[Held on Sunday, June 28] The “I Did It!” Ideas Exhibition: Try out tools and stationery to find what works for you

I press too hard, and my Coupy pencils break right away.
When I try to draw a line with a ruler, I can’t hold it down properly, so the line ends up crooked.

Have you ever struggled because you couldn’t use tools, such as stationery, properly?

We’re introducing an exhibition bringing together more than 100 tools designed to address challenges such as “I find writing difficult” and “I find it hard to stay organized.” It will be held for the first time at Kurashiki Health and Welfare Plaza on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

What is the “More Ways to Say ‘I Did It!’” Exhibition?

The “More Ways to Say ‘I Did It!’” Exhibition is a hands-on exhibition where visitors can try out tools and stationery that support children with challenges at nursery school, kindergarten, and school. It will be held at Kurashiki Health and Welfare Plaza on Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event was initiated by Obu Tomoe, and exhibitions have been held seven times in the past in Okayama City, Kasaoka City, and elsewhere. This is the first time it has been held in Kurashiki City, and the eighth exhibition overall.

For details, please see the image below.

Interview with the organizers and co-organizers

We spoke with Ikawa Masafumi, a consultation support worker at NPO Irodori Consultation Support Center, which is organizing the “More Ways to Say ‘I Did It!’” Exhibition, as well as co-organizers Obu Tomoe and Hayashida Masafumi.

Could you tell us how the “More Ways to Say ‘I Did It!’” Exhibition got started?

Hayashida (surname only)

I work in the welfare field, so I often meet children with neurodevelopmental disorders (developmental disabilities). I’ve seen many of these children struggle to use everyday tools, including stationery, at school and in therapy settings, and then have adults around them label them as “children who can’t do things”.

But through my work supporting them, I’ve also seen that providing tools that are easy to use and suited to their individual needs can help turn something they struggle with into something they can do.

That’s how this exhibition began: we wanted to create an event where children could have more “I did it!” moments.

Obu (surname only)

Even rulers come in many different types. There may be one that suits your child, but you can’t just buy them all one by one.

At the event, all the tools are free to try, so I think it will be easier to find the ones that work best for your child.

Are tools that are easy to use and suited to a child’s needs more expensive than regular school supplies?

Obu

We’ve selected tools for this event that are not only easy to use but also affordable. They won’t be sold at the venue, but each tool has a QR code linking to where it can be purchased, so please use that as a reference.

Hayashida

Some tools, including stationery, are made specifically for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, but you can also find tools with all kinds of thoughtful features at regular stationery stores and 100-yen shops.

This exhibition is designed to be enjoyable for everyone who has ever used school supplies, whether or not they have a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Why did you choose Kurashiki City as the venue for the first time?

Obu

We had previously received requests to hold the event from community centers in Kurashiki City and from parents raising children. Then Irodori Consultation Support Center agreed to organize it, and we were finally able to hold it in Kurashiki City, as we had long hoped.

Are there any highlights of this event?

Ikawa (surname only)

Visitors can not only try out all the tools, but also take part in workshops using them. It’s an event for adults who have used school supplies and children who are using them right now, regardless of whether they have a disability.

New items on display this time include randoseru-style backpacks (hereafter “ranryukku”) and card games.

Ranryukku are lighter than traditional randoseru, while offering more capacity than ordinary backpacks. They’re currently attracting attention as school supplies that are easy to use for children with weak core muscles or difficulty with fine finger movements.

There are no exhibition venues in Okayama Prefecture where you can see ranryukku in every color in person, but this time ranryukku from four companies will be on display. One type from Plus Corporation and two types from Footmark Corporation will be available to view in every color. Representatives from both companies are also planning to attend, so you can ask them any questions you may have.

Also, when playing card games at home, some children can get so focused on “winning” that it’s hard for them to enjoy the game and bring it to a close.

The venue will have several card games that children can play through trial and error without focusing on winning or losing. You can play them at the event, so have fun and see which games suit your family.

Do you have a message for our readers?

Ikawa

As I’ve helped plan this event, I’ve come across many tools that made me think, “I wish I’d known about this as a child” and “This might work well for my own child, too.”

The surprise and delight of realizing, “A single tool can make such a difference!” is something you can only experience by trying it out for yourself. I hope you’ll enjoy trying lots of tools.

Hayashida

Whether or not they have a neurodevelopmental disorder, I hope that not only children who have come to believe “this stationery is hard to use,” but also parents and school staff, will learn through hands-on experience that there are many different kinds of tools.

If you’re not sure how to use a tool, the volunteer staff nearby will help you try it out, so please feel free to ask.

Obu

The greatest appeal of the “More Ways to Say ‘I Did It!’” Exhibition is seeing adults and children alike try stationery and other tools for themselves and light up with “I did it!” all around the venue.

I hope this will be an opportunity to find tools that help your child feel more comfortable, both at school and at home, and increase the time they can spend feeling at ease, even just a little.

We look forward to welcoming you.

From the Writer

I used to be an elementary school teacher, so I’ve seen firsthand how children can struggle to use everyday tools, including school supplies.

For example, a compass is a tool for drawing circles, so there’s no need for everyone to use one from the exact same manufacturer. However, teachers and parents may not know what kinds of compasses are currently available on the market. As a result, they may be unable to choose a tool that suits a particular child, and the child may get stuck on “not being able to use a compass” before they even begin learning how to draw circles, never reaching the intended lesson.

Visiting an exhibition like this—a place to choose tools that can help children learn in greater comfort—may lead to new discoveries.

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