Like Kids Holds Food Education Event to Learn the "Importance of Every Grain of Rice" - Children Challenge Husk Removal and Threshing Experience Using Mortar!

Like Kids Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Yasuhiko Okamoto; hereinafter referred to as Like Kids), a subsidiary of Like Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman, President, and Group CEO: Yasuhiko Okamoto; hereinafter referred to as Like), which operates childcare, human resources, and nursing care businesses, held a food education event on June 18 (Thu) at "Nijiiro Hoikuen Hirai," a licensed nursery school it operates. The event was timed to coincide with Food Education Day on June 19 and aimed to teach children about "rice," an essential part of their daily meals, by learning about its journey from cultivation to their dining tables through their five senses.

Like Kids feels a social responsibility to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society and is committed to initiatives that foster interest in the environment and food, so that children can continue to pass the baton to the next generation. The company also focuses on "food education," promoting children's interest in food through experiences of learning and interacting with food under the theme of "growing, making, eating, and knowing."

At Like Kids' nursery schools, white rice is served at least four times a week, making rice a familiar ingredient for the children. Nijiiro Hoikuen Hirai also engages in rice cultivation activities throughout the year to help children feel closer to rice. This time, with the cooperation of Shinmei Co., Ltd., which supplies rice for the school lunches at Nijiiro Hoikuen Hirai, the children participated in a food education event where they learned about the process of rice production and different types of rice, as well as experienced threshing using a mortar.

Children Learn About the Journey of Rice to Their Tables

Twenty-two children aged 4 and 5 from Nijiiro Hoikuen Hirai participated. A representative from Shinmei explained, using slides and videos, how the rice the children eat in their school lunches reaches their tables. Upon seeing rice being harvested by a combine, the children exclaimed in surprise, "They have machines like that!"

Furthermore, they learned how, after harvesting, the husks are removed and how brown rice becomes the "white rice" they eat every day. Some children watched with great interest, saying, "It's not white from the beginning," while others showed a slight look of surprise at what they learned for the first time that day, asking, "Were brown rice and white rice made from the same thing?"

Afterward, actual rice stalks were distributed to each child, and they experienced removing the husks and threshing themselves. During the activity, some children struggled, saying, "It's hard to remove the husks!" and were seen asking other children, "Why do you think that is?" The Shinmei representative patiently answered the children's questions, deepening their interest in rice.

<Event Day's School Lunch Menu>

- Rice - Tofu Hamburg Steak - Bell Pepper and Tuna Salad - Potato Soup - Banana

After learning about rice from the Shinmei representative, the children actually ate rice for lunch. Having learned about the process of rice reaching their tables, the children said things like, "It's white rice!" and "We should eat it with more gratitude," and enjoyed their school lunch while deepening their understanding of the ingredients.

Going forward, Like Kids will continue to provide opportunities for children to learn and experience the importance of "eating and being eaten." Through a wide range of food education experiences in collaboration with various companies, they will also increase children's engagement with food and ingredients, fostering their curiosity.

About Like Kids

Like Kids operates 415 childcare facilities nationwide, including licensed nursery schools "Nijiiro Hoikuen," after-school clubs, children's centers, and corporate childcare facilities. In bright childcare rooms using natural materials, they create environments where children can feel a sense of belonging and express their imagination freely. They hope that children will grow up freely while experiencing the warmth of furniture made from domestic thinned cypress and handmade toys used abundantly in their daily lives.

Company Profile

Company Name: Like Kids Co., Ltd.

Representative: Yasuhiko Okamoto, Representative Director and President

Location: 1-12-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya Mark City West 17F, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0043

Established: December 1989

Business Activities: Provides "Public Childcare Services," operating various types of childcare facilities including licensed nursery schools "Nijiiro Hoikuen," after-school clubs, and children's centers, as well as "Contracted Childcare Services" for operating in-house childcare facilities (for companies, hospitals, universities, etc.).

Capital: 50 million yen

URL: https://www.like-gr.co.jp/