2019.10.19

Musashino University High School - EGAKU the Future Program 2nd Semester, Session 1

 
We kicked off the second semester of the EGAKU the Future Program at Musashino University High School.     
 
The half year program (10 classes) centered on the art-based learning program - EGAKU - is designed to nurture each student’s unique power to live a creative life through a process of self-reflection, discovering the diversity of other people, and developing a reflective and enquiring mindset.
 
We welcomed a new group of students for the second semester program, and in this first session they looked to their inner selves to express their thoughts around, “What I value the most.” Although they were all responding to the same theme, through the diverse artworks that emerged - each a unique voice bursting with personality - the students were able to discover each others’ different ways of thinking and feeling, and experience the fascinating richness of this diversity.
 
Below are some of the participants’ comments:

  •  “I realized that people value different things, and the things they paint are also completely different. Each person has their own ideas and thoughts and the way they express themselves is also different. It made me think that it’s these kinds of things that will stir something new inside me. Those things that don’t matter to me but matter to other people - I realized that I hadn’t noticed these things, even though they’re really obvious.”
  • “The process of expressing ‘what I value the most’ made me realize that these things I hold dear, I want them to last.  Painting allowed me to think even deeper about the things I’m always thinking about. I don’t really like painting pictures but I think it’s interesting to express your emotions, regardless of whether you’re any good at painting.”
  • “I learned what’s important to my friend, and it made me like her even more. She’s always such a kind, gentle person, but there are a lot of things on her mind, and it made me think, I want to make sure I’m there for her.”
  • “The things I value the most have changed (since the time I painted the picture a week ago.) I thought I’d painted what I value but seeing it again today I just couldn’t feel it from the picture, instead I felt confused. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but I thought that the person I was before, and the person I am now - are completely different people. As I chipped away at the idea of the things I value, it got me wondering what’s really important. I was surprised I could express myself so easily, even through such simple lines and circles. By sharing my picture, I made so many new discoveries - that was interesting.”
  • “I learned the importance of being in touch with my emotions, as well as the importance of understanding other people by asking them about their feelings and experience. I learned that even in my daily life it’s important to actually ask the other person, to engage with them - rather than simply making assumptions about them.”

 
Theme:  What I value the most 
Program details: EGAKU the Future
Participants: 22 participants - grade 1 senior high school students
Venue: White Ship -Office & 9201GalleryMusashino University High School
Host institution: Musashino University High School, Liberal Arts of Musashino
Program mentors: Hiroko Takahashi, Tomomi Kaneko
Facilitator: Kimi Hasebe
Staff: Hiromi Ito

 

2019.10.7

EGAKU the Future with Earth Company’s Impact Heroes

We held 'EGAKU (Painting) the Future with Impact Heroes' in collaboration with the Earth Company, as part of their 5th anniversary celebrations.   Impact Heroes are exceptional change-makers who have the potential to shape the future of developing countries in the Asia-Pacific. The Earth Company selects one Impact Hero a year to whom they provide support.      
 
For this EGAKU session we wanted to create a space for these Impact Heroes who are constantly on the run, tirelessly working to solve the social challenges in their communities to take time for themselves and recharge.  We hoped that bringing together these social entrepreneurs and Japanese business executives to share the things that matter most to them through art, would become a creative force to shape the future.   
 
The Impact Heroes’ comments reflecting on their experience made us realize the incredible potential for EGAKU to empower social entrepreneurs.  Going forward we hope to reach more change-makers around the world, including those working in developed countries such as Japan.   
 
“I learned about how different we are, but also we are the same in ideas, way of thinking and action, but aim at the same thing (betterment) progress and good change.” 
“I wish I can take this method to help youth and children in East Timor to overcome their post-conflict trauma.” 
2015 Impact Hero: Bella Galhos
(East Timor | Environmentalist, political activist)  
 
“I now feel that allowing myself and others the space to draw, to envision, to dream - has huge value.  For the greater good!”
“Thank you for a wonderful experience of Wonder and Awakening our creative Potential.”
2016 Impact Hero: Robin Lim
(Indonesia | Midwife)  
 
“I discovered a connection, a deeper connection and a tenderness and understanding that wasn’t there before.”
2017 Impact Hero: Kathy Jetñil Kijiner
(Marshall Islands | Climate change activist, poet)  
 
“(EGAKU) could be useful to express our imagination and dream in drawing or art.  It may expedite our process of implementation.  It may reaffirm our thought.” 
2019 Impact Hero: Wai Wai Nu
(Myanmar | Peace/political activist) 
 
Theme:  Things That Drive You
Program details: EGAKU Program
Participants: 10 social entrepreneurs, Earth Company supporters
Venue: White Ship –Office & 9201 Gallery-
Organizers: Earth Company, ELAB
Corporate supporter: White Ship, Inc.
Facilitator: Kimi Hasebe
Interpreter: Ryoko Nakamura
Staff: Hiromi Ito, Nobuhiro Morita, Sotaro Tsunagi

 

2019.9.28

EGAKU the Future Program for Fukushima High School Students – Session 1

We finally kicked off the EGAKU the Future Program for high school students from Fukushima - a program created in partnership with nonprofit Bridge for Fukushima, to nurture the next generation of leaders empowered to create the future.  
 
This program combines project-based learning, led by Bridge for Fukushima, and EGAKU, to develop the skills and qualities needed for the next generation of leaders over the next 6 months - nurturing skills such as the ability to see the big picture, understand the value of diversity, cultivate a curious and inquisitive mindset and a passion to keep learning.   
 
For the first session of the program, these 23 energetic high school students looked within themselves to explore the theme, “What I value the most.”  We look forward to seeing what kind of personal journeys unfold for each of them over the coming six months.  
 
Below are some of the comments and reflections the participants shared with us:

  • “I haven’t had many opportunities to reflect on what I value, so it was thought provoking. I realized that there are actually many things I value.  As I was painting, I felt inspiration well up inside me and it was as if I’d discovered some newfound power inside me.”
  • “It was a new experience to encounter diversity by seeing others through the lens of a picture - I enjoyed it. It made me think that perhaps I’m actually surrounded by diversity.”
  • “Through my abstract picture, other people gave me the language to describe the things that I couldn’t find the words for. I had no confidence in my ability to express myself, but I managed to give shape to the abstract image in my head, and as a result I came around to liking my art work and my self-expression.”
  • “I’ve always liked interacting with people, but this experience made me I realize that I’m also interested in understanding people’s different emotions.”

 
Theme: What I value the most
Program details: EGAKU the Future
Participants: 23 high school students
Venue:White Ship -Office & 9201 Gallery-
Joint program organizers: Bridge for Fukushima, ELAB
Supported by: Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education, Noevir Green Foundation
Facilitator: Kimi Hasebe
Staff: Hiromi Ito, Ryoko Nakamura

 

2019.9.21

Musashino University High School - EGAKU the Future Program 1st Semester, Session 10

The first semester of the EGAKU the Future Program for Musashino University High School has finished.
 
The theme for the final class was “The Future You Want to Create.” Many of the students’ comments seemed to reflect their resolve that the future isn’t something vague that you wait to happen to you, but is something that we - each of us - create.

  • "I have so many dreams, and I thought I want to hold onto them and head towards a future full of hope." 
  • "As I was painting, I realized that I’m trying to transform myself right in this moment."
  • "There are wars going on in the world, and so I was praying for peace as I painted this picture. But as I prayed, I became aware of my own anxiety." 
  • "I want to decide what I want to do in the future of my own will."

Below are some of the students’ reflections on their experience over the past half year, taken from their worksheets. 

  • "When I was painting, I felt like I was talking to myself as I was painting."
  • "I feel like I’ve become closer to everyone through the pictures, it’s interesting how there are so many different values!"
  • "Through the creative process I realized how I really think, and it inspired a new way of thinking."
  • "During the exercise of seeing art, by adopting an inquisitive mindset and using my five senses to ‘see’ the picture, it expanded the world I saw in the picture."
  • "I thought my opinion was just like any other, but I realized that it’s neither ordinary nor so commonplace - it’s something unique to me."

The half-year program wrapped up with students coming up with a message to their 27 year-old self, ten years from now.
 
These powerful messages - words which they weren’t taught but emerged from their personal experience - seemed to reflect their personal growth over the past half year, giving our team, program mentors and staff, a great sense of hope.

Theme:  The Future You Want to Create
Program details: EGAKU the Future
Participants: 22 participants - grade 1 senior high school students
Venue: Musashino University High School
Host institution: Musashino University High School, Liberal Arts of Musashino
Program mentors: Hiroko Takahashi, Hiroko Shinjo, Tomomi Kaneko
Facilitator: Kimi Hasebe
Staff: Ryoko Nakamura

2019.7.20

Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership (ToTAL) 

We ran EGAKU for the Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership (ToTAL) for the second year in a row.
 
ToTAL is a unique initiative set up by the Tokyo Institute of Technology with the mission to develop global leaders with highly specialized areas of expertise. Even amongst the many cutting edge programs offered at specially appointed professor Keisuke Yamada such as Lean Launchpad, Programming Bootcamp, Future Foresight, Design Thinking - EGAKU occupies a unique and important position the curriculum.
 
2019 Session Report (Japanese only) >>
2018 Session Report (Japanese only) >>
 
This year’s participants were a diverse mix of nationalities and cultural backgrounds, and also included graduate students from other universities such as Hitotsubashi University and Keio University.  It was an extremely dynamic session where students connected with their inner creativity whilst also recognizing each others’ differences.
 
Below are some of the participants’ comments:

  • "It’s not only words that convey feelings and thoughts - in fact words alone aren’t enough.  It made me want to rethink how to relate to myself, and how to relate others."
  • "It made me realize that perhaps you can’t judge something from a single viewpoint.   From now on, I want to live life with my eyes open to the unpleasant parts of the things I like, and the pleasant aspects of the things I hate." 
  • "I was moved by seeing other people’s pictures.  Each person is living their life holding so many thoughts and feelings - what a wonderful world!" 
  • "I would like to keep reminding myself that others have similar feelings, anxieties, strengths and weaknesses as myself."
  • "I will try to keep my mind open and listen to other people’s perspectives."
  • "(Going forward) Try to do something I haven’t done. And be braver to express myself."

 
Theme: Things That Drive You
Program details: EGAKU Program
Participants: 25 participants - undergraduate and graduate students
Venue: White Ship -Office & 9201 Gallery-
Host institution: Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership (ToTAL)
Facilitator: Kimi Hasebe
Staff: Hiromi Ito, Ryoko Nakamura

2019.5.11

Musashino University High School - EGAKU the Future Program 1st Semester, Session 1

The first semester of the EGAKU the Future Program for Musashino University High School has kicked off.
Over the course of the 10 sessions based on the EGAKU Program, through the practice of the creative cycle of dialogue, discovery and expression, students will experience the foundations of creativity and nurture their creative confidence.
The EGAKU theme for the first session was “What I value the most.” The fresh-faced, new students each painted their uniquely authentic values - the things they hold most dear. The students were also joined by two program mentors - mid-career women professionals - creating a lively, stimulating exchange.
 
A selection of participants’ comments:

  • “Everyone has different ideas, different ways of seeing things - perhaps this is what we mean by ‘personality.’ It was interesting to see the differences.”
  • “I think what was important was that it wasn’t just about how I see things, it was about acknowledging other people’s views coming from a totally different perspective.”
  • “I learnt that it’s important to make the conscious effort to ‘feel’, rather than just ‘feeling’ passively.”
  • “Everyone’s faces lit up. I think we were all more positive compared to the beginning of class.”
  • “I realized that the most important thing was to be honest about my feelings as I was painting.”
  • “I became a little clearer about what I want to do in the future.”
  • “Going forward, I think I’ll be more respectful of other people’s views.”

 
Theme: What I value the most
Program details: EGAKU the Future
Participants: 22 participants - grade 1 senior high school students
Venue: White Ship -Office & 9201 Gallery-
Host institution: Musashino University High School, Liberal Arts Musashino
Program mentors: Hiroko Shinjo, Hiroko Takahashi
Facilitator: Kimi Hasebe
Staff: Ryoko Nakamura