Takara Tomy Sparks Interest in Space Education with Special Class for Kids

On October 18, 2023, a unique educational event unfolded at Seiwa Elementary School located in Katsushika, Tokyo. The company Takara Tomy, known for its innovative toys and educational initiatives, organized a special outreach class aimed at inspiring students with an interest in space and robotics. The event gathered 89 enthusiastic students from various grades, all eager to learn more about the universe.

This initiative was made possible through a collaborative project between JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and Takara Tomy, resulting in the development of the ultra-small transformable lunar robot, "SORA-Q." The school’s participation as an ambassador for the SORA-Q project served as a motivation for the special class.

The class featured insightful talks led by two of the project’s key figures: Yoshihiro Yoneda, a developer from Takara Tomy, and the project leader, Kensuke Akagi. They shared fascinating stories about the challenges and triumphs of developing SORA-Q, while also engaging the children with multiple-choice quizzes and discussions about space. Akagi notably captured the students’ attention by revealing, “The distance from Earth to the Moon is 380,000 kilometers, which would take about 53 days traveling by Shinkansen (bullet train).” The students responded with gasps of surprise, showcasing their enthusiasm and curiosity about space.

During a dedicated Q&A session, students eagerly posed questions like, “Why did you create SORA-Q?” and “What is the yellow model next to SORA-Q?” Yoneda and Akagi took the time to address these questions, offering insights that further ignited the children's interest. The excitement escalated in the later part of the class when six students were given the opportunity to operate the flagship model of SORA-Q, providing them with a taste of hands-on robotics experience.

As the class concluded, Takara Tomy presented the school with two "SORA-Q Flagship Models" to be used as teaching tools, which drew appreciative applause from both students and teachers. The SORA-Q is noted as the smallest and lightest lunar robot scheduled for a successful landing on the Moon by January 20, 2024, and continues to operate there even now. Akagi encouraged everyone to take a moment to look up at the Moon next time there is a full moon, highlighting the ongoing mission of SORA-Q.

We had the chance to speak with two students who received the flagship model on behalf of their class. Seven-year-old Obana expressed her excitement, stating, "It was difficult to operate SORA-Q, but I had so much fun!" Meanwhile, Kudo, also seven, was astonished to learn about the costs associated with transporting items to the Moon, revealing, "I was shocked to hear it costs around 1 million yen for just 1 kilogram!"

This special class by Takara Tomy not only educated the young minds about the vast universe but also sparked curiosity and a desire to explore the fascinating world of space travel and robotics.