SIIP (Sheep) ~ A Challenge by High School Students and Kyoto University Students! Launching a Free Magazine to Support Challenging Students - Page 2 of 2

Interview with Terada and Ikeda from the editorial team

We conducted an interview with Terada, the representative of Minna no Jishushitsu Hakushi, and Ikeda Soichiro, a third-year student at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Amagi High School.

The Birthplace of SIIP: From the Establishment of Minna no Jishushitsu Hakushi

SIIP Room — Inside the SIIP Co-Creative Room

What led Terada to take a leave of absence from Kyoto University Graduate School and participate in the Community Revitalization Cooperator program in Kasaoka City?

Terada (no honorifics)

Originally, my dream for the future was either to stay at university and teach or to start a business related to education in a rural area.

I was initially on the path to stay at university and teach, but I happened to see a TV program that featured the Community Revitalization Cooperators, and I thought, "Oh, there’s this way too."

At that time, I had just finished writing a paper, and I thought that if I took a leave of absence, I could engage in activities as a Community Revitalization Cooperator while starting a business in the field of education.

After that, I researched various municipalities' Community Revitalization Cooperators and ultimately decided to work as a Community Revitalization Cooperator in Kasaoka City, which brought me to Kasaoka.

Also, this is unrelated to starting a business, but I personally really love fish.

Kyoto, where the university is located, is inland and has no sea, so on weekends, I would go to markets in Osaka and Maizuru (laughs).

So, I thought it would be nice to try both education and fisheries in an environment where the sea and markets are close by, which is another reason I participated in the Community Revitalization Cooperator program in Kasaoka City.

What is your impression of Kasaoka?

Terada

I have been in Kasaoka for three years as of 2021, and I think Kasaoka is a good environment for challenges.

While I don't think it's particularly active, if we take the initiative, we can receive understanding and support in return, making it a place where challenges are easier to undertake.

What about the establishment of Minna no Jishushitsu Hakushi?

Daisen-in's Red Bell Tower Gate — Minna no Jishushitsu Hakushi is located to the left after passing through the red bell tower gate of Daisen-in in Kasaoka City.

Terada

I included creating an environment where students can study what they want to do as part of the activities of the Community Revitalization Cooperator program.

I myself have advanced to Kyoto University, but when I was in junior high school, my grades were not very good.

However, after attending a cram school, I was recognized for my dreams there, which motivated me to study hard and ultimately pass the entrance exam for Kyoto University.

While teaching is important for cram schools, I believe that recognizing students' dreams and creating an environment where they can pursue those dreams is even more crucial, which is why I decided to operate the cram school in a self-study style.

I chose a self-study format instead of a class-based format because I thought it would be possible to provide explanations, ideas, and advice at the moment students want to know something.

The moment students want to learn is when they are most receptive.

In a class, you have to follow the curriculum, but in a self-study format, there is no need for simultaneous teaching, and the focus can be on addressing questions.

What students want to know right now may relate to what they are learning in school or may be completely unrelated.

Being able to ask questions about what they want to know and understanding the thought processes and advice they receive is necessary for deepening their thinking and comprehension skills.

Ikeda

In other self-study rooms, what I do is not related to school studies, so I can't do it.

Here, I can freely study 3D CAD and design for independent watchmakers and consult with others, which is very helpful.

The Launch of SIIP Was Initiated by the Students' Proposal

What prompted the creation of SIIP?

Terada

The launch of SIIP was not my idea.
The students were the ones who proposed it.

When you are recognized for what you want to do, you can work hard! I want to convey that, and I want to create a magazine for that! This was said by Yaemoto, who later became a member of the editorial team.

That idea resonated with my own philosophy and was exactly what I was looking for.

So, we decided to give it a try, and the magazine production started in November 2020.

Ikeda, how did you get involved in the launch of SIIP?

Ikeda

I was originally participating in Minna no Jishushitsu Hakushi and was doing what I wanted to do, but the project to support students who challenge themselves through SIIP aligned with my own philosophy and what I was doing, so I decided to participate.

The Journey to the Publication of SIIP Was Full of Firsts

What was the process from preparing for the launch of SIIP to its publication?

Ikeda

We had an initial meeting where we decided what to do.

The first topic was "Who do we want to meet?" and someone suggested, "I want to meet the Chief Cabinet Secretary!" so we adopted that first.

After that, we kept deciding on the next contents.

Since it is something provided to students, we focused on content that would be helpful for students as they pursue their dreams or that would pique their interest.

Then we proceeded with interviews in order and started creating articles.

As for me, I had never used Adobe Illustrator before, so I practiced using Illustrator while conducting interviews.

After transcribing the interview content into articles, we incorporated them and finally proofread to complete the magazine.

Was the work done by all the members of the editorial team?

Terada

We divided the work to some extent, but this time we focused mainly on high school students.

Ikeda and Yaemoto worked incredibly hard.

What did you find challenging before the publication of SIIP?

Terada

Is it okay if I give a very specific example? (laughs)

The last café page was quite challenging.

Since it was my first time conducting interviews, I was unprepared, and we were working on a tight schedule, so I struggled to put together the café page.

I had to consider the business hours of the shops we were interviewing while deciding on the interview schedule, but since it was my first time, I didn't know how to manage that.

Also, we decided to include advertisements, but we had no know-how on what kind of ads to include, which made it difficult.

Ikeda

As for what was challenging... everything was challenging, to be honest (laughs).

I had never touched Illustrator before, so it was tough to learn from scratch.

Terada

No, Ikeda is amazing.

He had never used Illustrator before, but he learned it in a short time and was able to handle layout work (the process of arranging text and images).

He started from a state of not knowing what a path was, studied while receiving a lot of corrections from designers, and was able to finish it to this level.

Ikeda

Using Illustrator was really tough (laughs).

I had done some photography as a hobby, so that part was easier, but cutting out and processing photos was challenging.

Also, I didn't know anything about typesetting.

For the café interviews, there were times when I couldn't conduct interviews because the business hours overlapped with school hours.

Since it was my first time conducting interviews, it was tough to think of the questions to ask.

I also struggled with how to respond during the interviews.

The World Revealed Through the Publication of SIIP

What are the benefits of publishing SIIP?

Terada

When we published SIIP, I had no idea how much everyone would appreciate it.

However, unexpectedly, it became quite a topic in places I couldn't see, and I received calls saying, "I would like to advertise in the next issue."

There were many positive reactions that I hadn't anticipated, so in that sense, I felt it was worth doing.

Ikeda

Creating SIIP required me to do various things I had never done before, but by accomplishing them, I gained experience and developed my skills.

Many people told me, "It was great," after reading SIIP, which made me very happy.

Terada

It seems that it became a topic of conversation at school as well.

Ikeda

Many teachers approached me regarding SIIP.

What are the future plans for SIIP?

Terada

I am considering publishing it twice a year.

The number of high school and university student members has increased, and since we have experienced the process of publication once, we have grasped the flow.

That said, high school students cannot be active during the day or during exam periods, so I think we will aim for two publications a year.

The Philosophy of SIIP: I Want to Challenge Together with High School Students Who Share My Values

Please tell us about your future goals.

Terada

I aim for a way of working that is not bound by location or time.

Through the activities of SIIP, a flow has developed to utilize Kyoto's resources in Kasaoka, and I want to expand this into a business, including the way we work.

Currently, I have been receiving more outsourcing work, and I am handling it with the resources of Kyoto University students, but I want to bring that to Kasaoka as well.

I envision expanding outsourcing work with Kyoto University students online and involving high school students in that process.

Since wages will be involved, there are challenges to address for high school students, but I hope that connecting high school and Kyoto University students will broaden the perspectives of the high school students.

Additionally, I want to rethink lifestyles.

Working for a company, starting a business, or becoming a freelancer are not the only lifestyles; I want to create a system that conveys that new ways of living can be achieved by combining various elements.

Ikeda

I have a dream of becoming an independent watchmaker, and achieving that is my goal.

Design of the Inside of a Watch — Ikeda designing the inside of a watch on his PC

As for SIIP itself, I hope that many people will get to know this magazine.

If more people become aware of SIIP, we can support those who are working hard towards their dreams, like me, and those who read it may feel motivated to take on challenges themselves.

To achieve that, I want to make it known to even more people.

In the next issue, I would like to feature students who are currently working hard and taking on challenges.

Terada

This time, the only person working hard is Ikeda; the others have already achieved results.

Ikeda

So, I would be happy if we could feature those who are currently working hard.

From the Writer

I want to support and increase the number of young people who take on challenges! This wish was packed into the free magazine SIIP.

The message woven throughout SIIP is that there are many people in the community who are taking on challenges and achieving results, so you can do your best too. SIIP was published in 10,000 copies and distributed to high schools in Kasaoka City.

With little time to rest, Terada, Ikeda, and the other editorial team members are likely brainstorming for the next issue at the SIIP Co-Creative Room project.

The activities of the SIIP project, which aims to further elevate the infinite power of high school students with the catalyst of Kyoto University students, have only just begun.

In today's world, where diverse lifestyles exist, what does it mean to take on challenges? I believe part of the answer lies in the three pages that state, “The future changes by taking on challenges!”

Ikeda, who is genuinely taking on challenges, had shining eyes.

To increase the number of shining eyes, the SIIP editorial team will continue to take on the challenges that arise.

I look forward to seeing what kind of students taking on challenges will be featured in the second issue of SIIP!