Tokyo Gakugei University and NIJIN Academy Launch Practical Joint Research Utilizing University Facilities for Next-Generation Education Fusing Metaverse and Real-World Spaces.

NIJIN Academy, one of Japan's largest alternative schools for elementary and junior high school students, operated by NIJIN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tatsuro Hoshino), has concluded a joint research agreement with the National University Corporation Tokyo Gakugei University (Koganei, Tokyo; President: Mitsuru Kokubun). As a venue for the practical verification of this research, the "Be happy Do happy Lab" has been established within the "Explayground" activities promoted by the Tokyo Gakugei University Explayground Promotion Organization to implement hybrid education. By utilizing facilities within Tokyo Gakugei University as a research field (NIJIN Academy Tokyo Gakugei University Lab School), the project will demonstrate the effectiveness of a hybrid education model that fuses the metaverse with a real-world campus.

Purpose of Joint Research: Building a "New Learning Space" that Transcends Digital and Physical Realms This joint research will be conducted under the guidance of Professor Yoshihiro Kaneko of the Tokyo Gakugei University Organization for Education Incubation, with the theme of "Empirical Research on Individually Optimized Inquiry-Based Learning in a Hybrid Educational Environment Fusing the Metaverse and Real-World Campus." The goal is to clarify the effectiveness of a "hybrid learning environment" that integrates the "Metaverse Schoolhouse (online)" developed by NIJIN Academy with the educational resources of Tokyo Gakugei University (such as CLT combo, HIVE, and the Ike-to-Ogawa Play Park). The study will objectively verify the impact that alternating between location-independent online education and the physical, inquiry-based environment of a university campus has on the pursuit of a child's uniqueness and expertise.

Overview of Joint Research: Establishing a Lab through Explayground Activities and Unraveling the "Mechanism of Learning" As a practical site for this research, we will establish a lab within Tokyo Gakugei University (Tokyo Gakugei University Lab School). This will be operated within the framework of the "Explayground" activities, where industry, government, and academia collaborate to create new learning born from "play."

We will utilize university facilities as a schooling location for NIJIN Academy, which operates in the metaverse space, and conduct the following research and analysis:

1. Log Analysis and Visualization of the Inquiry-Based Learning Process We will analyze the learning process based on individual interests and concerns using data such as ICT usage and behavioral observation. We will organize the mechanism of how children discover their own uniqueness and deepen it into professional learning from an academic perspective.

2. Investigation of the Transformation of "Learning Spaces" and "Learning" We will investigate psychological and behavioral changes as students move between virtual spaces and real educational environments. We will demonstrate how online stimulation is materialized in real-world settings and how a cycle of learning is created.

The results of this research will be used to build next-generation education models following objective data analysis and evaluation by Professor Yoshihiro Kaneko of the Organization for Education Incubation.

Launch of the Empirical Field: Pre-opening Experience Session Held with Great Success! We have established a lab (Tokyo Gakugei University Lab School) within the Explayground activities as a practical field for this research. Ahead of the full-scale research launch, a pre-opening experience session was held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, where children explored the vast university campus and engaged in activities to find the "seeds" of their own inquiry themes.

"Experience Sessions" to be Held Every Wednesday Starting in April! At the "Tokyo Gakugei University Lab School," we will hold experience sessions every Wednesday starting in April for those looking for a learning environment that suits their children due to school non-attendance or reluctance to attend, as well as those considering an alternative school.

Location: NIJIN Academy Tokyo Gakugei University Lab School (Tokyo Gakugei University Campus, E4 Building 4) 4-1-1 Nukui-Kitamachi, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8501 Application URL (Weekly Wednesday Experience Session): https://peatix.com/event/4934873 Inquiries: Classroom Manager Takashi Isa Email: takashi.isa@nijin.co.jp Phone: 09044895696

Comment from Professor Kaneko: "I want to shift the perspective of evaluation from measuring the retention of abilities to valuing the demonstration of abilities." At NIJIN Academy, you are practicing individually optimized learning in a "Metaverse Schoolhouse (online)." I am very grateful that you have decided to participate in "Explayground," a project to reconstruct learning starting from "play," which is promoted by Tokyo Gakugei University.

In this project, we will focus on the process of deepening learning through the alternation of creation and inquiry, using new questions born from the experience of "actually trying and failing" as a starting point. In particular, we will clarify from both practical and research perspectives how such learning occurs in both online and real-world environments.

Furthermore, we will focus on practices where, rather than the idea of "learning to acquire" a specific skill, that skill is demonstrated as a result of the process of immersing oneself in learning. I would like to shift the perspective of evaluation from measuring the retention of abilities to valuing the demonstration of abilities.

Comment from Classroom Manager Takashi Isa: "Making the university a learning center in the true sense." "A future where elementary, junior high, and high school students learn at a university; making the university a learning center in the true sense. By collaborating between NIJIN Academy, which has made compulsory education 'portable,' and a university, which is a top-tier educational institution, we will create a learning space where different ages mingle. We will co-create a future where mutual learning occurs naturally and the university becomes a learning center in the true sense." (Takashi Isa, Classroom Manager, NIJIN Academy Tokyo Gakugei University Lab School)

[Joint Research Title] Research Title: Empirical Research on Individually Optimized Inquiry-Based Learning in a Hybrid Educational Environment Fusing the Metaverse and Real-World Campus —Toward Building a New Learning Space that Nurtures Children's Uniqueness and Expertise—

[Joint Research Personnel] Principal Investigator: Professor Yoshihiro Kaneko, Organization for Education Incubation, Tokyo Gakugei University Research Collaborator: Takashi Isa, Corporate and Municipal Partnerships, NIJIN Co., Ltd.

[Contact Information] Takashi Isa, Corporate and Municipal Partnerships, NIJIN Co., Ltd. Email: takashi.isa@nijin.co.jp Phone: 09044895696

About NIJIN Academy An alternative school for elementary and junior high school students who do not attend school, opened in September 2023, with over 700 students enrolled from more than 40 prefectures across Japan. With "multi-layered psychological safety," "interactive classes by top-tier teachers," and "child-led projects" as the pillars of its curriculum, it creates a future where not being able to go to school does not lead to feelings of inferiority or guilt, and all children can have hope. As an alternative to school, over 90%* of students who wish to do so have obtained attendance recognition from their home schools. *As of January 2025. ▶School Website: https://academy.nijin.co.jp/

NIJIN Co., Ltd. A "JAPAN EDUCATION COMPANY" that solves educational issues through structural change, based on the philosophy of "Illuminating the country through education." Feeling a national crisis that there are too many children who cannot be themselves in current schools, former elementary school teacher Tatsuro Hoshino founded the company in April 2022 to make the country one where everyone can have "hope" for education. It develops 13 mechanisms (businesses) to solve various educational problems such as school non-attendance, teacher shortages, teacher working styles, and the nature of schools.

Company Name: NIJIN Co., Ltd. Location: 2-5-5 Tokiwa, Koto-ku, Tokyo Established: April 1, 2022 Representative: Tatsuro Hoshino Business Description: Educational business that solves educational issues through structural change (teacher training, support for non-attending students, entrepreneurship support, educational events, after-school programs) URL: https://nijin.co.jp/