[Goka Town, Ibaraki Prefecture] "Smartphone x Cooking Class" Helps Seniors Happily Acquire Smartphone Skills, Adding Color to Daily Life
A smartphone and cooking class for seniors was held in Goka Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, to add color to their daily lives.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 00:50
Acquiring Practical Skills Through the Fusion of Cooking and Smartphone Operation
On March 24, a "Colorful Inari" cooking class was led by Mariko Osawa, a regional revitalization entrepreneur (dispatched from ABC Cooking Studio), and smartphone operation guidance was provided by Ai Higuchi of the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team at the Goka Fureai Center. Participants experienced various smartphone functions firsthand, from recipe searching to photo taking and video viewing, acquiring skills usable in their daily lives.
Participant Interviews
○Participant A (Female, 60s)
"It was purely enjoyable! It was my first time participating in a cooking class like this in Goka Town, and it was truly a blissful time with everything provided. Above all, all the dishes we made were delicious. It's wonderful to add another dish to my repertoire."
○Participant B (Female, 70s)
"Since smartphones and cooking were combined, it was truly 'killing two birds with one stone.' For our generation, who are not accustomed to operating smartphones, I felt it was important to gradually get exposure through opportunities like this."
○Participant C (Male, 60s)
"At first, I felt a bit hesitant, wondering if it would be all women, but once I participated, those worries disappeared. If I don't master my smartphone after this, my family will have a lot to say (laughs)."
Instructor Voices
○Mariko Osawa, Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur
"Smartphones are 'convenient tools' that add color to our lives. I prioritized clarity, avoiding 'technical jargon' and instead saying things like 'point the camera at the square mark.' A smartphone is just a tool. I want to continue helping everyone enrich their lives by using it to connect with others and share recipes."
○Ai Higuchi, Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team
"By having the enjoyment of 'cooking' first, which breaks down the digital barrier while having fun, I felt a great response seeing everyone naturally master their smartphones to a surprising degree. I myself am continuously learning new things, and with a little ingenuity, time can always be made. I want to continue enjoying new challenges together with everyone."
