Announcement of the Winning Teams of the “Green Blue Education Forum 2025” Competition and Award Ceremony – Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Osaka-Kansai Expo “World Play & Learning Summit” –

We are pleased to announce the selection of the winners of the GBEF Competition, held as part of the Green Blue Education Forum 2025 (GBEF2025), organized by the Green Blue Education Forum Executive Committee (Chair: Noriko Ishizaka, Representative Director, Ishizaka Sangyo Co., Ltd.) and co-hosted by the Ministry of the Environment.

This year’s competition received a record 114 applications from 35 prefectures. Of these, 17 teams passed the first round of judging, and after the final round on Monday, July 7, six winners were selected. The submissions focused on specific initiatives aimed at solving environmental issues, such as global warming, biodiversity, and resource recycling, based on the applicants’ own experiences. Among these, teams were selected for their high level of originality and innovation, and their potential for widespread adoption in local communities.

The winning teams will take to the stage and give presentations at GBEF2025, which will be held on Sunday, August 10th at the Global Play and Learning Summit (a signature event of the Playground of Life Jellyfish Pavilion, produced by Nakajima Sachiko) at EXPO Messe “WASSE” at the

Osaka-Kansai Expo. The presentations will be available to watch at the venue and online on the day. If you wish to watch at the venue on the day, you will need to purchase an admission ticket to the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Anyone with a ticket can come to the GBEF2025 venue and watch without making a reservation. If you wish to watch online, please do so via the viewing link (described below).

■ GBEF Competition Winning Teams (Titles omitted, in no particular order):

• Minister of the Environment Award
  • TOMBO MIMICRY (2nd year student at Nyuzen Town Nyuzen Nishi Junior High School [Toyama Prefecture])
    “From dragonfly wings to the future”
• Ishizaka Industry Award
  • Nakagawa Seika (3rd year student at Tsukuba University Sakado High School [Saitama Prefecture])
    “Creating hydrogen from food waste”
• Kayama Kogyo Award
  • Soil Research Training Team (2nd year student at Aichi Prefectural Anjo Agriculture and Forestry High School [Aichi Prefecture])
    “Creating value from waste: sustainable aquaculture and agriculture using tomato by-products”
• Koen Cross Organization Award
  • Shirahama Town Hioki Junior High School Sea Forest Project (All students at Shirahama Town Hioki Junior High School [Wakayama Prefecture])
    “Let’s protect the earth! Let’s protect the future! Sea Forest Project”
• Unson Award
  • Miyazu Amabashi High School Field Research Club (2nd year student at Kyoto Prefectural Miyazu Amabashi High School [Kyoto Prefecture])
    “Green, blue and us. ~Let’s preserve our hometown with everyone’s help~”
• Yamato Lease Award
  • Landscape Design Team SAKUR☆ (2nd year, Environmental Design Department, Aichi Prefectural Sanage Agricultural and Forestry High School [Aichi Prefecture])
    “Creating a sustainable town through the power of landscaping ~Regional revitalization for future generations~”

*Videos of the winning works will be posted on the GBEF website at a later date. https://gb-ef.org/

An overview of GBEF2025, including the presentations by the winning teams and the award ceremony, is as follows.

■　GBEF2025 OverviewDate
:　Sunday, August 10, 2025, 10:00-15:00Venue
:
At the Global 　　　　　　Play & Learn Summit 　to be held at EXPO Messe “WASSE” at the 2025 World Exposition, Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo) and online
programs (planned):　
Admission begins around 9:30 (EXPO Messe “WASSE”)
10:00 Opening
10:05　 My Action! Experience ReportAn
　　　　experience presentation in collaboration between past competition winners and companies.
　　　　　Speakers
　　　　　: Wakana Sawazaki (4th GBEF Competition 2023 Hasegawa Mira Award Winner)
　　　　　, Nanoha Sawazaki (4th GBEF Competition 2023 Hasegawa Mira Award Winner)
　　　　　, Toshiyuki Tatsumi (CEO, Koiwai Farming Co., Ltd.)
10:25　 Presentations by the six GBEF Competition
　　　　winning teams and introduction of the outstanding and nominated works from the final judging
11:40 Break
12:10　 Future Interview & Discussion
　　　　An international exchange-style discussion on the theme of “The Future of People and Nature.”
　　　　Children will engage in a dialogue with experts working to solve social issues around the world, and think about “The Future of People and Nature” together with the audience.
　　　　　Moderators
　　　　　: Misuzu Asari (Vice Director, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature)
　　　　　and Yoichi Sato (Member of the Next Generation National Committee for UNESCO)
　　　　　Part I Theme: “Learn about efforts around the world”
　　　　　Speakers
　　　　　・Rahul Visunkaye (CEO of PARAMENDO)
　　　　　・Tanaka Shirei (5th GBEF Competition 2024 Kyoto Prefectural Governor’s Award)
　　　　　・Chering Lama (Chairman and CEO of Idea Studio Nepal)
　　　　　・Nielsen Kitamura Tomoko (Cultural Translator)
　　　　　・Kobayashi Yasuhiro (Representative of Ecological Memes General Incorporated Association)
　　　　　■Part II Theme: “What can we do?”
　　　　　Speakers
　　　　　・Aichi Prefectural Anjo Agricultural and Forestry High School (5th GBEF Competition 2024 Minister of the Environment Award)
　　　　　・Kyoto Prefectural Katsura High School (5th GBEF Competition 2024 Ishizaka Industry Award)
　　　　　・Lake Biwa Protectors (5th GBEF Competition 2024 Daiwa Lease Award)
　　　　　・Morita Shunsaku (Chairman and CEO of Daiwa Lease Co., Ltd.)
13:35What 　can we do for our beloved Earth? 
　　　　This discussion will involve everyone, including the children who appeared at GBEF, the experts, and the audience.
　　　　The theme will be “What can we do for our beloved Earth?” and graphic
　　　　facilitator® Yamazaki Yuniko will be joining us to compile the voices of the audience into a picture scroll.
　　　　　MC
　　　　　: Miyu Kosaka (2025 Miss Japan “Angel of Water”)
　　　　　Facilitator
　　　　　: Takumi Tsuchida (President of Waseda University Environmental Rodriguez)
　　　　　Graphic Facilitator
　　　　　: Yuniko Yamazaki (Graphic Facilitator®)
　　　　　Speakers
　　　　　: Aichi Prefectural Anjo Agricultural and Forestry High School (5th GBEF Competition 2024 Minister of the Environment Award)
　　　　　, Kyoto Prefectural Katsura High School (5th GBEF Competition 2024 Ishizaka Industry Award)
　　　　　, Daiya Eco Club (5th GBEF Competition 2024 Jury Encouragement Award)
　　　　　, Kyoto Prefectural Miyazu Amabashi High School (5th GBEF Competition 2024 Jury Encouragement Award),
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　and more
Ends at 15:00

Organizers:　Green Blue Education Forum Executive Committee (within the “Experience Opportunity Place” Research Organization)
Co-organizer: Ministry 　of the Environment
Supported by:　Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Osaka Prefecture, Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, Saitama Prefecture
Sponsors:
<Platinum Partner Special Sponsors>
Ishizaka Sangyo Co., Ltd., Kayama Kogyo Co., Ltd., Public En Cross Organization General Incorporated Association, TSDO Co., Ltd.,
Paradox Co., Ltd. <
Gold Partner Special Sponsors>
 Kumoson Co., Ltd., Yamato Lease Co., Ltd., Unifina Are Co., Ltd. <Silver Partner Sponsors> Green prop Co., Ltd., Gunze Limited, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO <Bronze Partner Sponsors> Kyoto Environmental Conservation Corporation, Koiwai Farming Co., Ltd., Tatsuno Co., Ltd., Fuji Clean Co., Ltd. (In alphabetical order, as of July 24, 2025) ■ GBEF2025 Online Viewing URLIf you wish to watch online, please access the link below when the time comes on the day (no reservation required). https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84121322134?pwd=bseht2LgIXEidVIZttanNvKZ1iJXVH.1 Passcode: 579680 Start time: 10:00 AM, August 10, 2025 (JST) <What is a Signature Event?> The Osaka-Kansai Expo will feature eight Signature Pavilions produced by eight producers active at the forefront of various fields, each with a life-related theme. The events independently planned and organized by each producer are called Signature Events. <What is the “World Play and Learning Summit”?>

This is the signature event of the “Playground of Life: Jellyfish Museum,” produced by Sachiko Nakajima. For five days, from Wednesday, August 6th to Sunday, August 10th, the event will share the common philosophy of “creating a creative space where diverse life forms can shine with excitement and creativity in their own unique way.” Organizations such as steAm Inc., the Japan Pair Go Association, the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, the Ritsumeikan Trust, Pia Corporation, and the “Experience Opportunity Space” Research Organization will provide a platform for multifaceted discussions and expression about the future of play and learning, transcending national borders, positions, and generations. Through interactive exhibits and experiences that engage the five senses, diverse workshops and events, and diverse interactions with diverse people, the organization aims to “democratize creativity” by building a society and culture in which everyone can unleash their diverse creativity.

About the “Experience Opportunity Space” Research Organization:

Established by businesses certified as “Experience Opportunity Spaces” by prefectural governors and other organizations, the organization aims to further enhance experience programs from a private perspective. Currently, 17 organizations are members. Chairperson: Noriko Ishizaka (CEO of Ishizaka Sangyo Co., Ltd.)
In October 2022, we signed an agreement with the Ministry of the Environment to enhance and expand the “Places for Experience Opportunities” based on the Environmental Education Promotion Act.
“Places for Experience Opportunities” Certification System　https://www.env.go.jp/policy/post_57.html
“Places for Experience Opportunities” Research Organization　https://esd-place.org/