"The Secrets of Shining Women" is an interview series showcasing women who excel in a variety of fields, including work and home. Our seventh installment features Nanako Ishido, chairperson of CANVAS, an NPO that promotes creative and expressive activities for children, and president of Digital Ehon Co., Ltd., a developer of picture book apps. We spoke with Ishido, who works hard every day for the children who will shape the future.

--This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of CANVAS, which you run. What kind of activities does CANVAS, which you run, involve?

CANVAS promotes activities that foster children's creativity and communication skills through collaboration between industry, government, and academia. Until now, cramming and memorizing knowledge has been emphasized. However, in today's information society, where information is readily available, these skills have become less valuable. We believe that what children today need is the ability to collaborate with others to create new things, as well as creativity and communication skills, skills that computers cannot replace. That's why CANVAS plans and runs workshops to foster these skills. --What is your connection to the digital picture book project, of which you are the representative?
Our diverse activities include workshops and events, as well as building a network of adults who support children's learning. We also create digital content for children using tablets and smartphones so that they can continue their creative activities at home. Because we also involve artists, we have incorporated our digital picture book business as a corporation for convenience, but all activities are linked.
--Is there a recent project that has left a lasting impression on you?
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the "Workshop Collection," which was held on August 29th and 30th at Aoyama Gakuin University's Aoyama Campus. CANVAS has always placed importance on creating two "places": a place where children can create and express themselves, and a place where adults, including companies, local governments, schools, museums, local communities, and families, can come together to support this. The "Workshop Collection" is a visualization of this. The first event attracted 500 visitors, but the scale has grown with each passing year, and the last one attracted 100,000 visitors over two days. While we didn't set any numerical goals, it's still a moving experience. Workshop Collection was originally started with the desire to provide learning opportunities for all children, so we thought, why not spread excitement throughout Japan by holding workshops simultaneously across the country in conjunction with Workshop Collection? So, starting this year, we launched Creative Kids Day, an annual festival to encourage children's creativity. This year, approximately 150 workshops participated from across the country, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. In Aichi, Workshop Gathering, bringing together 24 workshops, was held on the same day as Workshop Collection. So, you've grown through interacting with so many people, haven't you? That's true. It's not so much our own strength that's astounding, but the power of children. Children are not only creative, but they also have a powerful unifying force. When you continue to work on child-related activities, adults who see children as the "treasures of the future" extend a helping hand.

--You lead a busy life every day. What's the secret to staying active?

I guess it's enjoying every day. I don't really have a clear boundary between my work and personal life. However, I have a 4-year-old child, so I try to spend as much time as possible with him. To achieve this, I've changed my work style, sharing work with colleagues and staff and delegating what I can. I also try to work efficiently, not putting off tasks that need to be done, and getting them done on the same day.

--How do you imagine yourself in 10 years?

Right now, I'm doing what I love with people I love, so I hope to be doing the same thing in 10 years. I'd like to expand this activity overseas. I'm thinking about introducing interesting creative ideas from overseas in a workshop collection or holding events overseas.

--Is there anyone you admire?

I think Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female Prime Minister, with her iron will and drive; Fujiko Mine, who appears in Lupin the Third and has an impressive femininity; and Empress Michiko, who has the gentle demeanor typical of a Japanese woman, are wonderful.

--They're all unique and powerful characters. So, who would you most like to meet right now?

I'd love to meet the genius kids who will shape the next generation. We recently published a booklet called "What You Can Do on the Internet," which summarizes the activities of kids and teens around the world who use the Internet. Today's children have access to new tools for expression and communication, and are achieving things we can't even imagine.

Continued in the second half: "The bright, resonant sound of geta: a natural charm."