Jakuets' Two Initiatives Certified in 'This is MECENAT 2026' for Opening the Creativity of Play to Society – First Recognition for a Fukui-Based Organization

Jakuets Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture / President and CEO: Tatsuro Tokumoto) has been certified for two initiatives under 'This is MECENAT 2026,' a recognition program by the Japan Business Federation for the Arts (JBFA) that honors corporate and foundation-led mecenat activities (corporate patronage contributing to a richer, more fulfilling society through arts and culture). This is the first time an organization headquartered in Fukui Prefecture has been registered under this program.

Since its founding, the company has expanded its expertise in 'play' beyond product development into fields such as education, art, welfare, and urban development. This certification acknowledges Jakuets' approach of treating play as a cultural and creative social foundation and actively returning its value to society as a form of corporate mecenat.

Certified Activity ①: PLAY DESIGN LAB

PLAY DESIGN LAB logo. Playground equipment 'RESILIENCE PLAYGROUND' co-developed with families and doctors of children requiring medical care.

[Activity Theme]

Positioning play as a source of creativity, the initiative combines insights from diverse experts with the company's own know-how to research and conceptualize new possibilities of play from fresh perspectives. It aims to widely disseminate results and implement them in society to realize a creative and inclusive society.

[Overview]

Jakuets invites leading professionals—designers, architects, artists, doctors, athletes, and scholars—from various fields to form teams with its employees, jointly exploring and reconstructing the creativity and cultural value of 'play.' The initiative takes a cross-sectoral approach, including joint research with universities, creating multi-sensory artworks in collaboration with artists, and developing inclusive playgrounds accessible to all. Insights gained from these projects are published on websites and in booklets, widely shared with society.

[Key Features]

The greatest strength lies in translating research outcomes into real-world implementation. Jakuets has co-created playground equipment with families and doctors of children requiring medical care (winner of the 2024 Good Design Grand Award), developed developmental support programs with sports scientists, created interactive art installations with artists (finalist in ART&BUSINESS AWARD 2025), and collaborated with local governments on sustainable urban development. Rather than letting innovative ideas remain theoretical, the company leverages its manufacturing capabilities to implement new 'play' infrastructures in society, aiming to create shared play spaces where everyone can thrive. Research findings are also published in academic papers.

Certified Activity ②: Creative Experiential Education through 'JAKUETS PLAYFUL CAMPUS' and 'PLAYFUL ATELIER'

Workshop of PLAYFUL ATELIER held at JAKUETS PLAYFUL CAMPUS

[Activity Theme]

From its factory, which has contributed to Japanese early childhood education for over 110 years, Jakuets aims to promote the culture of manufacturing that supports play. Through experiential play workshops, it seeks to nurture the ability to create independently and contribute to building a society that embraces diversity.

[Overview]

Jakuets opens its in-house factory, 'JAKUETS PLAYFUL CAMPUS,' which handles everything from planning to manufacturing of play products, and concurrently hosts experiential workshops called 'PLAYFUL ATELIER.' In the creative factory space—adorned with numerous artworks and selected for architectural excellence—visitors explore an archive of the company's products showcasing the evolution of play design and engage in dialogues with employees to understand the intent behind manufacturing. Approximately 1,000 visitors, including local students and education and administrative officials, come annually. In the workshops, participants create their own forms of play, engaging in deeply immersive 'PLAYFUL' experiences across generations, allowing them to rediscover the essence of play.

[Key Features]

The initiative is rooted in the belief that 'the creativity of play can be a driving force for social change.' A key feature is transforming the manufacturing site itself into a learning space, fostering two-way learning through direct dialogue between visitors and employees. Factory tours, covering the entire process from planning to manufacturing of playground equipment, help visitors understand the craftsmanship behind play. In workshops, participants use production waste materials to create new forms of play. Employees managing the program are trained as 'Playful Collaborators' to continuously improve quality. The program also serves as a career education platform for local students aspiring to careers in design and art, contributing to regional creativity education.

◆ About 'This is MECENAT'

Launched in 2014, 'This is MECENAT' aims to make visible the diverse corporate mecenat activities taking place across Japan and highlight their social significance.

Activities recognized as exemplary receive the symbolic 'MECENAT Mark,' along with PR support. Activity details are also published in the 'MECENAT Archive' on the official website.

▼ MECENAT Archive

Jakuets Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1916, the company operates under the slogan 'The future lies in play.' It provides one-stop services—from planning and consulting to design, construction, and operational management—to address challenges in local communities and facilities. In recent years, it has engaged in town development initiatives leveraging the perspective of play, including comprehensive partnership agreements and participation in Park-PFI projects. By designing high-quality play environments, Jakuets continues to create 'future value' that blossoms alongside children's growth.