[First Financial Institution] Protecting Youth from Dark Part-time Jobs! Chiba Bank Launches New Initiative Using Dark Part-time Job Simulation Game 'Rei's Disappearance'

Classroom Adventure Inc. (CEO: Zentaro Imai) will launch a new initiative in cooperation with Chiba Bank (President & CEO: Tsutomu Yonemoto) to protect young people from dark part-time jobs and financial troubles. Starting sequentially from July 2026, the company will offer outreach classes utilizing the dark part-time job simulation game "Rei's Disappearance" to educational institutions such as junior high schools, high schools, universities, and vocational schools in Chiba Prefecture. This marks the first time a financial institution has partnered with our company to continuously implement classes using this educational material.

The Deepening Problem of Youth Involvement in Dark Part-time Jobs

The "dark part-time job" phenomenon, where young people easily become involved in serious crimes such as special fraud and robbery through social media, has become a significant social issue. According to statistics from the National Police Agency, a large proportion of those arrested in connection with dark part-time jobs are young people in their teens and twenties, with cases involving junior high school students also reported.

The root of this problem lies in the fact that the perpetrators themselves are "deceived" into participating by sweet words like "high報酬" (high rewards) and "easy work." Surveys indicate that approximately 80% of high school students cannot correctly assess dangerous job postings online. As the methods become more sophisticated, practical education is needed to foster the ability of young people to perceive risks as "their own problem" and to avoid them.

Practical Outreach Classes in Collaboration with Financial Institutions

To address these challenges and foster practical problem-solving skills, this initiative has been realized as part of Chiba Bank's outreach classes for career and financial education.

The outreach class, titled "Learn from 'Rei's Disappearance'! The Power of Money to Change the Future," will be sequentially implemented at educational institutions in Chiba Prefecture. Its most distinctive feature is the use of a uniquely customized version of "Rei's Disappearance," with Chiba Bank staff serving as instructors. This model, where a financial institution directly engages with young people and shares knowledge as financial professionals, sets a new precedent.

What is the Experiential Program 'Rei's Disappearance'?

"Rei's Disappearance" is a completely new net literacy program themed around "dark part-time jobs," where young people can easily become involved in crime through social media.

By exploring the social media of a missing friend, "Rei," participants "re-experience" the process of being recruited for a dark part-time job, having their personal information stolen, and becoming unable to escape. The goal is to foster deep awareness and concrete avoidance skills that cannot be conveyed through traditional lectures, by solving mysteries within a realistically recreated social media environment.

This outreach class incorporates gamification, an educational method that integrates game elements and mechanics into the learning process to deepen participants' understanding through active thinking. In the first half, participants will simulate the process of characters getting caught up in dark part-time jobs via social media through a game, perceiving the criminal risks as their own problem. In the second half, they will deepen their understanding of the importance of money, the meaning of work, appropriate ways to deal with suspicious offers, and the importance of seeking help when in trouble. While we have delivered this program in over 100 educational institutions and in collaboration with local governments, this is the first time we are partnering with a financial institution.

The program allows participants to learn through experience in the following three steps:

1. Don't be targeted: Understand what kind of posts become targets for criminal groups and review your own information sharing.

2. Don't be deceived: Develop literacy to discern sophisticated recruitment tactics and hidden jargon.

3. Don't get hooked: Understand the mechanism by which once involved, it becomes difficult to escape, and learn how to protect yourself and your friends.

Comment from Chiba Bank's Deputy President Awaji

To mark the launch of this initiative, Zentaro Imai, Representative Director of Classroom Adventure, met with Mutsumi Awaji, Deputy President of Chiba Bank. Mr. Awaji also provided a comment for young people.

"Managing money well enriches your life. It is important to be able to make your own judgments so as not to get caught up in financial troubles. Chiba Bank supports this effort."

Mutsumi Awaji, Director and Deputy President of Chiba Bank

How to Participate

The program is available to educational institutions such as junior high schools, high schools, universities, and vocational schools in Chiba Prefecture. Applications can be made through a special Chiba Bank webpage.

Future Outlook

Through this initiative, Classroom Adventure Inc. aims to create a society where children and young people in the region can develop the judgment to avoid being caught up in crime and financial troubles, and can proactively think about their own futures. By combining the educational support unique to financial institutions with our gamified educational materials, we can achieve more effective awareness-raising activities.

We will continue to strengthen public-private partnerships with financial institutions, local governments, and private companies, including Chiba Bank, to further accelerate initiatives aimed at preventing dark part-time jobs and improving information literacy. We also offer demonstrations and information sessions for representatives of educational institutions, local governments, and companies interested in adopting the program. Please contact us first.