'Sea Design School 2026' Announced: To Be Held in Isumi (Chiba), Karatsu (Saga), and Onna (Okinawa), Participant Recruitment Begins

issue+design (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Yusuke Kakei) has started recruiting participants for its residential internship program 'Sea Design School 2026,' targeting high school, technical college, vocational school, university, and graduate students. Last fiscal year, the program was held in three regions—Ojika Island in the Goto Islands of Nagasaki, the upper Nagara River basin in Gifu, and Minamiboso in Chiba—and received a great response. This year, the program will be held in Isumi City (Chiba), Onna Village (Okinawa), and Karatsu City (Saga), offering a program where participants can experience a more diverse relationship between the sea and people. It provides a journey of inquiry connecting local communities with the world. ▶︎ Click here for reports from previous years A new style of learning about marine issues through 'experience' and 'design' This school is a practical program aimed at helping participants develop the ability to understand the structure and relationships of marine issues by treating them as 'complex social systems.' Unlike conventional knowledge-heavy learning, this program allows participants to feel the connection between the sea and humans with all five senses and deepen their thoughts through dialogue with peers. Activities include observing coral reef regeneration sites through snorkeling, experiencing fish through food, and visiting 'PLA PLA,' the world's first specialized marine plastic facility. It is also a valuable opportunity to learn 'wisdom for living with the sea' from various perspectives through dialogues with local fishermen, food experts, and marine researchers. The Sea Design School values 'feeling' as much as 'knowing,' and 'taking home questions' rather than learning 'correct answers.' We provide a 'turning point in life' where young participants reflect on their relationship with the sea through this experience and think independently about their future lifestyle, career choices, and engagement with society. Implementation Schedule and Locations (Choose one of three regions) This internship program consists of the following two parts, A and B. A | Orientation August 1 (Sat) 12:45–16:00 Sea Design School Orientation & Preliminary Lectures on Each Theme Lecturers at the forefront of their fields will introduce the outlines of each area and the background and issues related to the sea and water in the three regions where the camps will be held. This is an introductory lecture for a multi-faceted understanding of the relationship between the sea and human activities. *This lecture is only for those who have received an acceptance notice. B | Camp (Choose one region) A residential program where participants enter the actual sea and local sites to experience and think with all five senses. 1. Isumi City (Chiba): August 24 (Mon) – 26 (Wed) [3 days, 2 nights] ▶︎ Details here [Theme: Redesigning Fish-Eating Culture for the Future] 2. Karatsu City (Saga): September 5 (Sat) – 6 (Sun) [2 days, 1 night] ▶︎ Details here [Theme: Visualizing the Structure of Washed-up Debris and Designing for Circulation] 3. Onna Village (Okinawa): September 8 (Tue) – 10 (Thu) [3 days, 2 nights] ▶︎ Details here [Theme: Designing the Regeneration of Coral Reefs, the Foundation of Ecosystems] *Details such as themes can be confirmed at the links (to be updated sequentially). Participation Overview Target Audience Those who meet both of the following criteria: ① Currently enrolled as a high school, technical college, vocational school, university, or graduate student. ② Interested in the sea and social issues, with a strong desire to learn proactively. *No specialized knowledge or experience is required. Any student interested in the sea, nature, and social issues is welcome. *This program is conducted as an internship. Final-year students of universities, vocational schools, and technical colleges who are job hunting should apply from here. Number of Participants About 15 people per region (planned) If there are many applicants, selection will be based on the content of the application form. Participation Fee Free (Transportation is self-funded / Accommodation and meals are covered by the organizer) Application Deadline: June 30, 2026 (Tue) 23:59 Result Notification: Early July 2026, by email Official WEB: Details here Apply for the Sea Design School here Organizer & Sponsor Organizer: NPO issue+design Sponsor: The Nippon Foundation Inquiries issue+design (Attn: Sawada, Kojima) E-mail: info@issueplusdesign.jp Official Website: https://issueplusdesign.jp Special Page: https://issueplusdesign.jp/design-school-for-the-blue/