Common Beat's "Expression Education CAMP" Adopted for Fukuoka Jo Commercial High School Freshmen Camp

NPO Common Beat (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Directors: Ryo Adachi, Yuki Kawamura; hereinafter "Common Beat")'s expression education program "Expression Education CAMP" has been officially adopted for the freshmen orientation camp of Yashima Gakuen Fukuoka Jo Commercial High School (Location: Nakagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Former Principal: Shota Shibayama). The freshmen camp will be held for three days from April 22nd (Wednesday) to 24th (Friday).

■ Background of Introduction

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)'s guidelines for "Integrated Learning Time," issued in March 2023, emphasize the need to cultivate "the ability to live powerfully in the future" amidst the advancement of informatization and globalization, and unpredictable societal changes. What is highlighted within this is "the ability to think for oneself about what kind of future to create, while working with rich sensibility." (Reference: March 2023 MEXT "Developing Integrated Learning Time to Enhance Currently Required Abilities")

Furthermore, under former principal Shota Shibayama, Fukuoka Jo Commercial High School has been promoting an environment where students can challenge themselves without fear of failure in a rapidly changing society. While valuing an exciting spirit, the school actively connects with local communities and society, and incorporates encounters with adults outside of school.

However, in addressing the question of "Are students truly able to express themselves with peace of mind?", the school felt the need for initiatives to experientially cultivate psychological safety. Therefore, the "Expression Education CAMP" program was adopted and will be implemented during the freshmen orientation camp for three days from April 22nd (Wednesday) to 24th (Friday), 2026.

■ Fukuoka Jo Commercial High School "Freshmen Orientation Camp" Outline

<Event Dates>
April 22nd (Wednesday) to 24th (Friday), 2026
・April 22nd (Wednesday) 9:35 AM - 4:00 PM
・April 23rd (Thursday) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
・April 24th (Friday) 9:30 AM - (Results presentation scheduled from the afternoon)

<Timetable>
[Day 1] Relationship Building
　Team formation / Dance workshop (dance performance) / Dialogue and reflection
[Day 2] Creation
　Whole grade creates a group performance / Full rehearsal / Overnight stay
[Day 3] Challenge
　Final rehearsal / Main performance (results presentation) / Dialogue and reflection

<Venue>
・Fukuoka Jo Commercial High School Gymnasium (April 22nd & 24th afternoon)
・Sezuri Youth Nature House (Overnight training from April 23rd to 24th morning)

<Participants>
219 freshmen enrolled in April 2026

<Activities>
This camp aims to build relationships among new students and foster psychological safety through expressive activities using body and voice. Through the process of creating one stage performance over three days, the camp will cultivate a culture of "enjoying challenges."

■ Comments

Yashima Gakuen Fukuoka Jo Commercial High School

Former Principal

Shota Shibayama

"Our school, based on the philosophy of 'Enjoy the challenge,' values creating an environment where each student can challenge their own potential without fear of failure. We believe that introducing 'Expression Education CAMP' to the freshmen orientation camp is a significant step towards building relationships where students can acknowledge each other's differences and express their thoughts and individuality with peace of mind. We hope that through expressive activities using their bodies and voices, they will experience the joy of discovering a new self and the satisfaction of moving someone's heart while fulfilling their respective roles. I sincerely look forward to this initiative becoming the starting point of their learning at Fukuoka Jo Commercial High School and a foundation for a culture that supports each other's challenges."

NPO Common Beat
Representative Director / CCO (Chief Commons Officer)
Yuki Kawamura

"For freshmen entering a new environment, the experience of feeling 'it's okay to be myself' becomes a crucial foundation that significantly influences their subsequent school life. We are extremely pleased that 'Expression Education CAMP' has been adopted for the important occasion of Fukuoka Jo Commercial High School's freshmen orientation camp.

Expressive activities have the power to draw out emotions and individuality that words alone cannot convey, and to create a sense of security and trust between people. We hope that through the process of creating one stage performance using their bodies and voices, each student will have the 'experience of turning differences into strengths.'

This initiative was realized through the alignment of the 'culture of enjoying challenges' valued by former principal Shibayama and other teachers, and our vision of a 'society where individuality resonates.' We sincerely hope that these three days will be a formative experience for the students to take a step forward as themselves and expand their future possibilities."

Through this initiative, we will foster a culture where each student can confront their own sensibilities and challenge themselves while recognizing differences. Common Beat will continue to expand its collaborations with educational institutions and deliver the potential of expression education for realizing a "society where individuality resonates" nationwide.

■ About NPO Common Beat

Under the vision of "Towards a society where individuality resonates," Common Beat primarily develops activities centered on the "100-person 100-day Musical ® Program." Now in its 22nd year since the organization's establishment, approximately 8,000 people have participated in the program, and over 270,000 spectators have been mobilized for performances. It conducts cultural activities in co-creation with local communities across Japan.

<Organization Overview>

Established: March 11, 2004

Representative Directors: Ryo Adachi, Yuki Kawamura

Location: Tokyo

HP: https://commonbeat.org/