Planting Seeds for the Future ― The Potential of the Community and Children as Envisioned by Orbray Junior Academy ―

On August 5th, "Orbray Junior Academy ~Summer Discovery 2025~" was held with the participation of 58 elementary school students. This program goes beyond simply providing children with experiential learning opportunities during summer vacation; it is held annually to help them understand how companies create new value and contribute to the local community.

Although the time was short, the children participated with sparkling eyes. We heard that some children went home and repeated the experiments on their own, and we felt that the day's experience was firmly etched in the hearts of these children who will carry the future of our region.

New Challenges

This year, in addition to nine project members who responded to an internal call for participation, President Riyako Namiki  joined us from the planning stage, which enabled us to undertake two new challenges.

The first challenge was inviting an external instructor for the first time: Mr. Takuzo Nagai, Representative Director of Nagai Corporation, which manufactures and sells snowboards and skis, and a member of the Minamiuonuma City Council in Niigata Prefecture. With Mr. Nagai, who gave the impression of being a knowledgeable older brother rather than a company president, an unprecedented dynamic atmosphere filled the venue.

The second challenge was renewing the event name. By adding "Orbray Junior Academy" to the previous "Summer Discovery," we evolved from a mere "festival-like event" to a "place of learning." Going forward, we plan to increase programs targeting high school and university students, with a vision of consistent educational activities from elementary school through university.

Four Aspirations Embedded in the Project

We incorporated the following four wishes into this program:

Cultivating pride in the community
We want children to learn about the wonders of Akita and take pride in their hometown.

Creating corporate fans
We want them to experience Orbray's craftsmanship and come to love our company.

Deepening family bonds
We want them to learn about their parents' and grandparents' work and feel closer to their families.

Contributing to the SDGs
Through crafts using waste materials, we want to nurture a spirit of valuing things.

The Appeal of Akita Beginning with Snow

"What do you think would happen if it didn't snow in Akita?"

At Mr. Nagai's question, the children expanded their imaginations with serious expressions. The beauty of snow crystals, the mysterious mechanism of snowfall, and the deep connection with Akita's culture and daily life.

While snow tends to be perceived with negative images such as "cold" or "troublesome," the children experienced through experiments conducted with Mr. Nagai that it is actually an irreplaceable treasure for nature and culture.

In the supercooled water experiment, which doesn't freeze even below zero degrees, great cheers arose at the sight of water instantly transforming into ice when given an impact.
In the experiment creating snow crystals using dry ice, sharp questions flew out one after another from the children, such as "Why do snow crystals form such beautiful shapes?" and "Why is snow white?" Their vigorous spirit of inquiry surprised even us adults.

Time When Waste Materials Transform into Treasures

During the souvenir-making time, children created coasters and key chains using "waste sapphire substrate materials" from the Yuzawa factory and waste materials from Nagai Corporation's snowboard manufacturing process.

"Is this really something that was no longer needed?"
The children's surprise and questions became a natural entry point for understanding somewhat difficult concepts such as SDGs and upcycling.
The waste materials were brought to life by the children's small hands and reborn as one-of-a-kind works. The children took a step toward a sustainable society while having fun.

"Work to Be Proud Of" Discovered Through Factory Exploration

During the factory tour, the children walked through the manufacturing site with a sense of adventure and exclaimed at the precision products created by craftsmen's skills.
At the end, we also held a record listening session. It was impressive to see the digital-generation children quietly listening to the warm sound of analog records they were hearing for the first time.

One child's murmur, "Dad and Mom work in such an amazing place," was no exaggeration to say that it symbolized the achievement of this event. By seeing their parents' workplace, feelings of pride and gratitude toward their families will be nurtured. This became an irreplaceable learning experience that cannot be obtained from textbooks.

　

Planting Seeds Connected to the Community's Future

Through the children's smiles and active participation, our four wishes definitely bore fruit.

What was particularly impressive was the children's "power of questioning." Their perspectives that rivaled adults and unexpected ideas made us feel the infinite potential hidden within Akita's children.

A Story That Continues

In the hands of the children who finished the event were the coasters and key chains they had made themselves. And in their hearts dwelled pride in Akita and interest in science.

We want to continue this program and deliver it to more children in the future. This is because we believe that from among the 58 children gathered here on this day, future researchers, engineers, and proud adults who will support the community will emerge.

Orbray Junior Academy is not merely a corporate event. It is an investment in the community's future and a heartfelt gift from adults who believe in children's potential.