Mirai no Onendo Classroom to Host 3D Printing Exhibition and Presentation Event for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students, Featuring Guest Maki Nishiyama

SonoSaki Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo / President: Katsuya Toda), operator of the digital technology-based STEAM education school "Mirai no Onendo Classroom," will host a 3D printing exhibition and presentation event on Saturday, August 15, at The Prince Park Tower Tokyo, as part of its educational initiatives to foster creativity and inquiry skills.

This competition serves as a showcase of learning and creative achievements by children enrolled in the program. The theme is "Recreate." Participants will revisit their past creations, reflecting on questions such as "How can this be improved?", "Why didn't it work before?", and "What new discoveries can be made?" They will then engage in a process of inquiry, thinking, creation, and observation to produce new works.

While generative AI and digital technologies have made acquiring knowledge and correct answers easier, the process of independently formulating questions and persistently working through trial and error to materialize ideas has become increasingly important. At the event, in addition to displaying 3D-printed works, students will present their projects. Maki Nishiyama, a model and talent popular among parenting generations, will be invited as a guest judge to evaluate not only the final products but also the creative process, offering insights into children's creativity and inquiry skills.

Prior to the competition, with cooperation from Wacom Co., Ltd., students participated in a rehearsal session simulating real-world presentation environments. This experience, including feedback from corporate professionals, aims to develop communication and problem-solving skills.

● Event Overview

Event Name: Mirai no Onendo Classroom 2026 Competition

Date and Time: August 15, 2026 (Saturday), 10:00–18:00

Venue: The Prince Park Tower Tokyo

Target Participants: Elementary, middle, and high school students enrolled in the classroom

Program: 3D printing exhibition, student presentations, guest judge commentary

Guest Judge: Maki Nishiyama, Model and Talent

Judges:

- Masahiko Matsura, Advisor at GK Dynamics Inc., Designer

- Katsuya Toda, President of SonoSaki Inc. and Healthcare Bank Inc.

Organizer: Mirai no Onendo Classroom (Operated by SonoSaki Inc.)

Collaborator: Wacom Co., Ltd.

【Guest Judge】

Maki Nishiyama (Nishiyama Maki)

◼️ Profile

A long-standing figure in the entertainment industry as a model, actress, and talent.

Gained popularity as an exclusive model for fashion magazine "CanCam," and continues to be active across television, film, and events.

Currently raising two children and actively involved in parenting.

◼️ Comment

"This is Maki Nishiyama☺︎ I'm looking forward to seeing the children's unique, free-spirited ideas and expressions bring one-of-a-kind creations to life!!

May the venue be filled with excitement and wonder♡"

【Judges】

Masahiko Matsura (Matsura Masahiko), Advisor at GK Dynamics Inc., Designer

◼️ Profile

Graduated from the Industrial Design Department, Faculty of Art, Tokyo Zokei University in 1982, and joined GK Industrial Design Institute the same year. Served as Design Director at Global Design bv. (now GK Design Europe bv.) and GK Design International Inc. Currently serves as Advisor at GK Dynamics Inc. Since 2018, member of the Design Division Committee at the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE).

Katsuya Toda (Toda Katsuya), President of SonoSaki Inc. and Healthcare Bank Inc., Entrepreneur

◼️ Profile

Born in 1986 in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture. Worked in planning and sales roles at KDDI Group and Yasukawa Electric Corporation. Recognized the need to cultivate essential skills for the future due to automation by robots, leading to the founding of SonoSaki Inc. Operates "Mirai no Onendo Classroom," a digital creation classroom using professional-grade 3D software and 3D printers. Founded Healthcare Bank Inc. in 2026, an IT-based healthcare venture.

● Why Inquiry-Based Learning Matters in the Age of AI

Recent rapid advancements in digital technologies, including generative AI, have significantly changed the skills required of children. Traditional education emphasized acquiring knowledge and finding correct answers. However, in an era where AI can instantly retrieve information and generate responses, the importance of "thinking independently," "persisting through trial and error," and "generating new ideas" has increased.

● Why Inquiry-Based Learning is Gaining Attention

A study published in the academic journal Societies (Gerlich, 2025) revealed that frequent use of AI tools is associated with reduced critical thinking ability. Younger generations show higher dependency on AI tools compared to older adults, raising concerns about the impact on critical thinking. Additionally, Japan's Ministry of Education is considering enhancing student autonomy, inquiry-based learning, and expression activities in the upcoming curriculum guidelines to foster "deep learning" and empower students to steer their own lives in an uncertain future.

Given this context, this competition focuses on the theme "Recreate," evaluating not only the final products but also the thought processes behind them—such as "Why did you recreate it?", "What improvements did you make?", and "What failures did you encounter?" The goal is to nurture creativity, thinking skills, and inquiry abilities through the experience of materializing and presenting one's ideas. Mirai no Onendo Classroom emphasizes not only digital skill acquisition but also the development of non-cognitive skills such as thinking, creativity, inquiry, autonomy, communication, and self-esteem through technology education using 3DCG and 3D printers.

【Organizer's Comment】

Kaede Toda, Director, SonoSaki Inc.

◼️ Comment

"With the emergence of generative AI, children are living in a more convenient era than ever before. However, precisely because of this convenience, we believe it is essential to consciously create opportunities for 'experiences of thinking for oneself.' In an age where AI provides answers, what matters is not just memorizing answers, but asking questions, thinking independently, materializing ideas, and communicating them to others. This presentation event is a significant challenge for children. We hope society as a whole will support not only the quality of their works but also their thinking, efforts, persistence through failure, and willingness to express themselves in public."

● About Mirai no Onendo Classroom

Mirai no Onendo Classroom is a STEAM education school that utilizes 3DCG and 3D printers. Through its unique curriculum, it fosters creativity, inquiry, and thinking skills, offering children a new form of learning that expands and deepens knowledge. In 2025, the classroom launched its 'Phase