Educational Assistance for
the Next Generation
As the leaders of tomorrow, children are an important pillar of our future. The Bandai Namco Group focuses on activities that help foster the next generation through education and sports. We are also working to support children’s welfare and health.
Educational Support for Children
Gunpla Academia: supporting education with our IP
We have been holding classes on model kits assembly, called Gunpla Academia, at elementary schools across Japan since October 2021. As of October 2025, more than 900,000 elementary school students from over 13,000 elementary schools had participated in these classes. By showing students videos and having them experience model kits assembly, we communicate to students the fun of manufacturing and introduce them to our initiatives to protect the global environment, such as the Gunpla Recycling Project.
Gunpla Academia, a plastic model lesson package (in Japanese only)
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Special lectures at universities and vocational schools through industry-academia collaboration
The Bandai Namco Group holds special lectures at universities and vocational schools.
Bandai Namco Experience
Bandai Namco Experience collaborates with art universities, vocational schools, and high schools to implement a work experience program utilizing PolaPoriPosuPo, our original IP. During the program, students work on creative projects based on the characters and we hosted an exhibition of their works in November 2024. The works were also exhibited at the Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo, providing a place for interaction between educational institutions, students, and fans of our IP.
MegaHouse
MegaHouse held a special lecture at Doshisha University incorporating the company’s products such as Othello and Rubik’s Cube. At Hannan University, we also gave a lecture on product development theory featuring the Rubik’s Cube. In seminars, we also exchange opinions with students.
Lectures at Shizuoka University and Hannan University
©2025. TM & © Spin Master Toys UK Limited, used under license.
Bandai Spirts
Bandai Spirits works with the local community to implement initiatives aimed at attracting talent to the manufacturing industry. In Shizuoka Prefecture, where the Bandai Hobby Center (BHC) is located, we hold lectures covering such topics as industrial innovation and BHC-style commitment to manufacturing together with Shizuoka University, and also hold special lectures at the Shizuoka Prefectural High School of Science and Technology’s school festival. Additionally, lectures are held at various locations, such as the International Plastic Fair and the Nagaoka Monozukuri Fair, with the aim of revitalizing the entire manufacturing industry.
Supporting education with Shimane Susanoo Magic
Shimane Susanoo Magic, a professional basketball team partly managed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, carries out a number of initiatives in the field of education to give back to the local community and support the healthy growth of children.
In addition, as a way to contribute to Matsue City, we actively engage in PR activities on community safety and welfare, such as promoting reflective materials, eradicating violence, and activities for the Central Community Chest of Japan.
Dream Class nurturing children’s dreams
Since 2007, Shimane Susanoo Magic players have been visiting kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary schools in Shimane Prefecture to hold the Dream Class, where they talk with children about their dreams for the future. Through interactions with professional athletes, children can believe in their own potential and develop a positive attitude towards making their dreams a reality.
Let’s Play Basketball project:
donating basketballs to all local elementary schools
To mark the 15th anniversary of its founding, the Shimane Susanoo Magic launched the Let’s Play Basketball project as part of its efforts to promote sports. The team donated six basketballs to each elementary school in Shimane Prefecture (210 schools, including public and national compulsory education schools and special needs schools). This will provide more opportunities for children to experience basketball and help them develop both physically and mentally through sports.
Providing various hands-on learning opportunities, including workplace experiences
Bandai
To provide educational and experience-based value to the children who will lead our future, Bandai set up a Thomas Edison Special Exhibition at its headquarters in March 2023. From the collection of the Edison Museum, operated by the Bandai Collection Foundation in Mibu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, a public interest incorporated foundation, working gramophones, incandescent light bulbs, toasters, and other items are on display in a booth modeled after part of Edison’s birthplace in Ohio, USA, along with information about Edison’s life and famous quotes.
Local Taito Ward elementary school students were invited to a special lecture held during their summer vacation, with a total of 109 parents and children attending in August 2024 and 96 parents and children in August 2025.
Bandai Spirts
On September 2, 2025, Bandai Spirits opened the BHCPDII MUSEUM in Shizuoka City, offering factory tours and hands-on learning opportunities. The facility allows visitors to experience plastic model making, including modeling and packaging production, and also offers demonstrations of actual molding machines. This is a new spot where people of all ages, from children to adults, can experience the charm of manufacturing.
BHCPDII MUSEUM | Bandai Hobby Center Plamo Design Industrial Institute Museum (in Japanese only)
Heart
Heart hosts workplace tours for kindergarten students. In October 2024, 47 children in the middle year class from Hisaeda Kindergarten in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, where our head office is located, participated. In addition to a tour of the factory, the children also had the opportunity to experience sweets making by filling containers and wrapping them, which they were able to take home.
Bandai Namco Amusement
Bandai Namco Amusement actively provides a variety of hands-on learning opportunities for children who will lead the future by utilizing games and facilities.
In fiscal 2024, we actively collaborated with nearby schools to provide work experience opportunities at amusement facilities across the country, including eight Namco locations, seven Tondemi locations, and six VS PARK locations. This is part of our local community contribution activities.
Hanayashiki
In fiscal 2024, Hanayashiki supported career education by hosting four junior and senior high school students for work experience sessions, planning and implementing two events on-site as part of classes, and cooperating with seven other off-campus learning activities such as interviews.
Bandai Namco Filmworks
Bandai Namco Filmworks provides social education opportunities for elementary, junior high, and high school students, including practical training using our own IP as a subject, to learn about animation production, IP creation, and production. In fiscal 2024, we hosted students from five schools, with approximately 100 participating, including tours in collaboration with government ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Cabinet Office, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Cooperate for the sound development of local youth
Many of the youth use our amusement facilities. At Bandai Namco Amusement, we work closely with related institutions to encourage employees to obtain the JAIA Youth Advisor* qualification to help foster the sound development of youth in the community.
*A qualification awarded to persons completing the JAIA Youth Instructor Development Program training held by the Japan Amusement Industry Association (JAIA), an industry group for the arcade game and amusement facility industries. These individuals have specialized knowledge and experience in activities for fostering youth.
Cheer Jackies! from The Bears’ School supporting hard-working children
Under the theme of supporting hard-working children, Charaken engages in various activities under the name “Cheer Jackies!” These include Jackie Caravan, which visits kindergartens and nursery schools, and donations to the Kids Earth Fund.
Jackie Caravan delivering smiles to children across Japan
As part of “Cheer Jackies!,” we hold Jackie Caravan in which Jackie, the main character of the picture book series The Bears’ School, and a female children’s singer visit kindergartens and nursery schools across Japan. This program, which brings smiles and happiness to children through picture book readings and concerts, was held at 10 facilities in fiscal 2024.
The Bears’ School Nurse’s Office supporting children’s health
The Bears’ School Nurse’s Office is an activity launched in 2024 to bring smiles to children who are physically or mentally unwell. In December 2024, Jackie visited the Pediatrics Department of Tohoku University Hospital in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. On the day, Jackie, dressed as Santa Claus, delivered Christmas presents to hospitalized children. Taking photos with the children and having fun together spread warm smiles throughout the hospital.
Cheer Jackies! (in Japanese only) The Bears’ School Nurse’s Office (in Japanese only)
© BANDAI
Supporting and donating to children’s charities
The Bandai Namco Group provides various forms of support to children around the world as they will be the leaders of our future.
Bandai Namco Holdings China
As part of the Future Dream Creation Project, Bandai Namco Holdings China donated 3,000 sets of toys and 800 books in Yunnan Province, China, in September 2024. These were delivered to children in need through local social welfare organizations and government agencies.
Additionally, we held a Gunpla assembly class at a local venue, with many children participating with smiles on their faces and experiencing the joy of making things.
This project, based on Bandai Namco Group’s purpose, “Fun for All into the Future,” aims to connect children with disabilities or living in poverty through “dreams, play, and inspiration.” It has been conducted since 2023. To date, a total of 7,500 sets of toys have been donated.
Bandai Namco Foundation of America
Since its founding in 1995, Bandai Namco Foundation of America has continued to carry out charity work and provide donations focused on the health and welfare of children. In particular, the foundation has participated in the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Walk for over 10 years, which is one of the largest pediatric medical fundraising events in the United States and attracts a great deal of support every year. Going forward, the foundation will continue to support the hopes and smiles of children through its involvement in charity events and donations.
Operation Gundam R—creating the future!
The Gunpla Recycling Project, which started in April 2021, collects runners (the frame parts of plastic models) from Gundam series plastic models, known as “Gunpla,” and transforms them into new plastic model products using cutting-edge chemical recycling technology. This contributes to the creation of a recycling-oriented society together with fans.
Currently, the collected runners are transported to Bandai Hobby Center, Bandai Spirits’ plastic model production factory, where they are combined with other plastics generated in the manufacturing process. A portion of the runners is used as material for demonstration experiments for chemical recycling and the remainder is reused through material recycling and thermal recycling. The total amount of runners collected in fiscal 2024 was approximately 37 tons.
Operation Gundam R
Operation Gundam R (Recycle) is an initiative being held at shopping centers across Japan to raise awareness of recycling through Gundam. During these events, participants are given a sample kit made of Ecopla, manufactured from collected recycled runners, along with a special booklet. Participants can experience firsthand recycling plastic by assembling their Ecopla on the spot and placing the runners in the collection box.
Providing educational products and services that enable learning through play
The Bandai Namco Group offers educational products and services that utilize its own content to support children’s learning. Through playful learning experiences, the Group is working to deepen understanding of society and the environment.
Bandai
Toyama Bay Fish Donjara
Together with Toyama Mirai Lab, a general incorporated association that promotes the Umi-to-Nippon (Ocean and Japan) Project, Bandai developed Toyama Bay Fish Donjara, a toy themed on marine life in Toyama Prefecture. This educational toy incorporates local feedback and aims to raise interest in marine life through play. We are distributing it free of charge to elementary schools and after-school classrooms in Toyama Prefecture, promoting understanding of the local environment.
Toys & Hobby Factory at KidZania Tokyo
Bandai opened the Toys & Hobby Factory at KidZania Tokyo, a facility that allows children to experience work and society. Children can experience capsule toy manufacturing as actual workers and create limited edition Cap-Chara PAC-MAN products using recycled materials. This provides an opportunity to learn about the joy of manufacturing and the importance of being mindful of the environment.
©KidZania
PAC-MAN™& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
MegaHouse
Teaching universal design with Othello
In collaboration with Kanko Manabonect Co., Ltd., MegaHouse has developed an educational program for elementary schools called Learning Universal Design with Othello. By combining Ittai Othello, which is also suitable for the visually impaired, with video teaching materials, we provide free lessons that allow students to learn about universal design and the problem-solving process in a fun format.
Supporting the development of global human resources through exchanges with overseas universities
In 2024, Bandai Namco Studio hosted a total of three company tours from universities in the United States, Australia, and China.
The students gained a firsthand experience of game development and deepened their understanding of the industry through interactions with creators. This initiative seeks to cultivate the next generation of global talent and strengthen ties with international educational institutions.
We will continue to support the development of the next generation through global exchanges.
Launched a sustainability website for kids to learn while having fun
Sustaina-land is the name of a sustainability website run by Bandai Namco Holdings for children. It features various IP (characters and other intellectual properties) from the Bandai Namco Group and introduces the Group’s initiatives in a fun way through comics, videos, coloring pages, and more.
In addition to Sustaina-land Art depicting the activities of the entire Group, the site is packed with content that is useful for SDGs education. We aim for the site to be a place where children can learn about sustainability while having fun.
Sustaina-land sustainability website for kids (in Japanese only)
Katamari Damacy™ Series & ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. ©Toshiyuki Kubooka THE IDOLM@STER™& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. ©SHIMANE SUSANOO MAGIC ©SOTSU・SUNRISE TEKKEN™& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. ©TRYWORKS PAC-MAN™& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. ©HANAYASHIKI Co., Ltd. ©BANDAI ©Bandai Namco Amusement Inc. Taiko no Tatsujin™ Series & ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. ©2024 PL!NM ©2025. TM & © Spin Master Toys UK Limited, used under license. TM&© Othello, Co. and MegaHouse.
