[Event Report] KidZania Tokyo Hosts One-Day Workshop on "World Cosmonautics Day" (April 12) Where Junior and Senior High School Students Convey the Charms of Space as "Tutors"

KCJ GROUP Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Michinari Tsuburaya; hereinafter "KCJ GROUP"), which plans and operates "KidZania," a facility for children's vocational and social experiences, held a one-day special workshop "Let's Draw Space!" (hereinafter "this workshop") at KidZania Tokyo (Koto-ku, Tokyo) on Sunday, April 12, 2026, coinciding with "World Cosmonautics Day."

This workshop was planned as an output platform to present the research findings from the junior high school program "Cosmopolitan Campus 2026 Spring," co-hosted with Tokyo University of Science in March. On the day, a "Space Map" combining posters of solar system planets and three-dimensional models, created using expert knowledge of space and authentic art techniques, was exhibited. Students from the Cosmopolitan Campus served as "tutors," communicating the charms of space in their own words to children and their guardians visiting KidZania Tokyo.

Junior and Senior High School Students Excel as "Communicators"

A giant "Space Map" created by the students themselves was displayed at the venue. This map consisted of planet posters utilizing techniques like sputtering and marbling, along with three-dimensional models created with free imagination on the theme of "What if there were life on this planet?"

The junior and senior high school students who served as tutors carefully explained the profoundness of space, discovered from their unique perspectives, adapting their words to the preschoolers and elementary school students, even while feeling the difficulty of the task. They also explained to not only children but also their guardians, and the venue was lively throughout the day with many attentive visitors, making it a great success.

Inspired by the tutors' guidance, the children expanded their imaginations on the theme of "What I want to do in a future where space travel is commonplace" and freely drew pictures. Through interaction with the tutors who had deepened their research, participating children deepened their interest in science, leading to a day full of creativity where a "chain of inquiry" was born, allowing them to envision their own future.

KCJ GROUP aims to continue leveraging its network with companies, organizations, universities, and others to provide children with learning opportunities that emphasize input and output, fostering 4C skills (Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking), and equipping them with the ability to thrive in an era of drastic change.

Participant Feedback

【Tutor】

- "It was a valuable experience to host an event as staff at KidZania. Making things was fun, and it was an important experience." - "At first, I was very worried about whether I could explain properly to small children, but when I actually experienced it, it was a lot of fun, and I was glad I was able to explain to the children very well. The guardians also asked many active questions, which made me very happy." - "The audience for explanations was different when I did it at university and at KidZania, and at first, I was frustrated because I couldn't explain well. However, when I changed my wording during the break to simpler Japanese, the children started nodding and listening in the afternoon, and I gained confidence."

【Visitor (Child)】

- "I learned a lot about space, and they explained it well, which made me want to know even more about space." - "I learned about various stars, and it was fun." - "My imagination was trained. The junior high school students' explanations were easy to understand, and it was good to learn new things."

【Visitor (Guardian)】

- "I was surprised at first to hear that junior high school students were serving as tutors, but I thought their confident explanations were truly wonderful. I hope my child will also be able to explain things in their own words like them in the future." - "I think it's very good to think and imagine while drawing, so it must have been a good experience." - "Having older brothers from junior high school explain made it easier to listen, and I thought it was very good."

Event Overview

Event Name: "Let's Draw Space!" Workshop

Date and Time: Sunday, April 12, 2026, 10:00-14:00

Location: KidZania Tokyo (Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo)

Content: Students from Cosmopolitan Campus served as tutors, using the "Space Map" they created to convey the wonders of space to children. Participating children freely expressed "what they want to do in a future where space travel is possible" through drawing.

Cooperation: GOTO INC.