Children with School Refusal Become Game Developers: NIJIN Academy x Kids Programming Lab Unveil 'Educational Co-creation Model' at EDIX Tokyo 2026
NIJIN Academy, an alternative school for children with school refusal, operated by NIJIN Co., Ltd., will exhibit at the 17th EDIX (Education Expo) Tokyo from May 13th to 15th, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight. Through a partnership with Blue Planet Co., Ltd. (Kids Programming Lab), they will present a new educational approach where children with school refusal transform from 'consumers' to 'creators,' contributing their individuality to society.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 17:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 09:33 (1 min after Collected)
NIJIN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tatsuro Hoshino) operates NIJIN Academy, an alternative school for children with school refusal. The academy will exhibit at the 17th EDIX (Education Expo) Tokyo, held at Tokyo Big Sight from May 13th (Wednesday) to May 15th (Friday), 2026.
At this exhibition, through a partnership with Blue Planet Co., Ltd. (Kids Programming Lab), we will showcase a new form of education where children with school refusal transform from 'consumers' to 'creators,' returning their individuality to society.
■ Presentation Theme: Students on Stage! 'Our Future' Changed by Programming
On May 14th (Day 2), during the main presentation, current students of NIJIN Academy will take the stage as speakers alongside Mr. Keisuke Tsukada of Blue Planet Co., Ltd. (Kids Programming Lab).
A boy who once stayed home due to school refusal will speak about the 'value of learning' on an equal footing with corporate education professionals, holding an original game he designed and developed himself.
The period of 'school refusal' is being transformed into a creative time for self-improvement. This story of transformation, told in the children's own words rather than solely from an adult perspective, is sure to offer significant insights to education professionals.
Background: Why Does 'School Refusal x Programming' Create Educational Value?
The success of this project is not a miracle due to special talent. It is an inevitable outcome born from the combination of the following three elements:
Environmental Design that Turns 'Time' into a 'Weapon': Unlike weekly 'lessons,' NIJIN Academy allows students to dedicate all weekdays during the day to development. By transforming the time of school refusal, which tends to be lonely stagnation, into 'overwhelmingly immersive time,' game development was achieved in a short period.
As 'Co-developers,' Not 'Students': In last year's school festival co-creation, children acted as partners with keen sensibilities for the product. Inspired by this, the company redefined school refusal support not as 'social contribution' but as a new business value: 'pre-investment in sharp talent.'
Transition from Metaverse to Real Base (Minamiosawa Campus): Based on the sense of security fostered in the metaverse campus, Kids Programming Lab's physical store was opened as a 'real campus.' This 'small-step social participation' is the most reproducible method that transformed a child who was at home into someone standing on the EDIX stage within a few months.
From 'Vulnerable Individuals Needing Support' to 'Partners Creating Value Together.'
This model transcends the framework of school refusal and will be fully disclosed at this exhibition as a concrete successful template for collaboration between all companies and educational institutions.
EDIX Special Presentation: May 14th (Day 2)
Theme: 'Creating Future Leaders! Utilizing Individuality with Programming x NIJIN Academy'
Speakers: NIJIN Academy Student (Minamiosawa Campus), Mr. Keisuke Tsukada, Education Business Division, Blue Planet Co., Ltd.
Content: A live presentation of the results of a new educational model that transformed the period of school refusal into a 'weapon,' along with an introduction of the original game developed.
Blue Planet Co., Ltd.
Through a network of over 120 classrooms nationwide, we provide numerous opportunities for creative learning and presentation, practicing education that fosters logical thinking, expressive power, and problem-solving skills, starting from the 'joy of creation.'
Official HP here
'The 17th EDIX (Education Expo) Tokyo' Event Overview
Dates: May 13th (Wednesday) - May 15th (Friday), 2026
Time: 10:00 - 18:00 (until 17:00 on the last day only)
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight
Organizer: RX Japan Co., Ltd.
Booth Number: 19-6
Official HP: https://www.edix-expo.jp/tokyo/ja-jp.html
Admission is free with pre-registration, so please apply from the visitor pre-registration site below.
▽ Exhibition Invitation Ticket Application (Free) Site here
https://www.edix-expo.jp/tokyo/ja-jp/register.html?code=1594200795742691-PK2
At this exhibition, through a partnership with Blue Planet Co., Ltd. (Kids Programming Lab), we will showcase a new form of education where children with school refusal transform from 'consumers' to 'creators,' returning their individuality to society.
■ Presentation Theme: Students on Stage! 'Our Future' Changed by Programming
On May 14th (Day 2), during the main presentation, current students of NIJIN Academy will take the stage as speakers alongside Mr. Keisuke Tsukada of Blue Planet Co., Ltd. (Kids Programming Lab).
A boy who once stayed home due to school refusal will speak about the 'value of learning' on an equal footing with corporate education professionals, holding an original game he designed and developed himself.
The period of 'school refusal' is being transformed into a creative time for self-improvement. This story of transformation, told in the children's own words rather than solely from an adult perspective, is sure to offer significant insights to education professionals.
Background: Why Does 'School Refusal x Programming' Create Educational Value?
The success of this project is not a miracle due to special talent. It is an inevitable outcome born from the combination of the following three elements:
Environmental Design that Turns 'Time' into a 'Weapon': Unlike weekly 'lessons,' NIJIN Academy allows students to dedicate all weekdays during the day to development. By transforming the time of school refusal, which tends to be lonely stagnation, into 'overwhelmingly immersive time,' game development was achieved in a short period.
As 'Co-developers,' Not 'Students': In last year's school festival co-creation, children acted as partners with keen sensibilities for the product. Inspired by this, the company redefined school refusal support not as 'social contribution' but as a new business value: 'pre-investment in sharp talent.'
Transition from Metaverse to Real Base (Minamiosawa Campus): Based on the sense of security fostered in the metaverse campus, Kids Programming Lab's physical store was opened as a 'real campus.' This 'small-step social participation' is the most reproducible method that transformed a child who was at home into someone standing on the EDIX stage within a few months.
From 'Vulnerable Individuals Needing Support' to 'Partners Creating Value Together.'
This model transcends the framework of school refusal and will be fully disclosed at this exhibition as a concrete successful template for collaboration between all companies and educational institutions.
EDIX Special Presentation: May 14th (Day 2)
Theme: 'Creating Future Leaders! Utilizing Individuality with Programming x NIJIN Academy'
Speakers: NIJIN Academy Student (Minamiosawa Campus), Mr. Keisuke Tsukada, Education Business Division, Blue Planet Co., Ltd.
Content: A live presentation of the results of a new educational model that transformed the period of school refusal into a 'weapon,' along with an introduction of the original game developed.
Blue Planet Co., Ltd.
Through a network of over 120 classrooms nationwide, we provide numerous opportunities for creative learning and presentation, practicing education that fosters logical thinking, expressive power, and problem-solving skills, starting from the 'joy of creation.'
Official HP here
'The 17th EDIX (Education Expo) Tokyo' Event Overview
Dates: May 13th (Wednesday) - May 15th (Friday), 2026
Time: 10:00 - 18:00 (until 17:00 on the last day only)
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight
Organizer: RX Japan Co., Ltd.
Booth Number: 19-6
Official HP: https://www.edix-expo.jp/tokyo/ja-jp.html
Admission is free with pre-registration, so please apply from the visitor pre-registration site below.
▽ Exhibition Invitation Ticket Application (Free) Site here
https://www.edix-expo.jp/tokyo/ja-jp/register.html?code=1594200795742691-PK2