[WAO High School Philosophy Cafe] Announcing the Top 10 Themes for Spring 2026! Season Theme: 'What It Means to Live as a Human Being'. Let's Think and Dialogue Together with WAO High School Students!

WAO Mirai Gakuen Educational Foundation's WAO High School (Headquarters: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; Principal: Tsuyoshi Hirata), which offers liberal arts exploration in philosophy, science, and economics, is a correspondence high school where students connect with peers nationwide and develop their interests through dialogue.
WAO High School offers unique compulsory subjects and liberal arts exploration, where all students learn "philosophy" and engage in classes that highly value "thinking thoroughly." As one of the opportunities to practice dialogue based on philosophy, the school holds a "Philosophy Cafe" where teachers and students freely discuss, breaking down barriers. The theme for the Spring 2026 Philosophy Cafe is "**What It Means to Live as a Human Being**." We are pleased to announce the 10 major themes from April to July.

**[Key Highlights]**
■ Experience dialogue on the virtual campus, the learning hub for WAO High School students.
■ Anyone can participate! Speak your own opinions! Listen to diverse opinions!
■ Themes range from familiar topics to slightly more challenging ones. Repeated participation helps develop philosophical thinking skills.

**◆WAO High School Philosophy Cafe April-July 2026 Theme: "What It Means to Live as a Human Being"**
Through the theme of "What It Means to Live as a Human Being," we will philosophically observe a world rife with division and, with the help of ancient philosophers, challenge ourselves to explore what one should know as a human being and the fundamental ways of behaving.

**① April 10 (Fri) Value: "Sensation and Scale" ~ Reacting to something**
**② April 24 (Fri) Justice: "Agreement and Consistency" ~ The ambiguity of correctness**
**③ May 15 (Fri) Freedom: "Consent and Approval" ~ Selfishness is not allowed!**
**④ May 29 (Fri) Culture: "Consideration and Care" ~ The existence of others is everything!**
**⑤ June 5 (Fri) Gratitude: "Sincerity and Integrity" ~ No one can live alone!**
**⑥ June 12 (Fri) Cooperation: "Kindness and Respect" ~ Mutual help, thanks to you**
**⑦ June 19 (Fri) Tolerance: "Discernment and Distinction" ~ Everyone seeks kindness!**
**⑧ July 3 (Fri) Respect: "Praise and Admiration" ~ People possess what you lack!**
**⑨ July 10 (Fri) Harmony: "Common Sense and Good Sense" ~ The meaning of working together**
**⑩ July 17 (Fri) Solidarity: "Provision and Transfer" ~ What is necessary to protect oneself**

**★Think a lot and talk! Philosophy Cafe where you can encounter new "Wow!" insights**
Fridays 18:00-19:00, total 10 sessions, **Online event!** "Just listening" is also OK. Please feel free to join.
https://www.wao.ed.jp/event/philosophy_cafe/

**◆What is WAO High School's Philosophy Cafe?**
At WAO High School, we hold a "Philosophy Cafe," a place for free discussion that breaks down the barriers between teachers and students. It's a unique initiative where themes are selected from news and other sources, drawing hints from philosophers' thoughts and actions to unravel the essence of things. We opened this casual discussion forum, the "Philosophy Cafe," hoping that general junior and senior high school students and their parents would also experience it. It is held online every Friday from 18:00 on WAO High School's virtual campus. "Just listening" is also OK. Please feel free to join.

**◆The True Charm of Philosophy Cafe**
French philosopher Marc Sautet started it as a "place for clashing ideas," wanting to discuss philosophy more casually. In a frank setting like a cafe, participants put their brains into full gear, expressing their thoughts with peers as if pouring them out. Of course, just listening is perfectly fine. By doing so, you gain new insights, thinking, "Ah, so that's it!" and further refine your own thoughts and opinions. This new "Wow!" of discovery energizes you, bringing a refreshing feeling you might have forgotten. This is the true charm of the Philosophy Cafe.

**★WAO High School's proud philosophy teacher gently and carefully leads the "Philosophy Cafe." Here is a message for the Spring 2026 "Philosophy Cafe" sessions.**

**Naoki Fukumori**
**WAO High School Teacher, Liberal Arts Exploration Advisor**

In the previous series, we explored solutions to "naive questions" that are surprisingly difficult to answer when asked again. In this new series, with the theme "What It Means to Live as a Human Being," we will boldly tackle solutions to "great questions." We look forward to your participation again this season.

The great philosopher Plato (B.C. 427-347) said in his work *The Republic*:
"There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers (summary)."
As his words suggest, a worrying situation of philosophical absence envelops the world. There's no point in observing such a serious situation as a bystander! Now more than ever, there is a desire for an opportunity to re-recognize philosophy, whose essence lies in universal validity. "What is humanity?" "What is liberal arts?" And "What is justice?" There are countless things to confirm. On top of that, the discussion leads to why Kant felt the need to clarify the answer to the question, "What is peace?"

In short, this season's "Philosophy Cafe" will philosophically observe a world rife with division and boldly explore means to resolve it. Regardless of the size of the question, ancient philosophers have succeeded in brilliantly verbalizing them, but it is also natural that there is a thrill in integrating these with the thoughts of junior and senior high school students.
In that sense, I am truly looking forward to the dynamic development this time again.

**WAO High School's Mission**
To foster individuals who seek their own happiness with rich liberal arts and a righteous heart, and contribute to society.
**WAO High School's Vision**
To make it commonplace for people to build their own core through philosophy and carve out their future.
**WAO High School's Value**
* WAO Corporation's philosophy, which has pursued "the joy of learning" for approximately 50 years.
* Cultivating the ability to think independently by engaging in dialogue and learning philosophy.
* Support system for realizing individual futures, such as higher education, studying abroad, and entrepreneurship.
* A virtual campus connecting unique peers nationwide.
* An effective learning style that expands online and deepens in real life.

**Why does WAO High School teach "Philosophy"?**
In this era of diversity and change, there are no absolute right answers. That's why we need the ability to create the future society with rich liberal arts and flexible thinking. "Philosophy" is a language game that continuously refines "thinking" in pursuit of a "universally valid" definition of human endeavors. By re-examining the society we live in from a philosophical perspective, the world we see now can appear completely different, and familiar social problems can be re-evaluated from new viewpoints. We want high school students to have such an "eye-opening" experience, which is why we conduct classes that emphasize repeated dialogue and thorough "thinking."

**At WAO High School, learning deepens both online and in real life.**
As a correspondence high school, WAO High School offers learning that leverages the best of both online and real-life experiences. On its virtual campus, which connects students nationwide online, daily homerooms, morning activities, collaborative learning, and internal events are held, deepening dialogue among students and faculty from remote locations. Campuses in Okayama, Tokyo, and Osaka offer "Commuting Courses," where dedicated coaches support each student in establishing a learning rhythm and practicing programming and English conversation. Furthermore, the "Individual Tutoring Course," available at over 500 "Individual Tutoring Axis" centers in 47 prefectures, provides comprehensive, individualized support for everything from university entrance exam preparation to remedial learning.

**[Inquiries regarding this matter and WAO High School]**
**WAO Mirai Gakuen Educational Foundation WAO High School**
**0120-806-705**
**Official Website https://www.wao.ed.jp**
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