"Transforming Global Well-being with Japanese Culture" — A New Challenge, "Active Zen," Confirmed in Silicon Valley, Set for Overseas Expansion —
FIRST Educational, selected for a JETRO program, confirmed the potential of Japanese culture in Silicon Valley. Through "Active Zen," the company will expand well-being experiences promoting mindfulness and self-understanding globally.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 21:00
Our company endorses April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to share dreams.
This press release is FIRST Educational's dream.
Kaori Ota, Representative Director of FIRST Educational Inc.,
envisions a future where Japanese culture enriches the hearts and lives of people worldwide.
Selected for JETRO Jstar-X Women Entrepreneurs Course (San Francisco 25-26)
A program targeting women entrepreneurs from Japanese startups aiming to enter the US market. It offers practical training sessions combining online and in-person formats, allowing participants to learn directly from mentors and investors.
In modern society, stress, loneliness, and exhaustion due to information overload are serious issues.
Particularly in Europe and the US, interest in "well-being" and "mindfulness" continues to grow year by year,
and people are seeking a more fundamental richness of mind.
Amidst this, we focused on the spiritual cultures deeply rooted in Japan, such as "Sado" (tea ceremony) and "Zen."
We believe these are not merely traditional cultures but fundamentally "practices for calming the mind and focusing on the present moment,"
and their value is precisely what is needed in contemporary society.
■ The Potential of Japanese Culture Confirmed in Silicon Valley
FIRST Educational Inc. was selected for the JETRO-sponsored
"J-STARX Women Entrepreneurs Course Silicon Valley Dispatch Program,"
and experienced pitching and networking locally.
https://www.jetro.go.jp/services/j-starx/a214_2025.html
Through conversations with local entrepreneurs and investors, we strongly felt
a high level of interest in the domain of "Japanese Culture x Well-being."
We became convinced that Japanese culture, when offered not just as an experience but as a "practical value" that:
・Reduces stress
・Clears thinking
・Enhances quality of life
has immense potential.
The origin of this idea also lies in the past career of our representative, Kaori Ota.
While working as an international flight attendant for ANA, serving matcha in first class, she received extremely high praise from international customers.
Many comments were received, not just about it being a drink, but saying things like:
"It calmed my mind."
"It was a special experience."
She experienced countless moments where the intrinsic value of Japanese culture transcended borders.
This real-life experience, combined with the conviction gained in Silicon Valley,
clarified our next challenge: to deliver Japanese culture to the world as a "modern well-being experience."
Local Event Held in San Francisco on February 22
During the Jstar-X program trip,
we hosted our own Japanese cultural experience event.
It received an overwhelming response, with over 30 people on the waiting list.
■ Redefining Japanese Cultural Experience: "Active Zen"
We are currently developing and expanding a program that modernizes Japanese cultural experiences,
called "Active Zen."
Active Zen differs from conventional, formal tea ceremony experiences by
fusing elements such as:
・Mindfulness
・Well-being
・Self-understanding
to create a new Japanese cultural experience.
By designing it to be accessible to beginners and available online,
we aim to make it accessible from anywhere in the world.
English Pitch in San Francisco
At the end of the Jstar-X program, a 90-second English pitch was given at a gallery showcase in San Francisco, presenting the business overview and achievements. We received not only high evaluations for our past career and achievements but also many responses, including requests for collaboration.
■ Towards Global Expansion: From Online to Real-world
Moving forward, we plan the following developments:
・Online global sessions
・In-person workshops in the Americas, Europe, and Asia
・Collaborative programs with universities and educational institutions
・Provision of well-being training for corporations
By evolving Japanese culture from a mere "experience" into a "habit to incorporate into daily life,"
we will deliver continuous value to the lives of more people.
Japanese Cultural Experience Exhibition at a Showcase in San Francisco on February 6
We held an experiential exhibition featuring calligraphy and ikebana, and actual matcha preparation. Many visitors expressed high praise and satisfaction.
■ The Future We Aim to Realize
The future we envision is one where
Japanese culture is not something "special,"
but becomes a natural part of people's lives worldwide.
Even in busy daily life,
having time to calm one's mind through a cup of tea.
We believe that such small habits can significantly change the quality of life.
We aim to create such a world from Japan.
During our stay in San Francisco, we visited Nova Pneuma Pharmaceuticals and discussed the local ecosystem.
■ Message
Japanese culture holds values that have not yet been fully delivered to the world.
Kaori Ota, Representative Director of FIRST Educational Inc.,
will continue the challenge of reconstructing that value in a modern way
and delivering it across borders.
We hope that this April Dream will be an opportunity to share this vision with more people and create the future together.
This press release is FIRST Educational's dream.
Kaori Ota, Representative Director of FIRST Educational Inc.,
envisions a future where Japanese culture enriches the hearts and lives of people worldwide.
Selected for JETRO Jstar-X Women Entrepreneurs Course (San Francisco 25-26)
A program targeting women entrepreneurs from Japanese startups aiming to enter the US market. It offers practical training sessions combining online and in-person formats, allowing participants to learn directly from mentors and investors.
In modern society, stress, loneliness, and exhaustion due to information overload are serious issues.
Particularly in Europe and the US, interest in "well-being" and "mindfulness" continues to grow year by year,
and people are seeking a more fundamental richness of mind.
Amidst this, we focused on the spiritual cultures deeply rooted in Japan, such as "Sado" (tea ceremony) and "Zen."
We believe these are not merely traditional cultures but fundamentally "practices for calming the mind and focusing on the present moment,"
and their value is precisely what is needed in contemporary society.
■ The Potential of Japanese Culture Confirmed in Silicon Valley
FIRST Educational Inc. was selected for the JETRO-sponsored
"J-STARX Women Entrepreneurs Course Silicon Valley Dispatch Program,"
and experienced pitching and networking locally.
https://www.jetro.go.jp/services/j-starx/a214_2025.html
Through conversations with local entrepreneurs and investors, we strongly felt
a high level of interest in the domain of "Japanese Culture x Well-being."
We became convinced that Japanese culture, when offered not just as an experience but as a "practical value" that:
・Reduces stress
・Clears thinking
・Enhances quality of life
has immense potential.
The origin of this idea also lies in the past career of our representative, Kaori Ota.
While working as an international flight attendant for ANA, serving matcha in first class, she received extremely high praise from international customers.
Many comments were received, not just about it being a drink, but saying things like:
"It calmed my mind."
"It was a special experience."
She experienced countless moments where the intrinsic value of Japanese culture transcended borders.
This real-life experience, combined with the conviction gained in Silicon Valley,
clarified our next challenge: to deliver Japanese culture to the world as a "modern well-being experience."
Local Event Held in San Francisco on February 22
During the Jstar-X program trip,
we hosted our own Japanese cultural experience event.
It received an overwhelming response, with over 30 people on the waiting list.
■ Redefining Japanese Cultural Experience: "Active Zen"
We are currently developing and expanding a program that modernizes Japanese cultural experiences,
called "Active Zen."
Active Zen differs from conventional, formal tea ceremony experiences by
fusing elements such as:
・Mindfulness
・Well-being
・Self-understanding
to create a new Japanese cultural experience.
By designing it to be accessible to beginners and available online,
we aim to make it accessible from anywhere in the world.
English Pitch in San Francisco
At the end of the Jstar-X program, a 90-second English pitch was given at a gallery showcase in San Francisco, presenting the business overview and achievements. We received not only high evaluations for our past career and achievements but also many responses, including requests for collaboration.
■ Towards Global Expansion: From Online to Real-world
Moving forward, we plan the following developments:
・Online global sessions
・In-person workshops in the Americas, Europe, and Asia
・Collaborative programs with universities and educational institutions
・Provision of well-being training for corporations
By evolving Japanese culture from a mere "experience" into a "habit to incorporate into daily life,"
we will deliver continuous value to the lives of more people.
Japanese Cultural Experience Exhibition at a Showcase in San Francisco on February 6
We held an experiential exhibition featuring calligraphy and ikebana, and actual matcha preparation. Many visitors expressed high praise and satisfaction.
■ The Future We Aim to Realize
The future we envision is one where
Japanese culture is not something "special,"
but becomes a natural part of people's lives worldwide.
Even in busy daily life,
having time to calm one's mind through a cup of tea.
We believe that such small habits can significantly change the quality of life.
We aim to create such a world from Japan.
During our stay in San Francisco, we visited Nova Pneuma Pharmaceuticals and discussed the local ecosystem.
■ Message
Japanese culture holds values that have not yet been fully delivered to the world.
Kaori Ota, Representative Director of FIRST Educational Inc.,
will continue the challenge of reconstructing that value in a modern way
and delivering it across borders.
We hope that this April Dream will be an opportunity to share this vision with more people and create the future together.
FAQ
What kind of program is Active Zen?
It's a new Japanese cultural experience that combines mindfulness, well-being, and self-understanding, differing from traditional tea ceremony experiences.
Why is Japanese culture gaining attention for well-being now?
Amidst modern society's stress and information overload, practices like tea ceremony and Zen offer essential value for calming the mind and focusing on the present moment.
What are the specific plans for future global expansion?
Plans include online global sessions, in-person workshops in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and collaborative programs with universities, educational institutions, and corporations.