Commemorating the Decision to Hold the "Theo Jansen Exhibition"! Gakken Begins Limited-Time Sale of the World's Only Officially Licensed Kit!!
Gakken Inc. is launching a limited-time sale of the "Theo Jansen Strandbeest Miniature Kit," the world's only officially licensed kit, from May 8 to June 28, 2026, at "Shop Gakken+" in anticipation of the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" to be held at the Toyama Prefectural Museum starting July 2026. This kit recreates the "Strandbeest," an "artificial life form that eats wind," created by Dutch artist Theo Jansen.
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Gakken Inc. (Tokyo, Shinagawa / Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Shinagawa / Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara), will begin selling the "Theo Jansen Strandbeest Miniature Kit" for a limited time from May 8, 2026, to June 28, 2026, at "Shop Gakken+" in advance of the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" to be held at the Toyama Prefectural Museum starting July 2026.
What is a "Strandbeest," an "artificial life form that eats wind"?
Have you ever seen a mysterious structure made of plastic tubes walking on the beach as if it were alive?
This mysterious "creature" is a work called "Strandbeest," created by Dutch artist Theo Jansen. Strandbeest is a coined word combining the Dutch words "strand" (beach) and "beest" (creature).
Theo Jansen was also astonished. The world's only officially licensed kit.
Theo Jansen's Strandbeests have surprised and moved people all over the world. The editorial department of Gakken's "Otona no Kagaku Magazine" was also a fan, captivated by the Strandbeests.
The "Otona no Kagaku Magazine" editorial department, rooted in 'science' and 'learning,' specializes in creating original "furoku" (appendices). Driven by the desire to somehow turn the Strandbeest into an assembly kit, they finally succeeded in reproducing it. Theo Jansen, upon seeing the prototype, was astonished by its perfection. He recognized Gakken's miniature assembly kit as the world's only officially licensed kit.
Featured twice on NHK Special "Human Body III"
Gakken's Theo Jansen Strandbeest kit was featured on NHK Special "Human Body III," starring Tamori and Professor Shinya Yamanaka.
In the first episode, the kit was used to explain "why intracellular substances can move despite being mere cells." In the final episode, the fourth, it was used to explain a hypothesis about the 4-billion-year-old mystery of "how life first began."
Limited sale until June 28, 2026, for a kit only available at the exhibition venue!
This special original kit, which can usually only be purchased by those who visit the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" venue, will be specially sold at "Shop Gakken+" prior to the exhibition.
Why not assemble it at home before going to the exhibition and "pre-study" the mechanism of how the Strandbeest moves? Please experience the wonder of the "life form" created by Theo Jansen.
[Caution]
The official Theo Jansen Strandbeest kit is manufactured only by Gakken Inc. and is not sold anywhere other than the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" venue and "Shop Gakken+".
Please note that we cannot respond to malfunctions or other issues if you purchase similar products.
[Project Outline]
■ Project Name: Commemorating the Decision to Hold the Theo Jansen Exhibition Theo Jansen Strandbeest Assembly Kit (Limited-Time Release)
■ Sales Period: May 8, 2026 - June 28, 2026
■ Planning and Sales: Gakken Inc.
■ Sales Site: Shop Gakken+ ▶https://gakken-mall.jp/ec/plus/sp/slist/theojansen2026_list
■ Gakken Inc. (Gakken Inc.)
https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo
・Date of establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed on October 1, 2022)
・Capital: 50 million yen
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
・Business activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, garden and school business, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.
■ Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.)
https://www.gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara
・Date of establishment: March 31, 1947
・Capital: 19,817 million yen
・Sales: 199.1 billion yen, consolidated subsidiaries: 82 companies (as of September 2025)
Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities Code: 9470)
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8510
・Phone number: 03-6431-1001 (main)
・Business activities: A holding company established in 1946, engaged in education and medical welfare related businesses.
Education field: Classroom and cram school businesses including "Gakken Classrooms," learning.
What is a "Strandbeest," an "artificial life form that eats wind"?
Have you ever seen a mysterious structure made of plastic tubes walking on the beach as if it were alive?
This mysterious "creature" is a work called "Strandbeest," created by Dutch artist Theo Jansen. Strandbeest is a coined word combining the Dutch words "strand" (beach) and "beest" (creature).
Theo Jansen was also astonished. The world's only officially licensed kit.
Theo Jansen's Strandbeests have surprised and moved people all over the world. The editorial department of Gakken's "Otona no Kagaku Magazine" was also a fan, captivated by the Strandbeests.
The "Otona no Kagaku Magazine" editorial department, rooted in 'science' and 'learning,' specializes in creating original "furoku" (appendices). Driven by the desire to somehow turn the Strandbeest into an assembly kit, they finally succeeded in reproducing it. Theo Jansen, upon seeing the prototype, was astonished by its perfection. He recognized Gakken's miniature assembly kit as the world's only officially licensed kit.
Featured twice on NHK Special "Human Body III"
Gakken's Theo Jansen Strandbeest kit was featured on NHK Special "Human Body III," starring Tamori and Professor Shinya Yamanaka.
In the first episode, the kit was used to explain "why intracellular substances can move despite being mere cells." In the final episode, the fourth, it was used to explain a hypothesis about the 4-billion-year-old mystery of "how life first began."
Limited sale until June 28, 2026, for a kit only available at the exhibition venue!
This special original kit, which can usually only be purchased by those who visit the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" venue, will be specially sold at "Shop Gakken+" prior to the exhibition.
Why not assemble it at home before going to the exhibition and "pre-study" the mechanism of how the Strandbeest moves? Please experience the wonder of the "life form" created by Theo Jansen.
[Caution]
The official Theo Jansen Strandbeest kit is manufactured only by Gakken Inc. and is not sold anywhere other than the "Theo Jansen Exhibition" venue and "Shop Gakken+".
Please note that we cannot respond to malfunctions or other issues if you purchase similar products.
[Project Outline]
■ Project Name: Commemorating the Decision to Hold the Theo Jansen Exhibition Theo Jansen Strandbeest Assembly Kit (Limited-Time Release)
■ Sales Period: May 8, 2026 - June 28, 2026
■ Planning and Sales: Gakken Inc.
■ Sales Site: Shop Gakken+ ▶https://gakken-mall.jp/ec/plus/sp/slist/theojansen2026_list
■ Gakken Inc. (Gakken Inc.)
https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo
・Date of establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed on October 1, 2022)
・Capital: 50 million yen
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
・Business activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, garden and school business, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.
■ Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.)
https://www.gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara
・Date of establishment: March 31, 1947
・Capital: 19,817 million yen
・Sales: 199.1 billion yen, consolidated subsidiaries: 82 companies (as of September 2025)
Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities Code: 9470)
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8510
・Phone number: 03-6431-1001 (main)
・Business activities: A holding company established in 1946, engaged in education and medical welfare related businesses.
Education field: Classroom and cram school businesses including "Gakken Classrooms," learning.