Children Enjoy Eco-Experience: "Knead and Mix! Fun Eco-Soap Making" Held; Original Character Yu-chan Debuts to Promote Waste Cooking Oil Recycling!
Tanaka Iron Works held an SDGs class and eco-soap making workshop using waste cooking oil for children at the "Workshop Collection in Fukuoka 2026." The event also debuted their original character, Yu-chan.
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- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 00:30
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Asphalt plant manufacturer Tanaka Iron Works Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kiyama-cho, Miyaki-gun, Saga Prefecture; President and CEO: Mitsukazu Murata) held an SDGs class on the theme of recycling waste cooking oil and an original eco-soap making session for children who participated in the "Workshop Collection in Fukuoka 2026" held at Kyushu University's Ito Campus on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, 2026.
On the day of the event, children from Fukuoka Prefecture participated and learned through the workshop that used oil (waste cooking oil) from households can be utilized as a valuable resource by recycling it instead of throwing it away as combustible garbage, and that recycling waste cooking oil can contribute to various environmental issues.
In addition, UCO's character "Yu-chan," who made her event debut this time, was very popular with the children. The venue was very lively, with many people enjoying shaking hands and taking commemorative photos, and in the eco-soap making session, some children were seen making works with Yu-chan as a motif.
"Workshop Collection" is an expo-style event specialized in workshops for children, which CANVAS started in Tokyo in 2004. Aiming at the nationwide popularization and development of creative workshops that stimulate children's creativity and expressiveness, it has nurtured the intellectual curiosity of children highly motivated to experience by gathering workshops from all over the country under one roof.
At Tanaka Iron Works, waste cooking oil discharged from local households is collected and utilized as biomass fuel that replaces heavy oil and light oil. The company is developing the "Roa(d)cal SDGs Project," a public-private resource circulation project nationwide, in which this is used to manufacture asphalt mixtures and returned to the roads and sidewalks used by local residents.
Participation in the "Workshop Collection in Fukuoka 2026" this time is part of these efforts, aiming to convey to children who will lead the future that "used oil from households is a valuable recyclable resource," as well as to promote the collection of waste cooking oil and improve community understanding in Fukuoka Prefecture.
At the event, first, the children learned in a fun way how waste cooking oil can be recycled and how it is utilized.
This was followed by an "original eco-soap making experience" using waste cooking oil. Children created their own "original soap" by blending their favorite scents and colors and making their favorite shapes. Parents also participated together, and the approximately 60-minute class was lively and a great success from beginning to end.
Children holding the completed soaps voiced comments such as "I had fun learning about recycling waste cooking oil" and "I was surprised that I could make an original soap by reusing familiar items," and a sense of accomplishment spread throughout the class. It was a valuable learning experience touching on the wide possibilities of "eco-activities".
On the day of the event, children from Fukuoka Prefecture participated and learned through the workshop that used oil (waste cooking oil) from households can be utilized as a valuable resource by recycling it instead of throwing it away as combustible garbage, and that recycling waste cooking oil can contribute to various environmental issues.
In addition, UCO's character "Yu-chan," who made her event debut this time, was very popular with the children. The venue was very lively, with many people enjoying shaking hands and taking commemorative photos, and in the eco-soap making session, some children were seen making works with Yu-chan as a motif.
"Workshop Collection" is an expo-style event specialized in workshops for children, which CANVAS started in Tokyo in 2004. Aiming at the nationwide popularization and development of creative workshops that stimulate children's creativity and expressiveness, it has nurtured the intellectual curiosity of children highly motivated to experience by gathering workshops from all over the country under one roof.
At Tanaka Iron Works, waste cooking oil discharged from local households is collected and utilized as biomass fuel that replaces heavy oil and light oil. The company is developing the "Roa(d)cal SDGs Project," a public-private resource circulation project nationwide, in which this is used to manufacture asphalt mixtures and returned to the roads and sidewalks used by local residents.
Participation in the "Workshop Collection in Fukuoka 2026" this time is part of these efforts, aiming to convey to children who will lead the future that "used oil from households is a valuable recyclable resource," as well as to promote the collection of waste cooking oil and improve community understanding in Fukuoka Prefecture.
At the event, first, the children learned in a fun way how waste cooking oil can be recycled and how it is utilized.
This was followed by an "original eco-soap making experience" using waste cooking oil. Children created their own "original soap" by blending their favorite scents and colors and making their favorite shapes. Parents also participated together, and the approximately 60-minute class was lively and a great success from beginning to end.
Children holding the completed soaps voiced comments such as "I had fun learning about recycling waste cooking oil" and "I was surprised that I could make an original soap by reusing familiar items," and a sense of accomplishment spread throughout the class. It was a valuable learning experience touching on the wide possibilities of "eco-activities".