HelloWorld Inc., educational startup aiming at “creating a society where it is normal to have friends from each country around the world” (headquarters: Okinawa City, Okinawa; representatives: Co-CEO Hikari Nonaka, and Co-CEO Keisuke Tomida) in partnership with JTOS (Japan Transformation and Open-innovation Supporters), a consortium of Japanese railway companies comprised of JR EAST Start UP Co., Ltd., Tokyu Corporation, Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd., and SEIBU HOLDINGS INC., join together to launch a new type of international exchange program “MACHINAKA ENGLISH QUEST” on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at Shinjuku Chuo Park.
In this program, Japanese and foreign children will use English as a communication tool to complete various quests.
Background of Activity
JTOS (Japan Transformation and Open-innovation Supporters) is a consortium of Japanese railway companies that combines the management resources of each company, such as stations, railways, and real estate, as well as information resources from group businesses, to overcome various barriers faced by startups. Together with startup companies, JTOS aims to create innovative solutions or approaches that, while novel today, will become commonplace and integral to everyday life in the future.
This fourth initiative by JTOS will be conducted for children from third grade in elementary school to third grade in junior high school. Over 13,000 children have participated in HelloWorld’s program to date, engaging in English practice and diverse “MACHINAKA ENGLISH QUEST” activities with multinational English speakers (residing in Japan) from over 80 countries. However, this is the first time that foreign children living in Japan will participate. This program was decided upon with the aim of building a multicultural society by broadening international perspectives and fostering mutual understanding and respect among people from different cultural backgrounds.
About JTOS：https://jtos.jp/
Aim of Activity
Creating opportunities for interaction between Japanese and foreign residents living along the railway lines of each company, “JTOS” aims to nurture a society that embraces diversity by elevating the advanced technologies and problem-solving ideas of startup companies and implementing it on a social level.
“MACHINAKA ENGLISH QUEST” creates chances for children to connect by overcoming language barriers, leading to new discoveries and friendships. This initiative aims to provide a fun environment for children to learn English while understanding and respecting each other’s cultures, thereby enhancing the diversity and inclusiveness of the communities along the railway lines.
Program Details
- Event Name：MACHINAKA ENGLISH QUEST in Shinjuku Chuo Park
- Date：June 30, 2024（Sun）13：30～16：30
- Place：Shinjuku Chuo Park（2 Chome-11 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, 〒160-0023)
- Participation Eligibility： Grade 3 elementary students to Grade 3 junior high school students
- Number of Participants：170 (selected by lottery)
- Participation fee：5,500 JPY (tax incl.)
- Application URL：In Japanese: https://hello-world.city/english-quest/shinjuku240630
In English: https://hello-world.city/english-quest/shinjuku240630-en - Co-host： Shinjuku Central Park Park Up Community
What is “MACHINAKA ENGLISH QUEST”?
This program involves walking through the city while communicating in English with multinational English speakers and aiming to clear missions, much like a game. Currently, it is being conducted in a total of 11 locations, including Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Okinawa.
Participants will form teams and aim to clear the game by finding designated checkpoints and answering quizzes. Through various missions, they will practically learn the four skills of English (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Additionally, in order to clear the game, team members will need to cooperate with each other, which will also contribute to the development of non-cognitive skills such as leadership, motivation, perseverance, patience, creativity, and communication.
・With a focus on experience-based “real-life English,” even those who are not confident in English can enjoy themselves. By exposing themselves to English used in real life, they will naturally develop a liking for the language.
・There are arrangements made for participants who lack confidence in English, allowing them to relax more and enjoy themselves, and since there is a common goal of completing missions, participants can smoothly engage in English conversation.
・While enjoying the differences in culture with English speakers, participants can develop diversity and cross-cultural sensitivity, cultivating a global mindset for multicultural coexistence.
・Participants can learn about the town and its history. By conducting MachiQue in English, they can also discover aspects of culture and history they were previously unaware of.
Machinaka ENGLISH QUEST Official site：https://hello-world.city/english-quest/index/
Company Name ：JR EAST Start UP Co., Ltd.
Address ：Tokyo, Minato-ku, Takanawa 2-21-42 TokyoYard Building 7F
Representative ：President & CEO Yutaka Shibata
Established ：February 2018
Business Operations ：Investigation and exploration of business seeds and cutting-edge technologies, investment in venture companies, and promotion of collaboration with the JR East Japan Group.
URL：https://jrestartup.co.jp/
Company Name：Tokyu Corporation
Address ：5-6 Nampeidai-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8511
Representative ：CEO Masahiro Horie
Established ：September 2, 1922
Business Operations ：Real estate business, real estate sales, and other businesses.
URL：https://www.tokyu.co.jp/index.html
Company Name ：Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Address：2-7-1, Nishi shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
2-2 ViNA GARDENS OFFICE, Megumicho, Ebina, Kanagawa
Representative ：CEO Shigeru Suzuki
Established ：June 1 1948 (Former Odakyu Railways was established in May 1 1923)
Business Operations ：Railway business, real estate business, and other businesses.
URL：https://www.odakyu.jp/
Child-rearing support policies https://www.odakyu.jp/sustainability/ForNextGeneration/
Company Name ：SEIBU HOLDINGS INC.
Address ：1-16-15 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0022, Japan
Representative ：”President and Representative Director, President and COO Nishiyama Ryuichiro
Established ：February 3 2006
Business Operations：”Real Estate” “Hotel and Leisure,” and “Urban Transportation and Regional, other businesses such as sports.
URL：https://www.seibuholdings.co.jp/
Children’s Support Projects こども応援プロジェクト｜SEIBU GROUP (seibuholdings.co.jp)
With the aim of creating a society where it is normal to have a friend in each country around the world, we have developed several international exchange projects, including “HelloWorld Cultural Exchange,” an exchange experience at the homes of foreigners living in Japan, and “WorldClassroom,” where schools from around the world connect online to promote international exchange. We have provided high-quality educational opportunities for diversity, equivalent to studying abroad, to more than 80,000 people. Striving for both social impact and business viability, we work towards realizing a society where diversity is acknowledged, dialogue flourishes, and innovation emerges. Our efforts to create opportunities for connecting with people around the world while enhancing children’s cultural acceptance have received high praise from international organizations and have won various awards from institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme and Nikkei newspaper.
Company Name：HelloWorld株式会社
Established： October 1, 2020
Representative ：President & Co-CEO Hikari Nonaka ・Keisuke Tomita
Address : Headquarters 1-7-8 Chuo, Okinawa, Okinawa
Tokyo Branch 16-5 S-TOKYO, Kodenmacho, Nihonbashi, Tokyo
ＵＲＬ ：https://inc.hello-world.city/
Business Operations: HelloWorld Cultural Exchange・WorldClassroom・ＳＤＧｓ advancement
Interntional Exchange,”Global Talent Development Project Coordination”
