Ishizaka Inc. will host an experiential session for school faculty and staff on our discovery-based learning program.
This session will use our field sites—such as resource recycling plants and satoyama landscapes—as practical examples of circularity in action. Participants will experience firsthand, through actual program activities, how to design learning that empowers students to take the initiative in posing questions, thinking critically, and connecting with society.
This program has already been introduced as a model case in multiple schools and is highly regarded as an discovery-based learning environment that fosters student initiative and problem-discovery skills. During the workshop, we will share concrete examples of lesson planning, incorporating these practical cases, and explore together with teachers what kinds of lesson designs are possible.
Session Content
- Experience and tour inquiry fields
Guided by our staff, tour the fields at Ishizaka Inc. and Santome Konjakumura to envision discovery-based lessons practicable at your school. - Practical introductions based on model cases
We will share past program examples and feedback from participating schools. - Dialogue with Employees Addressing Social Issues
Experience a “dialogue” session, as conducted in actual inquiry programs, from the perspective of elementary and junior high school students. - Program Design Workshop & Exchange Session
Discuss challenges and possibilities for inquiry-based lessons tailored to each school’s needs. Explore lesson development directions through exchanges among participants and our staff.
Event Overview
◆Event Dates and Times
Friday, March 27, 2026 12:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Monday, March 30, 2026 12:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Saturday, April 4, 2026 12:00 PM – 3:45 PM
◆Venue
Ishizaka Inc. / Santome Konjakumura (1589-2 Kamitome, Miyoshi-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama Prefecture)
※For those using public transportation, a shuttle bus is available from Fujimino Station on the Tobu Tojo Line.
Outbound: Departs 11:30 AM Return: Departs 4:00 PM
Please check here for details.
◆Target Audience
Faculty and staff of elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, universities, vocational schools, and other educational institutions; education professionals, etc.
◆Capacity
Limited to 15 participants per day (Advance registration required; first-come, first-served basis)
◆Participation Fee
Free of charge
◆Time Schedule
- 12:00
- Reception
- 12:10
- Lunch Networking Session
*Please bring your own lunch. Alternatively, the “Santome Tsumugi Bento” is available for ¥1,000 (tax included) upon request.
- 13:00
- Resource Recycling Plant / Santome Konjakumura Experience & Tour
- 14:30
- Employee Dialogue Session
- 15:00
- Open Discussion
- 15:45
- End of the Session
※Content and schedule are subject to change.
※If you are unable to attend on the above dates, please contact us separately at the address below.
Past Program Examples
Programs are being introduced into schools in the following ways.
Model Case ① Kaijo Junior & Senior High School
【Expanding, Deepening, and Implementing Questions】
A three-day program was conducted under the theme: “If you became an employee of Ishizaka, what kind of work would you do to contribute to realizing a sustainable society?” Each student identified an issue that sparked their interest through visits to resource recycling plants and satoyama. They then deepened their exploration of social issues through dialogue with specialist employees in those fields. Finally, they presented their business proposals at an event attended by our company executives and employees.
Model Case ② Yamazaki Gakuen Fujimi Junior High School
【Finding Questions, Discovering Your Own Interests】
We conducted a program focused on practicing “finding questions,” the foundation of inquiry-based learning. During visits to a resource recycling plant and satoyama, participants took part in a Discovery Photo Walk, capturing scenes they found memorable or meaningful. Through workshops where they presented why they were interested, they explored the points that made them think, “Why is that?”
Model Case ③: Shinjuku Ward Nishitoyama Elementary School
【Deepening Personal Research Themes from Different Perspectives】
Learning objectives were set as: ① Increasing interest in environmental issues, and ② Gaining insights to promote the local traditional vegetable “Naito Pepper.” Through visits to a resource recycling plant and satoyama, participants engaged with environmental issues. At Santome Konjakumura, they deepened promotional ideas through wild herb tea tastings and creating leaf pools. Survey responses showed a significant increase in children expressing a desire to “learn more about nature,” rising from 68% to 98%. During the workshop, children proactively proposed practical ideas for effectively communicating the value of these initiatives to a wider audience.
Facing questions without answers.
Exploring those questions through dialogue between differing perspectives.
We carefully accompany you in this process.
For students who can formulate their own questions and drive their inquiry forward,
we provide a field where they can fully unleash that power.
For students still unsure how to find questions,
we offer small sparks of inspiration, think alongside them, and experiment together,
providing time to discover the “seeds of inquiry” and the feeling of “this is interesting.”
Ishizaka is a workplace where adults seriously confront environmental and social issues.
Learning through dialogue with passionate adults in a space where “passion” takes “form”
becomes an entry point to inquiry connected to the real world—for students and educators alike.
This experience session is more than a simple tour.
You will take home a foundation for inquiry-based learning
practicable at your own school.
Why not join us in exploring this together?
How to Sign Up
Please complete the application form below with the required information.
Application Form URL: https://forms.office.com/r/0KpdJM6j9d
Application Deadline: 7 days prior to each event date
For inquiries
Ishizaka Inc. Oak Woods Environmental School Office
Attn: Uchida
TEL: 81+49-259-6565
Inquiry Form: https://forms.office.com/r/6rMimFp13H
Facility Tour and Training Program
We offer factory tours throughout the year that are open to all visitors.Our programs include tours designed for adults, family-friendly tours for parents and children, as well as tours tailored for companies and organizations.We provide customized courses based on your needs, including the theme, budget, and available time.
Contact Us
For inquiries regarding industrial waste acceptance, media interview requests, or consultations about collaboration and partnerships, please contact us here.
