Bringing 'Montessori Education' to Every Home: Montessori Teacher Collaborates with Household Goods Maker Kokubo Kogyo to Launch 'Sand Letter Plates'

EMMA Co., Ltd. (Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama; Representative: Azusa Ito) has released the latest work in the 'Ouchi Monte' series, 'Sand Letter Plates (Hiragana),' developed in collaboration with household goods manufacturer Kokubo Kogyo. This is the first attempt in Japan to sell a full set of 50 hiragana sandpaper letters at various retail outlets, including 100-yen shops, achieving an accessible price point. Authentic Montessori teaching tools, which were previously expensive and only available through specialty stores or personal imports, will now be sold sequentially at retail stores nationwide, starting with online sales, aiming to 'eliminate educational inequality and create an environment where everyone can easily incorporate learning.' Representative Azusa Ito, who has over 15 years of experience as a Montessori teacher, responded to parents' concerns about high costs by collaborating with Kokubo Kogyo to balance easy-to-handle materials with affordable pricing. Sandpaper letters are teaching tools for learning characters through sight, touch, and hearing, making them ideal for the 'sensitive period for language' between the ages of 3 and 5. The product complies with safety standards for children's food hygiene, ensuring safe use. Online sales begin in April 2026, with in-store sales following around May.