New Learning Options for Children Not Attending School: 'NIJIN Academy Shizuoka Kakegawa' Alternative School to Open June 2, 2026, with Hands-on Information Session on April 11

The hands-on tourist farm "Kiwi Fruit Country Japan" (Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture) will open "NIJIN Academy Shizuoka Kakegawa," an alternative school for children who are not attending school, on June 2, 2026. Prior to the opening, a hands-on information session will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Background: Rising rates of school non-attendance and the need for new learning methods

The number of elementary and junior high school students not attending school has been increasing year by year, reaching a record high of 353,970 in 2025. Creating an environment where children can learn with peace of mind and choose diverse ways of learning has become an important issue that society as a whole must address.

In response to these social issues, NIJIN Inc. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tatsuro Hoshino) is pleased to announce the opening of the "Shizuoka Kakegawa" physical campus of its alternative school for non-attending students, "NIJIN Academy," on June 2, 2026.

NIJIN Academy launched in September 2023 as an online alternative school that students can attend from home. It provides an environment where each child can learn at their own pace and value their individuality. To date, over 600 students have enrolled, and more than 200 have successfully returned to their original schools. The academy has earned high praise, with a 98% attendance certification rate, 91.4% school satisfaction rate, and 96% class satisfaction rate, building a strong track record in cooperation with schools and boards of education. Its initiatives utilizing the metaverse have also been featured on NHK's "Ohayo Nippon," drawing significant attention.

Features of the Shizuoka Kakegawa Campus: A hands-on learning farm set in nature

The Shizuoka Kakegawa campus will offer a "hybrid learning" model that combines online and in-person activities.

Responding to the voices of children who say, "I don't want to return to school, but I want to learn in a real-world setting," the school aims to create a safe place for them to attend.

The Shizuoka Kakegawa campus is set on "Kiwi Fruit Country Japan," a farm rich in nature. By incorporating experiences of touching the soil, interacting with life, and learning through food into daily life, we are creating an environment where children can be themselves.

The school values an environment where children feel "I can be safe here" and "I can be myself." We prioritize fostering the children's ability to choose their own future, rather than focusing solely on returning to school.

The curriculum features the following:

・Learning through agriculture and nature experiences

・Outdoor & disaster prevention experiences ・Project-Based Learning (PBL) ・Student-led decision making ・Online learning linked with the metaverse

By combining learning in the metaverse with real-world activities like agriculture and nature experiences, we are realizing a new form of learning that fosters children's self-esteem and social skills.

We also value learning through connections with the local community and people, aiming for a society where school non-attendance is not seen as a "problem" but as a "possibility."

By touching the soil, interacting with life, and experiencing thinking and acting for oneself, we cultivate the "power to live." We are sharing a new form of education from the real field of agriculture.

Example of a daily schedule

・10:00 Home Physical Education (Metaverse) ・10:30 Strategy Meeting (Project Design) ・11:00 Mission Execution (Agriculture/Experiential Activities) ・12:30 Lunch (In nature) ・13:30 Self-paced Learning ・14:00 Class Meeting

Through daily activities, children choose their learning based on their interests and cultivate the ability to act proactively.