When we were children, it seemed that schools provided many opportunities to think about “future dreams” and “jobs we wanted to pursue.” Perhaps some of us struggled to come up with an answer at the time.
Kurashiki City is undertaking various initiatives to expand the future options available to children.
One of these initiatives, the “Corporate Learning Academy Program,” is a special class where junior high and high school students in Kurashiki City can experience working at local companies.
This article introduces the Corporate Learning Academy Program held at Kurashiki Municipal Kita Junior High School on Friday, February 7, 2025, as well as a later exchange of views between the participating companies and schools.
The information presented was current when this article was published in March 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Corporate Learning Academy Program
The Corporate Learning Academy Program is a hands-on class held at junior high and high schools in Kurashiki City and Hayashima Town.
It is held as part of the Kurashiki City Career Education Promotion Project.
Kurashiki City Career Education Promotion Project
This project aims to foster career awareness, promote future local employment, and revitalize the community. It consists of two programs: the “Basic Course,” which teaches students about work and workplace rules while fostering career awareness, and the “Corporate Learning Academy Program,” where students experience tasks at local companies, learn about their strengths and appeal, and are encouraged to pursue local employment in the future.
[YouTube] Kurashiki City Video Channel Kurashiki City Career Education Promotion Project
What kinds of jobs are available in the towns where we live, and how do those jobs affect our lives? People who work at local companies teach classes to students. The program teaches not only about the work itself, but also how companies contribute to the community.
In fiscal 2024, the program was held at 16 junior high schools and 5 high schools, with 55 local companies taking part.
The Corporate Learning Academy Program consists of two 50-minute class periods. The grade levels taking part vary by school, and students in the eligible grades can choose up to two classes offered by companies that interest them.
It was a special class that expanded the range of jobs students could imagine themselves doing, making them think, “I want to try that!” and “That sounds interesting!”
Report from the day
Here is a look at the Corporate Learning Academy Program held at Kurashiki Municipal Kita Junior High School on Friday, February 7, 2025.
The local companies that took part in this session were the following nine companies (offering eight classes).
Social Welfare Corporation Kiryukai Chuo Setsubi Co., Ltd. and Daido Setsubi Kogyo Co., Ltd. Dolphin Aid Co., Ltd. Meguro Construction Co., Ltd. Furuichi Co., Ltd. Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. ENGI Co., Ltd. JFE Steel Corporation West Japan Works
Students normally can attend only two classes, but I took the opportunity to report on the event and peeked into classes offered by all the companies.
Social Welfare Corporation Kiryukai
The class being held in the gymnasium was by Social Welfare Corporation Kiryukai.
In the first half of the class, slides were used to explain the importance of care work and what makes it rewarding. The staff member’s words, “Care work is a job where you are entrusted with people’s lives,” conveyed the responsibility involved.
In the second half, students began an activity using wheelchairs, which are essential in care settings.
They split into two groups and tried sitting in a wheelchair and maneuvering one with someone seated in it. They were given instructions on how to sit in a wheelchair and tips and precautions for moving one, and the students listened attentively.
They experienced how difficult it is to move a wheelchair over uneven surfaces, and how hard it can be to turn as intended when steering one themselves.
Chuo Setsubi Co., Ltd. and Daido Setsubi Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Chuo Setsubi Co., Ltd. and Daido Setsubi Kogyo Co., Ltd. build essential infrastructure for daily life, including water and gas piping and air-conditioning installations.
They also explained working arrangements such as maternity and childcare leave, emphasizing that the work environment is an important factor when choosing a job.
After the lecture, everyone tried on work clothes and harnesses actually used at construction sites.
The students chatted excitedly, saying things like, “It’s surprisingly light!” and “Doesn’t this look cool?”
In the same classroom, students also tried installing a faucet.
They learned how water flows through the plumbing they use every day without thinking about it. At the end, they flushed a toy shaped like a stool down with water, realizing just how important water infrastructure is in our lives.
Dolphin Aid Co., Ltd.
In a class by Dolphin Aid Co., Ltd., where students learned about childcare, they tried making slime, a perfect sensory play activity for children.
The students split into groups and set about making colorful slime. The fun of the experiment filled the classroom with cheerful voices.
The finished slime felt different from person to person—some was firm, while some was soft.
Some teams even helped students who hadn’t managed to make their slime properly by fixing it for them. It was an experience that let them enjoy making things and see how play can spark communication.
Meguro Construction Co., Ltd.
At Meguro Construction Co., Ltd., students used a laser level to measure the level of the entire classroom. Getting to handle professional machinery and equipment firsthand is a unique experience offered by Kigyo Manabi Gakusha.
Taking measurements seemed quite difficult, and some students peered into the equipment and pondered for a while.
In the second half, the students stacked paper to build towers and competed to see which team could make the tallest one. As the countdown progressed, the excitement in the classroom grew. When a tower collapsed, a loud “Aah!” rang out.
It’s an enjoyable, game-like activity. The company is sure to leave a lasting impression on the students.
Furuichi Co., Ltd.
In the kitchen, Furuichi Co., Ltd., the company behind Kurashiki’s famous Bukkake udon, was teaching a lesson.
The delicious aroma of udon broth filled the kitchen.
In Furuichi’s lesson, students made their own original udon by adding toppings to the company’s famous Bukkake udon.
As the students enjoyed their finished udon, they asked Furuichi’s president all kinds of questions.
They seemed fascinated by the work of making a familiar food, asking about how udon is made and what makes Furuichi’s udon special.
When asked, “There are lots of udon shops, but what’s Furuichi’s secret ingredient?” the president replied with a laugh, “That’s a secret!”
Instead, the president shared a fun fact: Furuichi’s tempura is made with batter mixed with the first dashi stock, giving it a delicious flavor of dashi.
Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
In a lesson by Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., the students were hard at work on a ship model made from two sheets of A4 paper. The activity offered an easy-to-understand way to learn about ship structure.
If successful, they could make a sturdy paper column that wouldn’t collapse even with a plastic bottle placed on top. It was amazing that just two sheets of paper could be used to make a three-dimensional structure strong enough to support the weight of a plastic bottle.
Staff from Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbuilding went around to each table and carefully explained how to make the models. Everyone worked together, trying different approaches.
This hands-on class made it easy to learn about shipbuilding and the structure of a ship’s hull.
ENGI Inc.
Next, we headed to a class by ENGI Inc. (Engi), which produces animation.
The class began with a topic that might seem difficult for a company to discuss: “Why is working as an animator so grueling?” Using data, the instructor gave a lively explanation of the animation industry. The students explored the realities of the industry in greater depth as they answered questions posed to them.
The students leaned forward and listened intently as the instructor discussed very real questions such as “How many key animation drawings does an animator produce on average each month?” and “How much are they paid for each drawing?”
The class also covered the rewarding aspects of the job, not just its harsh realities, helping students interested in animation think more concretely about their future career paths.
The class also honestly conveyed the challenging aspects of the work. It was 50 minutes that showed the students a sincere approach.
JFE Steel Corporation West Japan Works
JFE Steel Corporation West Japan Works offered students the chance to see and touch real iron.
One particularly interesting activity was comparing the hardness of pig iron and steel. When struck, steel, which contains fewer impurities, feels much harder than pig iron, which contains more impurities.
Students could also try on protective clothing worn when working in the factory, and a teacher volunteered to try it on.
Near the end of the class, the students were delighted to receive a ballpoint pen bearing the company logo and an original spoon. Having items that stay with them for a long time may give them a chance to think of the company from time to time.
The Corporate Learning Gakusha Program brings together companies from a wide range of industries to expand the career options available to junior and senior high school students.
It was a valuable hands-on learning experience, offering insights into companies that even adults may not know about and a look behind the scenes at their work.
On the next page, we’ll report on the discussion between companies, schools, and Kurashiki City—an event that could be considered a behind-the-scenes look at the Corporate Learning Gakusha Program.
Corporate Learning Gakusha Program (For inquiries, contact the Kurashiki City Labor and Employment Policy Division)
For details, watch this video
[YouTube] Kurashiki City Video Channel Kurashiki City Career Education Promotion Project
| Name | Corporate Learning Gakusha Program (For inquiries, contact the Kurashiki City Labor and Employment Policy Division) |
|---|---|
| Address | 640 Nishinakashinden, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-426-3415 |
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