[Higashikawa Town, Hokkaido] "LIP Fes 2026" to be Held - A Place for Mutual Learning for Junior High/High School Students and Adults

LIP Fes is a place for mutual learning among junior high/high school students and adults, with the concept of "A day to encounter your own sense of purpose." Thirty pairs of working adults, university students, and high school students will talk about their current work, research, and activities, their challenges and rewards, as well as the aspirations and values behind their career choices. We hope that by participating in LIP Fes, junior high and high school students will be inspired to think about their own answers to unanswerable questions such as "Why do we study?" "Why do we work?" and "What do I want to achieve?" when considering their future paths.

[LIP Fes Homepage] https://lipfes.com/

[Two Featured Keynote Speeches by Professionals in Their Fields]

Keynote Speech 1: July 17 (Fri) 3:40 PM - 5:00 PM

"How to Advance Education in Higashikawa in the Age of Generative AI"

Speaker: Yoshiteru Sakamoto, General Manager, Canva for Education, Canva Japan

[Practical Presentation] Higashikagura Town's Initiative: Introduction and Practice of Generative AI (Gemini)

Presenters: Yuhya Sato, Teacher, Higashikagura Elementary School (Gemini Promotion)

Koji Shimizu, Teacher, Higashi-Sei Elementary School (Practice and Changes in Children's Learning)

*Pre-registration is required for Keynote Speech 1 via the QR code on the LIP Fes homepage.

Keynote Speech 2: July 18 (Sat) 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Speaker: Tomoka Takeuchi, Snowboard Alpine Athlete (Parallel Slalom/Giant Slalom), Sochi Olympics Silver Medalist / Former Japanese National Team Member

- Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Silver Medalist, First Japanese Female Snowboarder to Win a Medal

- Most Olympic Appearances (7) by a Japanese Woman in Winter Sports History

- Launched Regional Revitalization & Next Generation Development Project "&tomoka"

- Leading the Way in Social Contribution Activities as an Athlete

[Major Career Achievements]

2026 Milan Cortina Olympics: 22nd Place

2022 Beijing Olympics: 15th Place

2021: 3rd Place in World Cup after Comeback

2018 Pyeongchang Olympics: 5th Place

2015 World Championships: 3rd Place

2014 Sochi Olympics: 2nd Place

2012 World Cup: Highest Ranking 1st Place

2010 Vancouver Olympics: 13th Place

2009 World Championships: 4th Place

2006 Turin Olympics: 9th Place

2002 Salt Lake City Olympics: 22nd Place

[About LIP Fes 2026]

[Event Overview]

Date and Time:

- Day 1: July 17, 2026 (Fri) 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM

- Day 2: July 18, 2026 (Sat) 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Venue: Higashikawa Town Community Center Sentopure I (1-1-1 Kitamachi, Higashikawa Town)

Participation Fee: Free

Target Audience: Anyone is welcome to attend.

*All students from Higashikawa Junior High School will participate on Day 1, and all students from Higashikawa High School will participate on Day 2.

Organizer: Higashikawa Town Board of Education

[Event Content]

LIP in LIP Fes stands for "Learning Inter-Person." It is a place for mutual learning where people interact and confront their own "whys." Over two days, there will be two keynote speeches and presentations by 30 pairs of working adults, university students, and high school students, discussing not only the content and rewards of their current work, research, and activities, but also the aspirations and values behind their career choices.

Participants can freely choose speakers they are interested in and attend sessions in classrooms where those speakers are presenting, much like at a music festival.

We hope it will be "A day to encounter your own sense of purpose" not only for junior and senior high school students, but also for university and vocational school students preparing for the workforce, as well as teachers and parents who support them and are themselves actively pursuing fulfilling lives.

[Schedule]

LIP Fes 2026 Schedule

[List of Speakers]

Inquiry-Based Learning Outcome Presentations

Higashikawa High School / Asahikawa National College of Technology

Higashikawa Town Partner Companies

≪Sports≫ Cerezo Osaka Co., Ltd. Toru Yasu / ≪Environment≫ Rice Resins Co., Ltd. Shinji Okuda / ≪Health≫ R-body Project Inc. Mirai Onodera

Local Companies and Local Talent

≪Nature≫ DAISETSUZAN EXPERIENCE Kazuhiro Arai / ≪Photography≫ Photo Season Co., Ltd. Tatsuo Iizuka / ≪Florist≫ Hanatsumugi Asao Ishidoya / ≪Medical≫ Resident Doctor Kaho Ishibashi / ≪Food & Beverage≫ 18BAKERY Risa Ichiba / ≪Animal Medicine≫ Doubutsu Clinic Putih Labo Kakuoki Iwaoka / ≪Local Culture≫ Higashikawa Tezutsu En Tomokai Naoaki Kanazawa / ≪Entertainment≫ Willbe Co., Ltd. Kaori Kawashiri / ≪Science≫ Asahikawa City Science Center Saipal Hideyuki Kawabe / ≪Artist≫ Singer-songwriter Rina Kodama / ≪Meat Processing≫ YUKU Project Kaoru Suzuki / ≪Caregiving≫ SORA Co., Ltd. Ken Sagara / ≪Woodworking≫ Leaf Style Akihiro Chiba / ≪Woodworking≫ Eno Sangyo Co., Ltd. Chiaki Noro / ≪Beauty≫ Hokugaku Gakuen / Hokkaido Barber and Beauty College Nobuyuki Harai / ≪Tourism≫ Wakasa Resort Co., Ltd. Tomonori Fujisaki / ≪Construction≫ Fujita Kumi Co., Ltd. Yuji Fujita / ≪Beauty≫ Tia’m Yuki Yoshida / ≪Photography≫ UNIQUE CONNECTION Hokuto Wada

Educational Collaboration Institutions and Government

≪Government≫ Higashikawa Town Hall, Economic Promotion Division, Hiina Nakajima / ≪Government≫ Higashikawa Town Hall, Health and Welfare Division, Naohiro Takahashi / ≪Education≫ Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Letters (1st Year Doctoral Program) Nao Umezu / ≪Education≫ Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Letters (1st Year Master's Program) Haruka Shedara / ≪Education≫ Asahikawa Medical University, School of Medicine (6th Year) Lapis Shinohara

*Many of the speakers were selected by volunteer members of the Higashikawa High School LIP Fes, and the high school students themselves were responsible for inviting them and discussing the lecture content. While struggling with unfamiliar tasks like creating business emails and using polite language, they have been able to proceed with preparations with the warm understanding and cooperation of the speakers.

Furthermore, high school students will also serve as facilitators in each classroom on the day of the event, supporting dialogue and learning among participants.

[Higashikawa Town's "Human Development Vision"]

Higashikawa Town aims to realize its vision of "creating a town and people who can find their own happiness" by balancing "education," which cultivates people into their desired forms, with "learning," which allows each individual to achieve their own unique growth.

Based on this vision, the town is engaged in a "Human Development Project" to establish a system for nurturing the future pillars of the community collectively, and is undertaking the following activities:

1 Enhancing educational support within the town: By establishing the public cram school "Manabiya Higashikawa," a system is being developed to provide受験勉強 (exam preparation) and daily learning support for high school students in Higashikawa Town.

2 Expanding learning opportunities: The system for organizing learning opportunities within the town and delivering appropriate information to those who need it will be established. Support will also be provided for enhancing inquiry-based learning at Higashikawa High School, the only high school in the town.

3 Realizing continuous engagement: Efforts are being made to create mechanisms and opportunities for university students and young working adults who leave the town for further education or employment to remain connected with the town even from afar.

4 Creating fulfilling workplaces: To increase the number of workplaces where employees' individuality is valued and they can find fulfillment, support will be provided for recruitment and organizational development for companies in the town and surrounding areas.

This lecture event is organized by the Higashikawa Town Board of Education to provide learning opportunities not only for junior and senior high school students considering their future paths, but also for parents supporting children and all those involved in education. We look forward to the participation of many people.