Fiscal Year 2025 Adolescent Health Education Promotion Project 'Kagayaki School' Enters Its 12th Year, Reaching a More Diverse Student Demographic Than Ever Before

Currently, Kagayaki School conducts classes focusing on two themes that often cause concern for adolescents in junior high and high school: ・"Women's Health": Classes to deepen understanding of female-specific illnesses and physical changes. ・"Dermatology Class": Classes to correctly understand common adolescent skin concerns and connect them to proper care and medical consultation.

In fiscal year 2025, the "Women's Health" class saw an increase in implementation at schools with a high ratio of male students, such as technical high schools, while the "Dermatology Class" was held for the first time at special needs schools and part-time high schools. We are pleased to report that both programs were successfully delivered to a broader and more diverse range of students than ever before.

This project is organized by Plus-M Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Shunsuke Nagaoka) with the support of the Japan Association of High School Principals, the All Japan Association of Commercial High School Principals, the Home Economics Division of the Japan Association of High School Principals, the National Association of School Nurses, the All Japan Junior High School Principals Association, the National Federation of Municipal Boards of Education, and the Japanese Dermatological Association, and is sponsored by Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd., Maruho Co., Ltd., and Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.

-- Women's Health Class -- ■ The number of male students exceeded that of female students In FY25, we conducted classes at 13 schools nationwide. In addition to co-ed schools, we saw an increase in applications from schools with high ratios of male students, such as technical high schools, industrial high schools, and merchant marine colleges. As a result, 2,414 (approximately 60%) of the 3,953 participants were male, significantly expanding a program that was previously centered on female students. This shift is driven by feedback from schools stating, "We want male students to understand the mechanisms of the female body" and "We want them to learn this as essential knowledge for the future, regardless of gender." Even with the increase in male participants, the comprehension rate remained high at 95.1%. Significant improvements in understanding regarding infertility and pregnancy were observed before and after the classes, and a shift in awareness toward women's health was confirmed. Furthermore, the program was held for the second consecutive year at a merchant marine college, and teacher surveys showed nearly 100% approval regarding the significance of the class, further clarifying its necessity in educational settings.

◇ Participating Schools (13 schools) *In order of implementation Osaka Prefectural Imamiya Technical High School, Gyosei International High School, Ogawa Technical High School, Tosa Girls' High School Hokkaido Sapporo Atsubetsu High School, Tokyo Metropolitan Miyake High School, Fukui Prefectural Ashiwa High School, Yuge National College of Maritime Technology Aichi Prefectural Miyoshi High School, Chiba Prefectural Nagasa High School, Aichi Prefectural Nanyo High School, Kanagawa Prefectural Hodogaya High School

-- Dermatology Class -- ■ Classes realized at special needs schools and part-time high schools In FY25, driven by the desire to deliver accurate information to students in diverse environments, we held the Dermatology Class at 10 schools nationwide, including the first-ever sessions at special needs schools and part-time high schools. We held careful meetings with each school to structure the classes around the daily concerns students face. By adding practical elements, such as an "appropriate amount experience" using hand cream, the content was designed to spark interest and deepen understanding. As a result, the comprehension rate was high at 92%. Similar to the Women's Health class, surveys of teachers at participating schools showed nearly 100% agreement on the significance of the class, receiving high praise in educational settings and raising expectations for future expansion.

◇ Participating Schools (10 schools) *In order of implementation Tamagawa Academy Junior High School, Niigata Municipal Kuzutsuka Junior High School, Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu High School Aichi Prefectural Kochino High School (Part-time), Osaka Prefectural Yamada High School, Kinokawa Municipal Arakawa Junior High School Seto Municipal Seto Special Needs School, Ako Municipal Une Junior High School, Yokohama Municipal Honmoku Junior High School, Saitama Prefectural Nanryo High School

-- Continuing initiatives to support children's futures in FY26 -- Kagayaki School will continue to provide health-related support so that the junior high and high school students who will lead the future can learn with peace of mind and envision a future true to themselves. Moving forward, in addition to further enriching class content and responding meticulously to needs that grow with the times, we will strengthen support from multiple perspectives, such as providing seminars for teachers and teaching materials that can be used in schools. As a project that supports both student health and teacher guidance, we will continue to strive for improvement and development.

▷ Applications for FY2026 visiting classes are scheduled to begin on Monday, April 6. For details, please visit the official website. https://www.plus-m.co.jp/kagayaki/

About Plus-M Co., Ltd. [Company Overview] Company Name: Plus-M Co., Ltd. Headquarters: 6F Gunseisha Hatchobori Bldg., 3-17-6 Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Representative: Shunsuke Nagaoka Business Description: Educational Co-creation Business Established: January 18, 2001 Website: http://www.plus-m.co.jp

About Sponsoring Companies (Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd. - https://pharma.bayer.jp/) (Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd. - https://www.healthcare.omron.co.jp/) (Maruho Co., Ltd. - https://www.maruho.co.jp/)

About Kagayaki School [Overview] Kagayaki School is a free health education project where junior high and high school students, who will lead the next generation, can learn the "correct health knowledge" necessary to realize their desired life designs and career plans, regardless of gender. We aim to help them lead healthy lives, both mentally and physically, and realize their desired life designs and career plans.

◆ We offer the following three programs as our main activities: 1) Visiting classes 2) Provision of teaching materials 3) Seminars for teachers

◆ Details of the visiting class program Through visiting classes by specialists, we provide opportunities for students to learn correct, evidence-based knowledge. ・"Women's Health" edition (Classes by obstetricians/gynecologists) Students learn basic knowledge about women's health, providing an opportunity to think about future health management and life planning. ・"Dermatology Class" (Classes by dermatologists) Students learn about the role of skin during adolescence and care methods, cultivating basic knowledge for leading a healthy life.

For details or questions, please refer to the Kagayaki School website below. https://www.plus-m.co.jp/kagayaki/