVA SPRING SCHOOL 2026 in Yokoze" for 4 days and 3 nights from Thursday, March 26 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Yokoze Town, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture. Five high school students gathered from all over the country to spend an intensive time experiencing self-transformation through deep interactions with Satonoba University students and locals active in the area, as well as engaging in self-exploration programs utilizing AI.
Due to popular demand, it has been decided to hold a SUMMER SCHOOL during the summer vacation in Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture, and Ama Town, Shimane Prefecture, which are at the forefront of earthquake reconstruction and regional revitalization. It is a 4 to 5-day program where high school students jump into unknown towns and find their "desired future" through dialogue with local people and peers. Participant recruitment is scheduled to begin in May 2026.
■ "SATONOVA SPRING SCHOOL 2026 in Yokoze" Program Overview
Date: March 26 (Thu) - 29 (Sun), 2026 (4 days and 3 nights)
Location: Yokoze Town, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture
Theme: "Authentic creative experience through Self x Region x AI"
Participants: 5 High school students (from all over the country including Okinawa and Gifu)
Main Venues: Area898, Town Hall, Lab Yokoze, etc. (Programs utilizing the entire town)
Organizer/Co-organizer: Satonoba University, General Incorporated Association Shiatsuku (Making the happiest town in Japan together, Yokoze)
Supported by: Yokoze Town, Saitama Prefecture
Travel Implementation: Yokoze Town Tourism Association
■ Program design where "white space" draws out the spontaneity of high school students
Satonoba University's regional study abroad experience program was renewed last summer. Centered around the structure of "Self-understanding ➡ Finding what you want to do ➡ Trying it out in the region," it combines regional experiences with dialogue programs such as organizing a My Project Sheet using AI, journaling, storytelling, and OST (Open Space Technology).
The biggest feature this time was that the third day was intentionally made a free-choice day, and participants designed their own way of spending time in the town. This is an attempt unique to Satonoba University, which uses the entire town as a place of learning. For modern high school students who are chased by daily school life and "things they must do," making it hard to secure enough free time, this was a very valuable experience. On the morning of that day, after verbalizing their own inner sources of "why they want to do it" and "what they want to find from it," the participants stepped out into their respective fields.
- Someone who climbed Mt. Buko guided by a local coordinator, saying, "Because I touched the history of the region, I want to experience it closer."
- Someone who freely explored the town of Yokoze by bicycle, saying, "I want to confirm with my own eyes what I learned the day before."
- Someone who visited the local history museum and spontaneously joined a local folk dance practice, saying, "I want to know more about the culture and festivals."
From the participants who stepped away from the daily framework of school and family, making their own choices and taking action, voices emerged saying, "I finally understand what it means to do what I love." It was not a program prepared by someone else, but chance encounters and events that happened in the "boundary-crossing environment" of the region. The process of turning these into learning with their own hands was truly a time that embodied the ideal learning valued by Satonoba University.
■ Yokoze's culture of "supporting challenges" - The mayor himself welcomed them on the first day
On the first day, Mayor Yoshinari Tomita himself rushed to the venue and spoke to the high school students: "Yokoze is a town that supports challenges. In an era where AI quickly provides answers, the feelings and experiences that only you know are surely important." Surprised by the "close distance" to the top municipal official that cannot be obtained in their hometowns, the participating high school students viscerally felt that they were accepted by this town. On the night of the same day, a final presentation of regional activities by current Satonoba University students who spent a year in Yokoze was held, and the high school students also participated. The gathering of the mayor, local residents, and migrants conveyed the realistic figure of the "university traveling across regions."
■ Participant Voices
As a result of accompanying the inner selves of each individual in a small group setting, changes in consciousness were seen among the participating high school students despite the short period of 4 days. In the post-event questionnaire, all respondents answered with a satisfaction level of 4 or higher (out of 5). Beyond just improving self-affirmation such as "gaining self-confidence," their worldview expanded.
Due to popular demand, it has been decided to hold a SUMMER SCHOOL during the summer vacation in Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture, and Ama Town, Shimane Prefecture, which are at the forefront of earthquake reconstruction and regional revitalization. It is a 4 to 5-day program where high school students jump into unknown towns and find their "desired future" through dialogue with local people and peers. Participant recruitment is scheduled to begin in May 2026.
■ "SATONOVA SPRING SCHOOL 2026 in Yokoze" Program Overview
Date: March 26 (Thu) - 29 (Sun), 2026 (4 days and 3 nights)
Location: Yokoze Town, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture
Theme: "Authentic creative experience through Self x Region x AI"
Participants: 5 High school students (from all over the country including Okinawa and Gifu)
Main Venues: Area898, Town Hall, Lab Yokoze, etc. (Programs utilizing the entire town)
Organizer/Co-organizer: Satonoba University, General Incorporated Association Shiatsuku (Making the happiest town in Japan together, Yokoze)
Supported by: Yokoze Town, Saitama Prefecture
Travel Implementation: Yokoze Town Tourism Association
■ Program design where "white space" draws out the spontaneity of high school students
Satonoba University's regional study abroad experience program was renewed last summer. Centered around the structure of "Self-understanding ➡ Finding what you want to do ➡ Trying it out in the region," it combines regional experiences with dialogue programs such as organizing a My Project Sheet using AI, journaling, storytelling, and OST (Open Space Technology).
The biggest feature this time was that the third day was intentionally made a free-choice day, and participants designed their own way of spending time in the town. This is an attempt unique to Satonoba University, which uses the entire town as a place of learning. For modern high school students who are chased by daily school life and "things they must do," making it hard to secure enough free time, this was a very valuable experience. On the morning of that day, after verbalizing their own inner sources of "why they want to do it" and "what they want to find from it," the participants stepped out into their respective fields.
- Someone who climbed Mt. Buko guided by a local coordinator, saying, "Because I touched the history of the region, I want to experience it closer."
- Someone who freely explored the town of Yokoze by bicycle, saying, "I want to confirm with my own eyes what I learned the day before."
- Someone who visited the local history museum and spontaneously joined a local folk dance practice, saying, "I want to know more about the culture and festivals."
From the participants who stepped away from the daily framework of school and family, making their own choices and taking action, voices emerged saying, "I finally understand what it means to do what I love." It was not a program prepared by someone else, but chance encounters and events that happened in the "boundary-crossing environment" of the region. The process of turning these into learning with their own hands was truly a time that embodied the ideal learning valued by Satonoba University.
■ Yokoze's culture of "supporting challenges" - The mayor himself welcomed them on the first day
On the first day, Mayor Yoshinari Tomita himself rushed to the venue and spoke to the high school students: "Yokoze is a town that supports challenges. In an era where AI quickly provides answers, the feelings and experiences that only you know are surely important." Surprised by the "close distance" to the top municipal official that cannot be obtained in their hometowns, the participating high school students viscerally felt that they were accepted by this town. On the night of the same day, a final presentation of regional activities by current Satonoba University students who spent a year in Yokoze was held, and the high school students also participated. The gathering of the mayor, local residents, and migrants conveyed the realistic figure of the "university traveling across regions."
■ Participant Voices
As a result of accompanying the inner selves of each individual in a small group setting, changes in consciousness were seen among the participating high school students despite the short period of 4 days. In the post-event questionnaire, all respondents answered with a satisfaction level of 4 or higher (out of 5). Beyond just improving self-affirmation such as "gaining self-confidence," their worldview expanded.