Collaborating with MIT International Education Summit. Practical Workshops to Solve Nearby Issues with Apps Held in 10 Regions Across Japan

IRODORI Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Takahiro Tanizu) will collaborate with the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit 2026, held from July 6 to 8, 2026, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, to host the "MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit 2026 Japan Satellite Workshops" in 10 regions across Japan. In this workshop, children, students, educators, and local adults will challenge themselves to develop apps based on nearby issues faced by families and the community. Participants will learn practically from problem discovery, information gathering, IT utilization, and collaboration, providing opportunities to cultivate skills required in the AI era. Additionally, five high school students from Ishikawa and Okinawa prefectures, selected at the Japan Wagamama Awards, will participate as representatives of Japan at the 2026 MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit. This workshop will be implemented to disseminate projects born from thoughts about families and the community to the world and to spread the learning across Japan. What is the Japan Satellite Workshop? The Japan Satellite Workshop is an experiential program implemented in various locations across Japan in conjunction with the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit 2026. Only a limited number of people can participate in person at the international summit held at MIT. Therefore, this workshop aims to provide opportunities for children, students, educators, and local adults in Japan to learn about MIT App Inventor while staying in their own regions and to connect with global trends in education, technology, and social issue resolution. This initiative is part of an international satellite project implemented in collaboration with the App Inventor Foundation. In 2026, in addition to Japan, it is scheduled to be held in limited countries and regions such as India and Puerto Rico. In Japan, IRODORI Inc. will serve as the organizer, and certified facilitators from each region will expand the program across the country. Cultivating Skills for the AI Era through Practical Learning from Nearby Issues: "WagamamaLab" As generative AI and digital technology advance rapidly, in addition to the ability to memorize knowledge and operate technology, the next generation of children and youth are required to find problems on their own, gather information, utilize IT to shape solutions, and collaborate with others to create new value. WagamamaLab is a program that cultivates these skills through a project that creates apps based on the troubles of someone nearby and puts them into practice in the community. Participants will find problems based on the wishes of family, friends, and community members, gather information, and use MIT App Inventor to shape solutions. Furthermore, they will improve through dialogue with the individuals and community members involved. This program is not solely aimed at acquiring programming skills. It is positioned as a practical model for inquiry-based learning, STEAM education, and the cultivation of basic IT literacy in the AI era, where participants experience the entire process from problem discovery, information gathering and analysis, IT utilization, value creation, to collaboration with others. Workshops Held Nationwide: Connecting Schools, Universities, Community Hubs, and Online Satellite Workshops This workshop will be held at 10 venues across Japan, including schools, universities, community hubs, and online. The target audience ranges from elementary school students to adults, and the format will be tailored to participants in each region. At each venue, participants will use MIT App Inventor to create app ideas and develop apps based on the troubles or wishes of those nearby. In addition to venues that accept general participants, some workshops will be held within university classes, schools, and community organizations. Depending on the situation in each region and educational setting, opportunities will be created to learn about solving social issues based on nearby wishes. [Scheduled Events] No. Region/Format Date Venue Target Audience 1 Nara Prefecture, Ikoma City July 4 (Sat) 15:00-17:00 North Community Center ISTA Habataki Adults 2 Online July 4 (Sat) 19:00-21:00 Online Elementary school 4th graders and above 3 Tokyo, Akishima City July 5 (Sun) 10:00-12:30 Akishima Space Elementary school 4th graders and above and parents 4 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City July 5 (Sun) 14:00-16:00 Kyoto City Fushimi Ikikiki Citizen Activity Center Adults 5 Gunma Prefecture, Takasaki City July 6 (Mon) 14:20-17:30 Takasaki University of Economics, Faculty of Regional Policy Takasaki University of Economics 3rd and 4th year students 6 Shimane Prefecture, Hamada City July 7 (Tue) 9:00-10:30 Shimane University Students of Shimane University 7 Ibaraki Prefecture, Hokota City July 9 (Thu) 16:30-18:30 Ibaraki Prefectural Hokota First High School Students of Ibaraki Prefectural Hokota First High School Attached Middle School 8 Tokyo, Hachioji City July 11 (Sat) 14:00-16:00 Hachioji City Yamata Town Hall Juniors and seniors in high school, adults also welcome 9 Online July 11 (Sat) 18:30-20:30 Online Students of Tokyo Metropolitan Katakura High School 10 Nagano Prefecture, Chino City July 12 (Sun) 13:00-16:00 Comin House Guest House Cafe College students Adults *Note: Application methods for venues that accept general participants will be announced for each venue. Please check the dedicated page for details. *Note: Venues held within schools, universities, and community organizations are primarily for target participants and related parties. *Note: The venue in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture may be changed within Ikoma City. Workshop Content Name: MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit 2026 Japan Satellite Workshops 　　　Japan Satellite Workshop Event Period: July 4 (Sat) to July 12 (Sun), 2026 Event Format: In-person events across Japan and online Participation Fee: Free Organizer: IRODORI Inc. Co-organizer: App Inventor Foundation At each venue, the content will be adjusted according to the participants' age and implementation format, and participants will engage in app creation using MIT App Inventor. Participants will first learn about the overview of the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit and MIT App Inventor and learn about examples of app development for social issue resolution by students around the world. Based on the wishes of oneself, family, friends, and community members, participants will consider what kind of problems they want to solve for whom. After that, participants will create apps that are useful to those nearby using the basic functions of MIT App Inventor.