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finances. Moreover, the knowledge and technical knowhow of active seniors is
essential for increasing new industries that will support the Platinum Society. Hopes
are pinned on the activities of seniors for education suited to the Platinum Society—
not regular school education but practical education for younger employees, as conducted at the Mayekawa company. There should be many opportunities for this kind
of activity. No matter how much mechanization and automation advance, master
skills are still necessary in the industrial world. “Remaining active for one’s entire
life” improves the QOL of seniors as well as being a significant motto for the
Platinum Society overall.
6.4.2 Making Use of the Knowledge and Experience of Seniors
for the Next Generation
Trials are being made to make wide use of the knowledge and experience of active
seniors in the field of education.
The city of Kashiwa in Chiba prefecture, the University of Tokyo’s Institute of
Gerontology, and the Urban Renaissance Agency (responsible for housing) are currently promoting urban design for a society of longevity. Nextph, is a learning space
for children from Grade 3 in elementary school through to children in Grade 3 of
junior high school, is operating as a partner business. Perhaps the most unique feature of Nextph is the Robot Club which has senior staff as its tutors.
Nextph has involved corporations, schools and local residents in its activities.
Active seniors, who have already retired, teach English and math classes at Nextph.
One of the senior tutors is Tatsuo Muto who was an engineer at Mitsubishi Chemical
Corporation. Mr. Muto initially participated as an English teacher but after a while,
he decided that he want to teach the children real science and proposed the robot
class. After he began a class for which he developed original materials for teaching
programming and so on, it filled up very quickly and has been extremely popular.
Currently, the number of classes has been increased and a number of seniors have
taken on the role of tutors.
With the advance of ICT, programming is already becoming mandatory in junior
high schools while from 2020, it will also be a mandatory subject in elementary
schools. From that social backdrop, there is a demand for programming classes and
robot classes are well attended right across Japan. However, the number of people
who can teach such classes is limited. People who are now employed are busy
enough with their own work and do not have the leeway to participate in education.
That is why participation by seniors is necessary.
Active seniors like Mr. Muto have a wealth of knowledge and experience they
have accumulated during their time in the real world, and they can provide children
with lessons taken from real life, different from classes at school or a cram school.
At the same time, for the seniors, being able to participate in society of their own
volition gives them meaning. For seniors to live their lives in good mental and phys6.4 Good Health and Self-Reliance for a Fulfilling Life
finances. Moreover, the knowledge and technical knowhow of active seniors is
essential for increasing new industries that will support the Platinum Society. Hopes
are pinned on the activities of seniors for education suited to the Platinum Society—
not regular school education but practical education for younger employees, as conducted at the Mayekawa company. There should be many opportunities for this kind
of activity. No matter how much mechanization and automation advance, master
skills are still necessary in the industrial world. “Remaining active for one’s entire
life” improves the QOL of seniors as well as being a significant motto for the
Platinum Society overall.
6.4.2 Making Use of the Knowledge and Experience of Seniors
for the Next Generation
Trials are being made to make wide use of the knowledge and experience of active
seniors in the field of education.
The city of Kashiwa in Chiba prefecture, the University of Tokyo’s Institute of
Gerontology, and the Urban Renaissance Agency (responsible for housing) are currently promoting urban design for a society of longevity. Nextph, is a learning space
for children from Grade 3 in elementary school through to children in Grade 3 of
junior high school, is operating as a partner business. Perhaps the most unique feature of Nextph is the Robot Club which has senior staff as its tutors.
Nextph has involved corporations, schools and local residents in its activities.
Active seniors, who have already retired, teach English and math classes at Nextph.
One of the senior tutors is Tatsuo Muto who was an engineer at Mitsubishi Chemical
Corporation. Mr. Muto initially participated as an English teacher but after a while,
he decided that he want to teach the children real science and proposed the robot
class. After he began a class for which he developed original materials for teaching
programming and so on, it filled up very quickly and has been extremely popular.
Currently, the number of classes has been increased and a number of seniors have
taken on the role of tutors.
With the advance of ICT, programming is already becoming mandatory in junior
high schools while from 2020, it will also be a mandatory subject in elementary
schools. From that social backdrop, there is a demand for programming classes and
robot classes are well attended right across Japan. However, the number of people
who can teach such classes is limited. People who are now employed are busy
enough with their own work and do not have the leeway to participate in education.
That is why participation by seniors is necessary.
Active seniors like Mr. Muto have a wealth of knowledge and experience they
have accumulated during their time in the real world, and they can provide children
with lessons taken from real life, different from classes at school or a cram school.
At the same time, for the seniors, being able to participate in society of their own
volition gives them meaning. For seniors to live their lives in good mental and phys6.4 Good Health and Self-Reliance for a Fulfilling Life