Educational Assistance for
the Next Generation

From fiscal 2021, we started the Gundam Educational Program, which provides opportunities to think about the fun of manufacturing and environmental issues. For the subject matter, this initiative draws on Gundam model kits and the life-sized moving Gundam at Gundam Factory Yokohama.

Educational Support

Since November 2021, we have been holding an educational support program for elementary and junior high school students at the Gundam Factory Yokohama to learn about and experience the workings of the life-sized moving Gundam. This program aims to spur interest in manufacturing. By the end of the life-sized moving Gundam’s exhibition on March 31, 2024, a total of 7,554 students from 102 schools had participated in the program.

Gunpla Academia

We have been holding classes on model kits assembly, called Gunpla Academia, at elementary schools across Japan since October 2021. As of July 2024, more than 600,000 elementary school students from over 8,000 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)

Bandai Namco Group companies host visits for children in the local community.

In August 2023, Bandai hosted the Thomas Edison Special Exhibition lecture as part of its sustainability project, Future Creation, aimed at providing educational and experiential value for children who will shape the future. A total of 19 schools participated, with students from the third to fourth grades.

Bandai Namco Filmworks provides elementary, junior high, and high school students with social education opportunities. These include practical, hands-on training using our own IP as curriculum, providing the chance to learn about animation, IP creation, and production. Since 2020, approximately 640 students from 28 schools have participated.

In December 2023, Bandai Namco Holdings conducted an learning program at the Bandai Head Office for first-year students from Honjo Junior High School in Sumida Ward, where they learned about the sustainable activities of the Bandai Namco Group.

Students from the Nippon Designers School Malaysia aspiring to pursue animation production were invited to tour the production studio and VR production studio of Bandai Namco Filmworks, accompanied by an information session on animation production. The students participated enthusiastically, asking many questions.

In addition, at MegaHouse, a special lecture (Toy Invention Program) was held by the Othello representatives at the Doshisha University.

Furthermore, 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.

Shimane Susanoo Magic, a professional basketball team partly managed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, has hosted the Dream Class since 2007, where its basketball players visit kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary schools in Shimane Prefecture to talk with the children about their dreams for the future.

In addition, with the aim of contributing to Matsue City, we actively engage in PR activities for various measures, such as promoting reflective materials, eradicating violence, and activities for the Central Community Chest of Japan.

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 2023, we actively collaborated with nearby schools to provide work experience opportunities at amusement facilities across the country, including two Namco locations and four Tondemi locations. This is part of our local community contribution activities.

Charaken holds the Jackie Caravan in which a music troop featuring the main character Jackie and the bears from the picture book series The Bears’ School visit kindergartens and nursery schools across Japan to deliver happiness to children. In fiscal 2023, Jackie Caravan collaborated with an NPO to distribute Christmas presents to 12 children’s wards across Japan.

In March 2023, Bandai Namco Holdings China launched the Future Dream Creation Project in China. This project aims to connect with children with disabilities and children living in poverty through dreams, fun, and inspiration together with various partners. As the first initiative of the project, we donated 2,000 sets of toys to special needs schools in Jiangsu Province, China from March 2 to 13, 2023.

In addition, Bandai Namco Asia (headquarters in Hong Kong), which procures, sells, and imports and exports toys in Asia, donated 7,083 toys to Gracious Shepherd Christian Church, a local organization providing support to children, in April 2023 to promote a society where children who will lead a bright future can be raised in good health and have dreams and hopes. The toys were delivered to less fortunate families with children at a free event held by Gracious Shepherd Christian Church on April 16, 2023.

Under our Purpose of “Fun for All into the Future,” the Bandai Namco Group will deliver fun and inspiration to people around the world and pursue smiles and happiness into the future.

Since its establishment in 1995, Bandai Namco Foundation of America, has continued focusing on charity and donation initiatives aimed at promoting the health and welfare of children.

Among these, the organization has continuously participated in the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Walk for over 10 years. This event is one of the largest and most unique pediatric fundraising initiatives in the United States, attracting over 800 teams and more than 35,000 participants each year. Over its 31-year history, it has raised approximately US$42 million. We will continue to participate in and contribute to charity events, supporting children’s hopes for the future and bringing them happiness.

Operation Gundam R is a hands-on event launched as part of the Gundam Recycling Project with the aim of recycling Gundam model runners (the plastic frame used to contain the parts of plastic models) collected with the help of fans and creating a circular society. Launched in April 2021, Operation Gundam R collected approximately 11 tons of runners from 31 locations in fiscal 2021 and approximately 21 tons of runners from 51 locations in fiscal 2022.

In fiscal 2023, the third year, the number of locations was expanded to more than 57 across Japan, including shopping centers and music festival venues. At these locations, sample Gundam plastic model kits made from ECOPLA, made from recycled runners, special booklets, and limited edition stickers were handed out free of charge. In addition, after fans enjoyed assembling their Gundam models at these venues, they were able to place the runners in collection boxes, giving them a sense of being part of plastic recycling.

The Bandai Namco Group collaborates with Save the Children Japan to carry out activities for children in disaster-stricken areas, alongside unique initiatives such as hosting craft and plastic model classes themed around the picture book series The Bears’ School.

In 2023, as part of the Children’s Experience Program 2023, we held a Make and Learn! Dinosaur Plastic Model Class, which saw participation from a group of 30 children in the first to third grades along with their parents. The event featured activities such as plastic model building and dinosaur quizzes, in addition to an introduction to the plastic model runner recycling initiative. The program was designed to spark children’s interest in living things and the environment through toys and play, paving the way for their next learning experiences. We will continue our activities aimed at children in the future.

MegaHouse provides an educational program aimed at children, emphasizing their value as the future. This program, which teaches the concept of universal design through the game Othello, is designed for implementation in elementary school classes throughout Japan. This program was developed in collaboration with Kanko Manabonect Co., Ltd. and features easy-to-understand videos that incorporate the universal design concept using Ittai Othello, where the pieces are built into the board game. It is a free educational program that enables students to learn about universal design and the processes of problem discovery and resolution. Othello celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and has been beloved by many users, including children. Moving forward, we hope that Ittai Othello will provide enjoyable learning experiences for those with visual impairments and many children.

MegaHouse introduces its universal design products (shared play toys) in the toy section of the equipment shop at the Japan Braille Library and in the audio magazine Nitten Daisy Magazine published by the library.

Bandai opened the Toy & Hobby Factory Pavilion at KidZania Tokyo, a facility for children’s work and social experience, on March 28, 2023.

The pavilion offers children the opportunity to experience creating capsule toys, which is one of Bandai’s business ventures. As staff at the toy factory, children put on original uniforms only worn at KidZania Tokyo and create “PAC-MAN Capchara” toys in KidZania Tokyo-exclusive colors using materials made from recycled empty capsules. In addition to learning about environmentally friendly product manufacturing, the pavilion also conveys the fun of manufacturing through the manufacturing process using various machines, and provides an opportunity for the children to develop an interest in environmentally friendly product manufacturing and sustainability. We hope that the pavilion experience helps children as the flagbearers of tomorrow to “create fun times” together.

As part of its sustainability initiatives, Bandai Namco Holdings has entered into a partnership agreement with the Junior Eco Club^*1, a program focused on voluntary environmental activities and learning for children, to support their efforts and their participation in nature experiences. In February 2024, a total of 20 participants, consisting of Group employees and their families, participated in the Lake Senba Environmental Learning Class^*2, gaining an understanding of the topography and geological features of the area around Lake Senba. The Group will continue to participate in the activities of the Junior Eco Club, providing opportunities for employees to experience the importance of environmental conservation.

*1The Japan Environment Association, which runs the Junior Eco Club, operates under the auspices of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The association collaborates with local governments, companies, and organizations to promote children’s environmental activities. The association has approximately 2,300 clubs nationwide, with around 97,000 registered members as of September 30, 2024.

*2Organized by the Ibaraki Prefecture Environmental Management Association, with cooperation from the Sakasagawa Junior Eco Club.