[Event Report] 94% of Children Want to "Experience It Again": Approximately 1,000 Visitors Attend "Kids Expo mini Nagoya"
Key facts
- [Event Report] 94% of Children Want to "Experience It Again": Approximately 1,000 Visitors Attend "Kids Expo mini Nagoya"
- The "Kids Expo mini Nagoya," held on March 20, 2026, at Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden, attracted about 1,000 visitors, providing children with various work and performance experiences to boost their independence and self-esteem. The event, organized in collaboration with local businesses, proved successful, with 94% of participating children expressing a desire to experience it again.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: March 31, 2026
Direct answer
The "Kids Expo mini Nagoya," held on March 20, 2026, at Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden, attracted about 1,000 visitors, providing children with various work and performance experiences to boost their independence and self-esteem. The event, organized in collaboration with local businesses, proved successful, with 94% of participating children expressing a desire to experience it again.
- Citation
- [Event Report] 94% of Children Want to "Experience It Again": Approximately 1,000 Visitors Attend "Kids Expo mini Nagoya" (March 31, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- March 31, 2026
The "Kids Expo mini Nagoya," held on March 20, 2026, at Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden, attracted about 1,000 visitors, providing children with various work and performance experiences to boost their independence and self-esteem. The event, organized in collaboration with local businesses, proved successful, with 94% of participating children expressing a desire to experience it again.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 22:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 13:39 (15h 9m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 17, 2026 at 02:13 (372h 33m after Collected)
The Kids Expo Executive Committee (Meta Osaka Co., Ltd. and Kodomo Candy Co., Ltd.) held the "Kids Expo mini Nagoya," an event that supports children's dreams, at Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden (Nishi-ku, Nagoya City) on Friday, March 20, 2026 (a national holiday). This event, held in Nagoya for the first time, attracted approximately 1,000 visitors. 94% of the children who participated in the work experiences answered that they "want to experience it again," and 60% of the parents answered that they "felt a change in their child," indicating a strong response in improving children's independence and self-esteem through these experiences.
Planning Background: Tackling Regional Issues in Collaboration with Local Companies
According to a survey by Nagoya City (*1), the self-esteem (liking oneself) of children aged 10 to 17 is 75.6%, but negative answers increase when they become high school students, and it drops to 69.5% for young people (18-39 years old). On the other hand, 84% of elementary school students answered that they "want to do something to improve the community and society." Although children have these desires, the current reality is that they lose confidence as they grow up and lack opportunities for such experiences.
This first event in Nagoya was realized through collaboration with locally rooted companies. Chuo Shuppan Holdings Co., Ltd., which is headquartered in Nagoya and engaged in the education business, participated as a partner company and provided the "You are the Teacher Today!" English conversation instructor experience, utilizing its experience in operating the English conversation school "Peppy Kids Club." In addition, Funk Kid, which operates a global dance studio based in Nagoya, was in charge of stage planning and operation, creating a performance venue where children could shine in leading roles.
The Kids Expo aims to improve the self-esteem of local children by providing a place for experiences where children take the leading role to "find and support dreams."
*1: Nagoya City "Reiwa 5th Year Nagoya City Children, Youth, and Child-rearing Household Awareness and Lifestyle Survey" (March 2024), "Nagoya City Children and Youth Exciting Plan 2029 (2nd Nagoya City Children and Youth Plan)" formulation materials, Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International
"Kids Expo mini Nagoya" Event Overview
|
Event Name |
Kids Expo mini Nagoya |
|
Date and Time |
Friday, March 20, 2026 (National Holiday) 10:00-16:00 |
|
Venue |
Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden (3-1-17 Noritakeshinmachi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture) - 1F Center Court - 2F Central North/Central South Area |
|
Organizer |
Kids Expo Executive Committee (Meta Osaka Co., Ltd. / Kodomo Candy Co., Ltd.) |
|
Supported by |
Nagoya City Board of Education, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefectural Board of Education |
|
Partner Companies |
Chuo Shuppan Holdings Co., Ltd., Peppy Kids Club |
|
Number of Visitors |
Approximately 1,000 people |
|
Target Age |
Preschoolers to Elementary School Students |
|
Admission Fee |
Free (some activities require a fee) |
|
Official Website |
Program Details
(1) Kids Festival and Kids Store Manager Experience
A symbolic content of the Kids Expo where children become festival store managers, providing customer service and services. On the day of the event, 11 children operated festival stalls as store managers, including target shooting, yo-yo fishing, and Senbon Kuji (thousand-string lottery).
(2) Work Experiences and Workshops
▪️ "You are the Teacher Today!" English Conversation Experience (Exhibitor: Peppy Kids Club)
Children played the role of English conversation teachers and gave mini English lessons to their parents with the support of staff.
▪️ "Virtual Firefighter Experience" Supervised by a Former Firefighter (Exhibitor: Meta Osaka)
A virtual firefighter experience developed using the popular gaming platform Roblox, based on the realistic knowledge of a former firefighter. Children experienced the work of firefighters, such as rescue operations and firefighting activities at fire scenes, in a digital space.
▪️ Designer Experience (Exhibitor: Kodomo Candy)
We provided an experience where children could design a one-of-a-kind original towel by selecting their favorite parts.
(3) Dream Speech Contest
We recruited "future dreams" and "things they want to try" from elementary school students nationwide, and the selected children gave presentations on stage. The Kids Expo Executive Committee continuously supports the realization of the dream of the child selected for the Grand Prize. This time, 3 children participated and announced dreams such as "I want to be a hero," "I want to be an idol," and "I want to be a Disney dancer."
(4) Challenge Missions and Kids Bingo Tournament
A participatory event where parents and children challenge missions while touring the venue, and receive a bingo card upon completion. Over 80 pairs of parents and children participated and challenged missions that foster communication. The event concluded with an exciting bingo tournament.
(5) Funk Kid Dance Performance
A dance performance by Funk Kid, a global dance studio based in Nagoya. A total of 15 groups of children energetically performed dances on 3 stages, enlivening the venue.
Comment from Hidetomi Kai, Branch Manager, Event Sales Department, Chuo Shuppan Holdings Co., Ltd.
We are constantly highly conscious of education and growth support that allows children to take a step forward with confidence. At Peppy Kids Club, we value not only the joy of learning but also the opportunity to take on challenges and accumulate successful experiences. During the English teacher experience at the Kids Expo, we saw confidence and courage being nurtured by taking on the role of teaching. The concept, 'Your lifelong friend who grants you magic,' refers to the power of such positive change and growth, which we consider an important asset that will be useful in the future. We hope that the Kids Expo will continue to develop as a place of challenge that nurtures children's courage to take a step forward.
Comment from Kaori Kobata, Representative Director, Funk Kid Co., Ltd.
The moment I first met Ms. Tezuka, I realized that we shared the same desire to cooperate in some way for the future of children, and we hit it off immediately. Funk Kid values developing each person's individuality through dance. At this 'Kids Expo mini Nagoya,' we were able to see children shine as the leading actors in a place of expression called the stage. Regardless of their living conditions, I want to continue creating events with Ms. Tezuka where all children can enjoy themselves equally.
Comment from Mari Tezuka, Kids Expo Executive Committee Chair
This first event in Nagoya was made possible with the cooperation of local companies, including Chuo Shuppan Holdings and Funk Kid. In the questionnaire, 94% of the children answered 'I want to experience it again,' and 60% of the parents answered 'I felt a change in my child,' making us feel glad we held the event. A survey by Nagoya City shows that children's self-esteem is currently decreasing as they age. What the 'Kids Expo' wants to realize is for local communities and companies to support children's dreams and continuously back them up. We will continue to provide places for children across the country, starting with Nagoya, to find their dreams.
What is "Kids Expo": From Community-Rooted Activities to the World. A Dream Support Project with a Cumulative Total of 100,000 Participants Nationwide
The "Kids Expo" is an event aimed at allowing children themselves to discover their dreams and potential, and for their families to experience that growth. It started in 2022, when children's activities were restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with 128 dreams drawn by 12 children in a room at the home of Executive Committee Chair Mari Tezuka.
As of the end of January 2026, it has been held in various places nationwide, including Osaka, Kobe, Aichi, Hokkaido, and Hiroshima, mobilizing a cumulative total of approximately 100,000 people. In October 2025, 24,000 people visited over two days at the "EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan," garnering significant attention. In 2026, it is scheduled to be held in 8 domestic cities, as well as its first overseas expansion in Malaysia and France.
About Meta Osaka
With the mission of making "Osaka the most interesting city in the world," the company tackles the resolution of social issues and economic revitalization for local governments and communities by developing original metaverses in Roblox and Fortnite, and planning and operating events that utilize digital technology. It plans and operates the "Metaverse Salon" at "e-Stadium Namba Main Store" inside Namba Parks, and hosts the "Kids Expo," which has mobilized a cumulative total of about 100,000 people nationwide. Through collaboration with Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd. and e-Stadium Co., Ltd., it promotes the "Digital Entertainment City Concept NAMBA," and as a project within it, takes on the challenge of next-generation urban development and entertainment utilizing AI and XR technologies, such as "XNAMBA."
Company Overview
Company Name: Meta Osaka Co., Ltd.
Representative: Hideaki Mori
Location: Namba SkyO 27F, 5-1-60 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka City
Established: September 1, 2023
Business Description: Development and production of original metaverses / Advertising agency and consulting services utilizing metaverse-related technologies / Planning and operation of digital twin (fusion of real and metaverse) events / Consulting services for solving issues and revitalizing economies of local governments and communities
Official Website: https://www.meta-osaka.co.jp/
FAQ
When and where was the "Kids Expo mini Nagoya" held, and how many visitors attended?
The event took place at Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden in Nishi-ku, Nagoya City on Friday, March 20, 2026, and approximately one thousand visitors attended.
What percentage of participating children said they wanted to experience the Kids Expo again, and what percentage of parents reported a change in their child?
Ninety‑four percent of the children indicated they wanted to experience the event again, while sixty percent of the parents reported noticing a change in their child.
Which companies formed the Kids Expo Executive Committee and who was the chairperson of the committee during the Nagoya event?
The Kids Expo Executive Committee was composed of Meta Osaka Co., Ltd. and Kodomo Candy Co., Ltd., and the chairperson at the Nagoya event was Mari Tezuka.
According to the Nagoya City survey cited in the report, what is the self‑esteem rating for children aged 10‑17, and how does it compare to the rating for young people aged 18‑39?
The survey reported a self‑esteem rating of 75.6 percent for children aged ten to seventeen, which declines to 69.5 percent for young people aged eighteen to thirty‑nine.
Which local partner company provided the "You are the Teacher Today!" English conversation instructor experience, and what existing school program does it draw on?
Chuo Shuppan Holdings Co., Ltd., a Nagoya‑based education firm, provided the "You are the Teacher Today!" experience, drawing on its Peppy Kids Club English conversation school program.