Isetan Shinjuku will launch a "School Project" for preschoolers (ages 3 to 6) in conjunction with a complete remodel of the main building's 6th floor baby and children's area in March 2015.
Ahead of the grand opening next spring, a new zone called "Park" around the escalators was unveiled on the 6th floor on October 1st. A 50-square-meter workshop was set up here as an "experience zone" to develop children's imaginations through play. The first workshop was a kids' design workshop themed "Let's Make an Upside-Down Book," and featured Muneshige Hashizume, an art director and designer in the fields of art, architecture, and fashion. The theme will change every two to three weeks, with external instructors invited to participate. In March, the space will be transformed into a full-fledged glass-walled classroom space, offering hands-on experiences in a variety of fields, including cooking, dance, exercise, and video. "Today, an increasing number of parents have a strong desire for their children to become global citizens. Recognizing this, 'Park' aims to be a 'place of opportunity' to nurture children who will soar out into the world by mastering the five kindergarten curriculum guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: 'health, relationships, environment, language, and expression.'" A floor staff member explained. "School Project," scheduled to open in March next year at the Isetan Kaikan, will cater to those who wish to learn more. It is positioned as an educational space for acquiring modern skills, a stepping stone after the 30-minute workshop at Park. Since there are no educational facilities specializing in "new media" in Japan, the project will focus on web and digital education, honing entertainment, communication, and information literacy. It will also provide innovative educational experiences, including hands-on programming lessons and explanations of the mechanisms and functions of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Isetan will partner with the IT group to provide classes that offer a variety of experiences.
Museum educator and specially appointed assistant professor at the University of Tokyo's GCL Development Program, Aida Daiya, will participate in this project in the role of "vice principal." Aida has been in charge of education outreach at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media (YCAM) since the center's opening, where he has made remarkable contributions to the education sector, developing original workshops and producing educational outreach programs.
The school project will provide a three-month, 10-session course (60,000 yen). There are also plans to offer a course for parents that coincides with this time, incorporating parental education related to child-rearing into the lessons.
