Elementary and Junior High Students: Experience the Job of a Miniature Artist in Kawasaki’s Musashi-Shinjō

NIJIN Academy Musashi-Shinjō Campus, operated by NIJIN Co., Ltd., will host a 'Miniature Artist Job Experience' for elementary and junior high school students on Friday, August 21, 2026.

In this event, participants will challenge themselves to create miniature food items using clay and other materials.

Beyond just making artworks, the event will introduce the preparation, production time, and material costs required for a miniature artist to complete a piece. Through the question, 'If you were to sell this work, how much would you price it?', children will enjoyably learn about the relationship between craftsmanship, work, and money.

For children, crafting is familiar—But how is its value determined?

Crafting and making things are familiar experiences for children. However, they rarely have the opportunity to learn about the preparation, time, and effort required to turn an idea into a finished product, or how pricing is determined.

A product’s price includes not only material costs but also invisible values such as production time, tools, packaging, prototypes, and technical skill.

NIJIN Academy Musashi-Shinjō Campus designed this event to help children, through the experience of creating their own works, become aware of the value of creators’ work and time.

Event Content

- Create realistic miniature food

Using clay and other materials, participants will craft hamburgers and anpan (red bean buns), carefully replicating details like bread shape, browning, and cheese texture.

- Discover the behind-the-scenes of a miniature food artist

Learn about the process behind creating a finished piece: observing real food, preparing materials and tools, planning production steps, and adjusting prototypes.

- Think about how much you would sell it for

After learning the actual material costs and production time, participants will consider the selling price of their work. Rather than memorizing complex calculations, they will experientially understand the value of skill and time through their own creations.

Event Overview

Event Name: Let’s Make a Hamburger and Anpan! Miniature Artist Job Experience

Date and Time: Friday, August 21, 2026, 10:00–12:30

Target Audience: Elementary and junior high school students

Capacity: 6 participants

Venue: NIJIN Academy Musashi-Shinjō Campus 3-16-21 Shinjō, Nakahara Ward, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside 'Shinjo no Nedoko' Approx. 4-minute walk from 'Musashi-Shinjō Station' on the JR Nambu Line

Participation Fee: General: 3,850 JPY (tax included) NIJIN Academy / NIJIN After-School Project School students: 2,200 JPY (tax included)

Registration: https://peatix.com/event/5090260

About NIJIN Academy Musashi-Shinjō Campus

A learning and community space for elementary and junior high school students located in Shinjō, Nakahara Ward, Kawasaki City.

'Shinjo no Nedoko', where the classroom is located, hosts various activities based on children’s interests and 'I want to try' moments, including a candy shop, programming classes, craft workshops, and abacus lessons.

NIJIN After-School Project School

An inquiry-based after-school program where elementary and junior high school students from across Japan can participate online. It is a new learning space 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 'child-led project execution,' it provides 'real-world experiences' that cannot be gained through textbook-based education. As a third learning space beyond school and home, it connects each child’s individuality and curiosity to social value.

Through the process of identifying challenges, planning, and materializing ideas, children develop the ability to 'think independently, take action, and deliver value to society.' The program aims to create a future where all children can challenge themselves authentically, free from the constraints of traditional education.

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

NIJIN Co., Ltd.

A 'JAPAN EDUCATION COMPANY' that aims to solve educational challenges through systemic innovation, guided by the mission 'Illuminating the Nation through Education.' Founder Taro Hoshino, a former elementary school teacher, established the company in April 2022, driven by a sense of national crisis over the large number of children unable to express themselves in today’s schools. The company operates 13 systems (businesses) to address various educational issues, including school non-attendance, teacher shortages, teacher working conditions, and the future of schools.