Shogakukan's 'CoroCoro Comic Research Institute' Launches 'Children's Future Lab' Co-creation Platform with Local Government Leaders and Cabinet Office Cool Japan Producer to Expand Children's and Regional Futures Through Entertainment

[CoroCoro Comic Research Institute] https://www.corocorolab.com/

Shogakukan's 'CoroCoro Comic Research Institute' held the "0th Conceptual Summit" for the "Children's Future Lab" on June 24, 2026 (Tue).

This lab is a co-creation platform where local governments, company representatives, experts, and creators gather to expand the future of children and the potential of regions through the power of entertainment.

The "0th Conceptual Summit" was positioned as a meeting place for supporters and a brainstorming session prior to the official launch of the lab. Mayor Kenichi Suzuki of Ise City, Mie Prefecture, Mayor Toichiro Ikeda of Oiso Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, Mayor Kazuya Kosuga of Mibu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, the Tochigi Prefecture Children's Policy Division, and actor Hideaki Ito participated as stakeholders. They identified regional issues, presented case studies of regional revitalization projects previously carried out by 'CoroCoro Comic Research Institute,' and discussed ideas in the conceptual stage.

Background of the Initiative

Since its launch in 1977, the manga magazine for elementary school students, 'Monthly CoroCoro Comic' (hereinafter referred to as 'CoroCoro Comic'), has fully supported children's 'play,' 'adventure,' 'challenges,' and 'excitement' for nearly half a century, building a unique culture.

However, in recent years, against the backdrop of declining birthrates, aging populations, and the outflow of young people to urban areas, regional depopulation and the shrinking of administrative and living services have been progressing, leading to a loss of opportunities for children to take on challenges and diminishing connections with the local community.

Therefore, CoroCoro Comic Research Institute, leveraging its knowledge from various collaboration projects with companies and local governments based on the "childlike spirit" it has developed, has launched the concept of the "Children's Future Lab" as a new forum for dialogue to contribute to sustainable regional development and the future of the children who will lead the next generation.

Four Pillars of the 'Children's Future Lab'

'Children's Future Lab' aims to go beyond mere discussion and, with the following "four pillars" as its core, to eventually lead to demonstration projects and concrete co-creation activities (PoC) in each region.

- Children's Future: A grand design for a social environment where the next generation can be the protagonists.

- Regional Charm and Potential: Regional revitalization and the creation of related populations by combining entertainment and IP (Intellectual Property).

- The Power of Play and Entertainment: Problem-solving driven by children's "excitement."

- Child-Participatory Regions: Creating mechanisms for children themselves to participate in town development and planning.

Scenes from the "0th Conceptual Summit"

The summit began with an opening address by Koichi Kobayashi, Director of CoroCoro Comic Research Institute. Following this, Kenichi Watanabe, Cool Japan Producer for the Cabinet Office, took the stage as a fellow of the "Children's Future Lab" and explained the social significance of this initiative and its collaboration with the Cabinet Office.

During the participant introduction and information sharing session, leaders of each local government presented regional issues online in a relay format. Ise City, Oiso Town, and Mibu Town shared the current status and challenges related to declining birthrates, promotion of inward migration, and children's policies. The head of the Children's Policy Division from Tochigi Prefecture also participated and introduced the prefecture's initiatives. Actor Hideaki Ito also participated and spoke about his thoughts on the current situation surrounding children.

Discussion Content on the Day

Active exchanges of opinions took place on the following themes:

- Future challenges surrounding children (sense of crisis regarding the current situation and sharing of issues).

- Regional strengths and potential (rediscovering the potential and resources of each local government).

- What is the "childlike spirit" / Is there enough excitement in the region? (Transformation of mindset).

- What we want to achieve with the Children's Future Lab (sharing of vision).

- Possibilities for the first demonstration project (concrete next steps and prototype ideas).

Comments from Stakeholders Who Participated in the "0th Conceptual Summit"

Kenichi Suzuki (Mayor of Ise City)

In Ise City, we are promoting initiatives that support children's challenges based on the idea that "children are not beings to be supported, but subjects of town development." We value opportunities for children to participate proactively, such as the development of inclusive parks that incorporate children's opinions, events where high school students plan and manage solutions to regional issues, and reading support projects. In the traditional event "Hatsuhohiki," where the year's harvest is dedicated to Ise Jingu, many children participate while learning about the region's history and culture, fostering intergenerational connections. The power of "play," "adventure," "challenge," and "excitement" that CoroCoro Comic has cultivated over many years holds great potential to draw out children's proactivity and foster affection for their region. By combining the power of entertainment and regional resources, which cannot be generated by administrative bodies alone, we expect to jointly create a town where children "want to continue living" and "want to return in the future."

Toichiro Ikeda (Mayor of Oiso Town)

It was over 30 years ago when CoroCoro Comic was around, and I fondly recall watching it with my young son, enjoying it together. It is a great pleasure that CoroCoro, which holds so many memories, is now embarking on town development through children's excitement. A town that is fun for children leads to a town that is good for everyone, including adults. I hope that by working with CoroCoro, we can create a Japan where everyone, children and adults alike, smiles, starting from Oiso Town (Specialty: Nankin Tamasudare).

Kazuya Kosuga (Mayor of Mibu Town)

In Mibu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, there is a place name called "Omocha no Machi" (Toy Town). This name symbolizes the town's history of walking alongside the toy industry, which delivers dreams and excitement to children.

I believe that the future always begins with someone's dream. I feel that the Children's Future Lab is a very meaningful initiative that nurtures children's desire to "try things" throughout society. Through this conceptual summit, I was once again able to realize the potential for children's ideas to move regions and society. I look forward to the expansion of opportunities to think about and learn from each other regarding children's futures through such initiatives.

Hideaki Ito (Actor)

For me as a child, CoroCoro Comic was "adventure" itself, arriving every month.

Game Center Arashi, Mini 4WD, Bikkuriman—many of the things I became passionate about around 1985 had their gateway in CoroCoro Comic. I still remember learning about new worlds with every page I turned and being nurtured with the exciting feeling of wanting to "try it" and "challenge it."

Children's curiosity and desire to challenge are great forces that carve out the future. I believe that experiences and encounters that support that first step will become lifelong treasures. I sincerely look forward to the expansion of opportunities for adventures and challenges that will captivate children throughout Japan through this initiative.

Kenichi Watanabe (Cabinet Office Cool Japan Strategy Producer / CJPF Director)

I am convinced that Shogakukan's CoroCoro Comic Research Institute's "Children's Future Lab" has great potential. What we value are the three principles of "communicating," "involving," and "realizing."

Currently, not only for children but for society as a whole, including adults, childlike spirit and playfulness are becoming increasingly important. However, in schools, workplaces, communities, and political arenas, there are realities that make it difficult to exercise them. That is precisely why we want to spread playfulness and creativity as a force for carving out the future in society through the Children's Future Lab.

At the 0th Conceptual Summit, we had discussions with leaders of local governments from across the country and actor Hideaki Ito, generating many valuable discussions about policies and activities to create the future together with children. CoroCoro Comic, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, possesses significant communication power with access to 4 million readers/members and over 260 million YouTube views per month. We want to develop this power into a force that moves society beyond the realm of manga.

The Children's Future Lab is a think tank that considers the future, and at the same time, a do-tank that acts and realizes. We will shape the future of children and the future of Japan by co-creating with many partners. We invite everyone to join this challenge. Thank you.

Koichi Kobayashi (Director, CoroCoro Comic Research Institute)

Children's excitement can be a great force for changing regions and society. The "Children's Future Lab" is a challenge to shape that potential together with local governments, companies, and creators. Through co-creation starting from a child's perspective, we want to expand the creation of regions where children can have hope for the future.

Profile

Produced regional revitalization projects and hometown tax return gifts. Involved in the launch of the manga distribution service 'Weekly CoroCoro Comic,' etc.

Holds the official YouTube certification "YouTube Certified." Assumed the position of Director of the new project 'CoroCoro Comic Research Institute.'

Through consulting activities for companies and local governments, challenges the creation of new value that only CoroCoro can offer, going beyond the framework of publications.

Regional revitalization projects produced by this editor can be found here: https://www.corocorososei.com/

Future Outlook

The "0th Conceptual Summit" is positioned as Phase 0 for the official launch of the "Children's Future Lab." Moving forward, in Fall 2026, Phase 1 will involve the official launch of the lab and the planning of "demonstration projects (prototypes)" with participating local governments and companies. In 2027, Phase 2 will involve the implementation of demonstration experiments in each region.

Phase 0 (This Summit): Presentation of concept, brainstorming, networking of supporters.

Phase 1 (Scheduled for Fall 2026): Official launch of the lab, planning of "demonstration projects (prototypes)" with participating local governments and companies.

Phase 2 (Scheduled for 2027): Implementation of demonstration experiments (events, IP collaborations, child-participatory town development) in each region, and nationwide expansion.

What is 'CoroCoro Comic Research Institute'?

Since its launch in 1977, 'CoroCoro Comic' has been loved as the bible for elementary school boys, with an average monthly circulation of an astonishing 300,000 copies (reaching approximately 20% of the target audience of about 1.5 million people, an incredible reach for paid media!). It continues to establish its position as an overwhelming hobby & entertainment information & funny manga magazine. We want to propose more interesting and new projects that leverage the content power of 'CoroCoro Comic' and the gutsy power of its readers! With this in mind, we decided to launch the project at the time of celebrating our commemorative 555th issue in the July 2024 issue. Moving forward, we will incorporate the real voices of CoroCoro Comic readers into the planning of our content, starting with initiatives in regional revitalization and edutainment fields that have already begun, and leading to fresh collaborations.

Leveraging these real voices of our readers and the entertainment creation capabilities cultivated over many years, we aim to create new value with companies, local governments, and creators. 'CoroCoro Comic' can provide concrete promotional development to turn your products and services into something children are "passionate about."