【Online Inquiry × Minecraft】Elementary 4th Graders Plan and Host 'Minecraft Restaurant Contest' with Popular Streamer 'mmm-san' as Judge

NIJIN Inc., which operates an after-school inquiry-based project school, held an online Minecraft contest titled 'Let's Build a Village Restaurant in Minecraft!' on July 4, 2026 (Saturday) within a metaverse space. This contest was entirely planned by 4th-grade elementary students attending the project school, aiming to connect children's passions with learning and promote student-led inquiry education.

The 'Minecraft (Minecraft) Restaurant Contest,' planned and operated by 4th-grade students, took place within 'NIJIN Project School,' an online inquiry-learning community connecting children across Japan.

This year's theme was 'Village Restaurant.' On the day, seven children presented their original restaurants, which they had carefully designed and built through trial and error in the Minecraft world.

Popular game streamer 'mmm-san' joins as special judge!

The highlight of this event was the participation of mmm (mumumu), a beloved and popular Minecraft game streamer, as a special judge.

Motivated by their strong desire to show their creations to mmm-san, whom they regularly watch, the children took the initiative to send direct messages via X (formerly Twitter). After several online (Zoom) planning meetings, they successfully received mmm-san's personal approval, making this dream collaboration a reality.

[Comment from Special Judge: mmm-san]

"I started playing Minecraft in elementary school myself, but I was truly amazed by today's children's pace of growth. The fact that they independently initiated the entire project, and didn't just build but also prepared compelling slide presentations, demonstrated an incredibly high level of skill. It was a truly valuable experience for me. All the builds and presentations were outstanding—judging was tough, but I had a great time. Thank you very much!"

Grand Prix awarded to a 4th-grade boy's 'Dedicated Restaurant'!

The Grand Prix was awarded to a restaurant created by a 4th-grade boy.

In addition to its visually appealing exterior design, the project featured a carefully crafted narrative background showing how village residents (Mobs) and visiting players would 'enjoy their meals,' showcasing uniquely childlike creativity and curiosity.

During the presentation, the student didn't just explain the restaurant's features—he delivered a story-driven presentation from the customer's perspective, naturally drawing the audience into the world of his creation. His playful, distinctly 'Minecraft-style' restaurant received high praise.

Watch the project presentation here ↓

[Comment from 4th-grade Grand Prix winner: Ultra Akky]

"I used to be bad at presenting, but thanks to lots of practice at the project school, I've become confident. I'm so happy to have won the Grand Prix!"

After-school Project School: Expanding Children's Futures Through 'Online Inquiry'

At NIJIN's After-school Project School, we offer 'online inquiry' learning that goes beyond mere knowledge acquisition. We empower children to deeply explore their interests and turn them into real-world projects connected to society.

This Minecraft contest perfectly exemplifies how children naturally acquire essential life skills—such as 'planning,' 'negotiation,' and 'presentation'—through self-directed inquiry activities.

Moving forward, our school will continue to develop cutting-edge 'online inquiry' projects centered on digital tools like Minecraft and children's passions, nurturing each child's infinite potential and confidence.

Special Judge: mmm-san (Minecraft Streamer)

A Minecraft content creator active on the YouTube channel 'mmm Gaming.'

Focusing on Minecraft, mmm-san produces gameplay videos and live streams of various games, gaining popularity among many children.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mmmgaming_yt

◼️ After-school Project School

An online inquiry-based after-school program where elementary and middle school students from across Japan can participate. It's a new learning environment where children launch and execute real-world projects based on their own interests and curiosities.

Centered on 'practical learning connected to society,' 'dialogue with professionals,' and 'student-led project management,' we provide 'real-world experiences' that cannot be gained through textbook-based education. As a third learning space beyond school and home, we connect each child's individuality and curiosity to social value.

Through the process of identifying challenges, planning, and creating solutions, children develop the ability to 'think independently, take action, and deliver value to society.' We aim to create a future where every child can confidently pursue their unique path, free from the constraints of traditional education.

▶ Official Website: https://project.nijin.co.jp/

NIJIN Inc.

A 'JAPAN EDUCATION COMPANY' founded in April 2022 by Tatsuro Hoshino, a former elementary school teacher, with the mission of 'Illuminating the Nation through Education.' Alarmed by the large number of children unable to express themselves in today's schools, the company aims to create a society where everyone can have 'hope' in education. NIJIN operates 13 systems (businesses) designed to solve various educational challenges, including school refusal, teacher shortages, teacher working conditions, and the future of schools.