10-18 Year Olds Challenging Social Issues Gather from Across Japan: Entrepreneur Training Program "YOUNG IMPACT" 2nd Term, Preliminary Screening Starts
25 applications have been received from across Japan for the second term of "YOUNG IMPACT," an entrepreneur training program for 10-18 year olds who challenge social issues. Preliminary screenings are currently underway. Young people tackling diverse themes like food loss and educational disparities aim to realize their dreams with a year of dedicated support.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 23:30
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The Kodomo Expo Executive Committee (Kodomo Candy Inc. and Meta Osaka Inc.), which supports children's challenges and growth nationwide, announces that 25 applications have been received from across Japan for the second term of "YOUNG IMPACT," an entrepreneur training program for 10-18 year olds who challenge social issues. Currently, preliminary screenings are being conducted through documents and videos. The themes are diverse, including food loss, energy problems, educational disparities, and regional revitalization, with each participant aiming to shape their challenge to society based on their own personal experiences.
Scene from the YOUNG IMPACT 1st Term Final Presentation (October 2025 at EXPO2025 Osaka, Kansai)
Background of the Project
The Kodomo Expo Executive Committee hosts "Kodomo Expo" nationwide as a place for children to discover their dreams and take on challenges. The main content, the "Dream Speech Contest," has served as a platform for many elementary school students to articulate their dreams. Born from the activities of the Kodomo Expo, "YOUNG IMPACT" is an entrepreneur training program aimed at junior and senior high school students to specifically realize their dreams. Unlike traditional pitch contests that "end with a presentation," this program provides year-long support from business executives after selection. The first term, which started in October 2025 at EXPO2025 Osaka, Kansai, selected a middle school sibling duo who raised over 3 million yen through crowdfunding for refugee support, and a middle school student challenging the world through game creation from a rural area. As the activities of the first term progressed, the second term expanded its target age group to 10-18 year olds and increased the number of DREAM PARTNERS (mentors), thus commencing recruitment.
Challengers Gathered from Across Japan
*The following participants have been published with the consent of themselves and their guardians, out of the 25 applicants. (In alphabetical order)*
Ms. AYA | 18 years old (High School 3rd Year) | Kanagawa Prefecture
A high school student who loves school lunches and investigated the reality of leftover food at a local elementary school. Realizing that prejudice against ingredients and a dislike of their appearance cause food waste, she is developing an original card game where players can playfully learn about easily discarded ingredients using illustrated cards.
Comment from Ms. AYA
"I want to reduce food loss caused by the appearance and prejudice against ingredients with the 'Zanshoku Nanjamonja Card Game'! I don't want to see milk discarded without a single sip anymore."
Ms. Ema Hosoi | 14 years old (Junior High 2nd Year) | Tokyo
A 14-year-old junior high school student who started her own business at the age of 10 and is now in her fifth year as a corporation. She devised a portable garbage bag with a garbage bag built inside a lantern, aiming to solve the problem of littering by foreign tourists with a Japanese-style design.
Comment from Ms. Ema Hosoi
"I want to use lanterns as portable garbage bags to convey Japan's culture of 'taking garbage home' to foreigners. I want to solve the littering problem caused by foreigners."
Ms. Kano Yamamura | 17 years old (High School 2nd Year) | Ibaraki Prefecture
As a 10th-term participant of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's public-private collaborative study abroad promotion program "Tobitate! Study JAPAN," she traveled to New Zealand and Nepal, conducting volunteer awareness surveys and hygiene education. After returning to Japan, she established a student organization.
Comment from Ms. Kano Yamamura
"After returning to Japan, I founded the student organization 'volunshare,' realizing interactive volunteer activities involving around 30 high school students. Moving forward, I want to create a system for high school students to easily challenge themselves with volunteer work domestically and internationally, by expanding guide experience events based in Kansai and recruiting sponsors."
Mr. Genta Ogusu | 18 years old | Tokyo
Focusing on the loneliness and work-life balance issues faced by students who take on challenges. He is working to create an environment where students can confidently take on challenges through event organization and community management.
Comment from Mr. Genta Ogusu
"I want to eliminate the precariousness hidden behind students' challenges. This is because some students who are taking on challenges neglect their studies or suffer from feelings of loneliness."
Ms. Hikari Joi | 18 years old (High School 3rd Year) | Fukuoka Prefecture
A high school student who is already operating a media platform for students. She aims to eliminate information disparity in rural areas and expand support for junior and senior high school students to choose their own career paths.
Comment from Ms. Hikari Joi
"I want to operate a media platform for students to eliminate information disparity in rural areas. I want to provide support so that junior and senior high school students can choose career paths that are more true to themselves."
Ms. Fuwa Kanda | 17 years old (High School 3rd Year) | Tokyo
From her personal experience of seeing a large amount of weeds at her grandparents' house, she focused on the potential of weeds as an energy resource. She is currently working on writing a paper and conducting research with a view to collaborating with experts.
Comment from Ms. Fuwa Kanda
"I want to utilize the large amount of weeds I saw at my grandparents' house as an energy resource. Eventually, I want to spread the fuel I create and solve energy problems with weeds."
Mr. Takashi Nakanishi | 17 years old (High School 3rd Year) | Tokyo
Working for one month under an architect and carpenter, he faced the reality that traditional artisan skills, passed down for hundreds of years, are being lost. He challenges himself to create a mechanism that connects local artisans with young people.
Comment from Mr. Takashi Nakanishi
"I want to connect the local artisan culture rooted in the community with young people. I want to pass on the disappearing skills to the next generation."
Scene from the YOUNG IMPACT 1st Term Final Presentation (October 2025 at EXPO2025 Osaka, Kansai)
Background of the Project
The Kodomo Expo Executive Committee hosts "Kodomo Expo" nationwide as a place for children to discover their dreams and take on challenges. The main content, the "Dream Speech Contest," has served as a platform for many elementary school students to articulate their dreams. Born from the activities of the Kodomo Expo, "YOUNG IMPACT" is an entrepreneur training program aimed at junior and senior high school students to specifically realize their dreams. Unlike traditional pitch contests that "end with a presentation," this program provides year-long support from business executives after selection. The first term, which started in October 2025 at EXPO2025 Osaka, Kansai, selected a middle school sibling duo who raised over 3 million yen through crowdfunding for refugee support, and a middle school student challenging the world through game creation from a rural area. As the activities of the first term progressed, the second term expanded its target age group to 10-18 year olds and increased the number of DREAM PARTNERS (mentors), thus commencing recruitment.
Challengers Gathered from Across Japan
*The following participants have been published with the consent of themselves and their guardians, out of the 25 applicants. (In alphabetical order)*
Ms. AYA | 18 years old (High School 3rd Year) | Kanagawa Prefecture
A high school student who loves school lunches and investigated the reality of leftover food at a local elementary school. Realizing that prejudice against ingredients and a dislike of their appearance cause food waste, she is developing an original card game where players can playfully learn about easily discarded ingredients using illustrated cards.
Comment from Ms. AYA
"I want to reduce food loss caused by the appearance and prejudice against ingredients with the 'Zanshoku Nanjamonja Card Game'! I don't want to see milk discarded without a single sip anymore."
Ms. Ema Hosoi | 14 years old (Junior High 2nd Year) | Tokyo
A 14-year-old junior high school student who started her own business at the age of 10 and is now in her fifth year as a corporation. She devised a portable garbage bag with a garbage bag built inside a lantern, aiming to solve the problem of littering by foreign tourists with a Japanese-style design.
Comment from Ms. Ema Hosoi
"I want to use lanterns as portable garbage bags to convey Japan's culture of 'taking garbage home' to foreigners. I want to solve the littering problem caused by foreigners."
Ms. Kano Yamamura | 17 years old (High School 2nd Year) | Ibaraki Prefecture
As a 10th-term participant of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's public-private collaborative study abroad promotion program "Tobitate! Study JAPAN," she traveled to New Zealand and Nepal, conducting volunteer awareness surveys and hygiene education. After returning to Japan, she established a student organization.
Comment from Ms. Kano Yamamura
"After returning to Japan, I founded the student organization 'volunshare,' realizing interactive volunteer activities involving around 30 high school students. Moving forward, I want to create a system for high school students to easily challenge themselves with volunteer work domestically and internationally, by expanding guide experience events based in Kansai and recruiting sponsors."
Mr. Genta Ogusu | 18 years old | Tokyo
Focusing on the loneliness and work-life balance issues faced by students who take on challenges. He is working to create an environment where students can confidently take on challenges through event organization and community management.
Comment from Mr. Genta Ogusu
"I want to eliminate the precariousness hidden behind students' challenges. This is because some students who are taking on challenges neglect their studies or suffer from feelings of loneliness."
Ms. Hikari Joi | 18 years old (High School 3rd Year) | Fukuoka Prefecture
A high school student who is already operating a media platform for students. She aims to eliminate information disparity in rural areas and expand support for junior and senior high school students to choose their own career paths.
Comment from Ms. Hikari Joi
"I want to operate a media platform for students to eliminate information disparity in rural areas. I want to provide support so that junior and senior high school students can choose career paths that are more true to themselves."
Ms. Fuwa Kanda | 17 years old (High School 3rd Year) | Tokyo
From her personal experience of seeing a large amount of weeds at her grandparents' house, she focused on the potential of weeds as an energy resource. She is currently working on writing a paper and conducting research with a view to collaborating with experts.
Comment from Ms. Fuwa Kanda
"I want to utilize the large amount of weeds I saw at my grandparents' house as an energy resource. Eventually, I want to spread the fuel I create and solve energy problems with weeds."
Mr. Takashi Nakanishi | 17 years old (High School 3rd Year) | Tokyo
Working for one month under an architect and carpenter, he faced the reality that traditional artisan skills, passed down for hundreds of years, are being lost. He challenges himself to create a mechanism that connects local artisans with young people.
Comment from Mr. Takashi Nakanishi
"I want to connect the local artisan culture rooted in the community with young people. I want to pass on the disappearing skills to the next generation."