Elementary School Student from Kawaijuku Gakuen Dalton School Wins Japan Preliminary of World's Largest Business Idea Contest! Advances to World Finals in November
Reita Shikata, a 6th-grade elementary student from Kawaijuku Gakuen Dalton School Tokyo, won the Japan preliminary of the 'Startup World Cup 2026 Nagoya Preliminary (Youth Pitch Division),' one of the world's largest business pitch contests. Shikata proposed a multilingual app for a common 'gluten-free certification mark' for foreign visitors to Japan and will represent Japan at the World Finals in San Francisco, USA, in November.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 00:10
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On April 23, 2026, Reita Shikata, a 6th-grade elementary student attending the after-school program at Dalton School Tokyo, which provides early childhood and elementary education within the Kawaijuku Group, achieved a brilliant victory at the 'Startup World Cup 2026 Nagoya Preliminary (Youth Pitch Division),' one of the world's largest business pitch contests!
■ Ideas Developed in Dalton School Tokyo's Inquiry-Based Learning
Startup World Cup is one of the world's largest business pitch contests*, with preliminaries held in over 130 countries and regions worldwide. This year, for the first time, a 'Youth Pitch' division was held for high school students and younger. Out of four teams that passed the document screening, two teams from Dalton School Tokyo participated. Amidst approximately 3,000 spectators both on-site and online, they delivered powerful presentations within a short time limit of about 3 minutes, alongside high school and technical college students, despite their nervousness.
Shikata, who won this time, proposed a multilingual app that creates a common 'gluten-free certification mark' to allow foreign visitors to Japan to eat safely, and enables them to search for compatible restaurants and foods. This proposal led to a resounding victory.
Dalton School's after-school program (elementary school course) offers educational programs that enhance each child's intellectual curiosity. Teachers act as good advisors, drawing out children's interests and concerns, and guiding them to develop problem-finding and problem-solving skills, as well as self-expression. The two participating teams also refined their ideas, which they had developed in their Social Studies class's inquiry-based learning, with feedback from their teachers.
Shikata will participate as one of Japan's representatives in the 'World Finals' to be held in San Francisco, USA, in November.
*A pitch contest is an event where startups and entrepreneurs present their business ideas, services, or products to investors and judges in a short amount of time, competing on their innovativeness and growth potential.
■ Overview of Kawaijuku Gakuen Dalton School
【Kawaijuku Gakuen Dalton School】 https://www.dalton-school.ed.jp/
A school established in 1970 for infants and children aged 1 to 12 (recognized as various schools). It adopts the Dalton Plan, characterized by unique programs that maximize children's potential and interests based on the two principles of 'freedom' and 'cooperation.'
The after-school program is an experiential after-school program that can be attended once a week. It offers programs such as Mathematics, Science, Writing, Social Studies, Computer, Inquiry Lab, and Art.
Keywords:
■ Ideas Developed in Dalton School Tokyo's Inquiry-Based Learning
Startup World Cup is one of the world's largest business pitch contests*, with preliminaries held in over 130 countries and regions worldwide. This year, for the first time, a 'Youth Pitch' division was held for high school students and younger. Out of four teams that passed the document screening, two teams from Dalton School Tokyo participated. Amidst approximately 3,000 spectators both on-site and online, they delivered powerful presentations within a short time limit of about 3 minutes, alongside high school and technical college students, despite their nervousness.
Shikata, who won this time, proposed a multilingual app that creates a common 'gluten-free certification mark' to allow foreign visitors to Japan to eat safely, and enables them to search for compatible restaurants and foods. This proposal led to a resounding victory.
Dalton School's after-school program (elementary school course) offers educational programs that enhance each child's intellectual curiosity. Teachers act as good advisors, drawing out children's interests and concerns, and guiding them to develop problem-finding and problem-solving skills, as well as self-expression. The two participating teams also refined their ideas, which they had developed in their Social Studies class's inquiry-based learning, with feedback from their teachers.
Shikata will participate as one of Japan's representatives in the 'World Finals' to be held in San Francisco, USA, in November.
*A pitch contest is an event where startups and entrepreneurs present their business ideas, services, or products to investors and judges in a short amount of time, competing on their innovativeness and growth potential.
■ Overview of Kawaijuku Gakuen Dalton School
【Kawaijuku Gakuen Dalton School】 https://www.dalton-school.ed.jp/
A school established in 1970 for infants and children aged 1 to 12 (recognized as various schools). It adopts the Dalton Plan, characterized by unique programs that maximize children's potential and interests based on the two principles of 'freedom' and 'cooperation.'
The after-school program is an experiential after-school program that can be attended once a week. It offers programs such as Mathematics, Science, Writing, Social Studies, Computer, Inquiry Lab, and Art.
Keywords: