Fukuyama City x NIJIN Academy: Metaverse Support Achieves School Reintegration – New Public-Private Partnership Model Announced at EDIX
NIJIN Academy and Fukuyama City will present a successful case study of school absenteeism support using the metaverse at the Education Comprehensive Exhibition EDIX Tokyo. This collaboration, which began in July 2025, has enabled students to return to their enrolled schools or advance to their desired schools, showcasing a new model for public-private partnerships.
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- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 18:00
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NIJIN Academy, operated by NIJIN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tatsuro Hoshino), will exhibit at the Education Comprehensive Exhibition EDIX Tokyo 2026 and announce practical examples of school absenteeism support in collaboration with Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. This collaborative support for students with school absenteeism, which began in July 2025, has yielded concrete results such as "reintegration into their enrolled schools" and "advancement to their desired schools." The full scope of this initiative will be presented at 'EDIX (Education Comprehensive Exhibition) Tokyo,' held from Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Learning without boundaries. Delivering a place where one can grow authentically, no matter where they are.
While the number of students with school absenteeism has rapidly increased nationwide, Fukuyama City had been strengthening its municipal free school 'Kagayaki' and in-school support systems. However, approaching "students who find it difficult to even visit schools or external facilities" remained a significant challenge.
To fill this "gap where support couldn't reach," the Fukuyama City Board of Education began collaborating with NIJIN Academy, which utilizes virtual space (metaverse), last year. The objective was not merely to "create an online place," but to set a clear outcome: "re-attending the city's free school or enrolled school, and becoming socially independent," and it has been operated with this in mind.
■ "Concrete Changes" Born in 9 Months of Collaboration
Since the collaboration began in July 2025, the metaverse space, a "third place," has become a venue for many children to connect with society.
Realization of school reintegration/re-attendance: Students regained confidence through small steps in the metaverse and resumed attending their enrolled schools.
Confirmation of career path: A junior high school third-grader who had difficulty going out gained self-esteem through online learning support and interpersonal interaction, and has advanced to a correspondence high school from April 2026.
Establishment of School Absenteeism Support DX: A model was realized where activities in private schools are evaluated as "attendance" and "learning" in public education and shared with school sites.
In March, children themselves planned a "Fukuyama Party."
■ Speaking at "EDIX Tokyo," Japan's Largest Education Comprehensive Exhibition
The results of this project will be jointly presented by the Fukuyama City Board of Education and NIJIN Academy at "EDIX Tokyo," where the forefront of the education world gathers.
Presentation Theme: How Fukuyama City Aims for School Absenteeism Support that "Leaves No One Behind"
Key points of the presentation:
Background of Fukuyama City's metaverse introduction
Support design to connect from metaverse space to "real school reintegration"
Transformation of children who participated in NIJIN Academy's activities
Presentation/Exhibition Overview
Event: EDIX (Education Comprehensive Exhibition) Tokyo
Date: Wednesday, May 13 to Friday, May 15, 2026
*Presentation session: Wednesday, May 13, 10:30 AM~
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight (NIJIN booth:)
Speakers:
Tohru Ono, Education Promotion Division, Fukuyama City Board of Education
Haruka Kobayashi, Local Government Partnership Manager, NIJIN Co., Ltd.
NIJIN Academy
An alternative school for elementary and junior high school students with school absenteeism, opened in September 2023. Over 700 students from more than 40 prefectures nationwide have enrolled. With "multi-layered psychological safety," "interactive classes by top-tier teachers," and "child-led projects" as its curriculum pillars, it aims to create a future where all children can have hope, without feeling inferior or guilty for not being able to attend school. Over 90%* of students who wish to do so have obtained attendance recognition from their enrolled schools as an alternative learning option. *As of April 2026
School HP: https://academy.nijin.co.jp
NIJIN Co., Ltd.
"JAPAN EDUCATION COMPANY" with the philosophy of "Illuminating the nation through education," solving educational challenges systematically. Feeling a national crisis that too many children cannot express themselves in current schools, Tatsuro Hoshino, a former elementary school teacher, founded the company in April 2022 to make Japan a country where everyone can have "hope" in education. It develops 13 mechanisms (businesses) to solve various educational problems such as school absenteeism, teacher shortages, teachers' working styles, and the ideal state of schools.
Company Name: NIJIN Co., Ltd.
Location: 2-5-5 Tokiwa, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Established: April 1, 2022
Representative: Tatsuro Hoshino
Business Description: Education business that solves educational challenges systematically (teacher training, school absenteeism support, entrepreneurship support, educational events, after-school programs)
URL: https://nijin.co.jp/
Learning without boundaries. Delivering a place where one can grow authentically, no matter where they are.
While the number of students with school absenteeism has rapidly increased nationwide, Fukuyama City had been strengthening its municipal free school 'Kagayaki' and in-school support systems. However, approaching "students who find it difficult to even visit schools or external facilities" remained a significant challenge.
To fill this "gap where support couldn't reach," the Fukuyama City Board of Education began collaborating with NIJIN Academy, which utilizes virtual space (metaverse), last year. The objective was not merely to "create an online place," but to set a clear outcome: "re-attending the city's free school or enrolled school, and becoming socially independent," and it has been operated with this in mind.
■ "Concrete Changes" Born in 9 Months of Collaboration
Since the collaboration began in July 2025, the metaverse space, a "third place," has become a venue for many children to connect with society.
Realization of school reintegration/re-attendance: Students regained confidence through small steps in the metaverse and resumed attending their enrolled schools.
Confirmation of career path: A junior high school third-grader who had difficulty going out gained self-esteem through online learning support and interpersonal interaction, and has advanced to a correspondence high school from April 2026.
Establishment of School Absenteeism Support DX: A model was realized where activities in private schools are evaluated as "attendance" and "learning" in public education and shared with school sites.
In March, children themselves planned a "Fukuyama Party."
■ Speaking at "EDIX Tokyo," Japan's Largest Education Comprehensive Exhibition
The results of this project will be jointly presented by the Fukuyama City Board of Education and NIJIN Academy at "EDIX Tokyo," where the forefront of the education world gathers.
Presentation Theme: How Fukuyama City Aims for School Absenteeism Support that "Leaves No One Behind"
Key points of the presentation:
Background of Fukuyama City's metaverse introduction
Support design to connect from metaverse space to "real school reintegration"
Transformation of children who participated in NIJIN Academy's activities
Presentation/Exhibition Overview
Event: EDIX (Education Comprehensive Exhibition) Tokyo
Date: Wednesday, May 13 to Friday, May 15, 2026
*Presentation session: Wednesday, May 13, 10:30 AM~
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight (NIJIN booth:)
Speakers:
Tohru Ono, Education Promotion Division, Fukuyama City Board of Education
Haruka Kobayashi, Local Government Partnership Manager, NIJIN Co., Ltd.
NIJIN Academy
An alternative school for elementary and junior high school students with school absenteeism, opened in September 2023. Over 700 students from more than 40 prefectures nationwide have enrolled. With "multi-layered psychological safety," "interactive classes by top-tier teachers," and "child-led projects" as its curriculum pillars, it aims to create a future where all children can have hope, without feeling inferior or guilty for not being able to attend school. Over 90%* of students who wish to do so have obtained attendance recognition from their enrolled schools as an alternative learning option. *As of April 2026
School HP: https://academy.nijin.co.jp
NIJIN Co., Ltd.
"JAPAN EDUCATION COMPANY" with the philosophy of "Illuminating the nation through education," solving educational challenges systematically. Feeling a national crisis that too many children cannot express themselves in current schools, Tatsuro Hoshino, a former elementary school teacher, founded the company in April 2022 to make Japan a country where everyone can have "hope" in education. It develops 13 mechanisms (businesses) to solve various educational problems such as school absenteeism, teacher shortages, teachers' working styles, and the ideal state of schools.
Company Name: NIJIN Co., Ltd.
Location: 2-5-5 Tokiwa, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Established: April 1, 2022
Representative: Tatsuro Hoshino
Business Description: Education business that solves educational challenges systematically (teacher training, school absenteeism support, entrepreneurship support, educational events, after-school programs)
URL: https://nijin.co.jp/