#Sustainability #Japan #Tokyo #Education #Meiji

Introduction

In a groundbreaking initiative, Meiji Co., Ltd. has joined forces with the general incorporated association 'Professional for All Schools', certified by Shizuoka University, to create a new educational resource aimed at middle and high school students. This educational material, titled 'Question-Making Skills: Learning from Meiji's Sustainability Cases to Make Social Issues Personal', will be offered free of charge starting August 25, 2026, to schools nationwide.

Objectives of the Curriculum

The curriculum is designed for a 50-minute class and aims to encourage students to critically engage with social issues surrounding food through the lens of chocolate and milk. This resource aims to empower students to develop their questioning abilities, enabling them to approach pressing social issues from a personal standpoint.

Structure of the Instructional Material

The resource is divided into two parts: 1) the 'Global (Chocolate) Edition' and 2) the 'Local (Dairy) Edition'. Each section invites students to explore different dimensions of social challenges—one through the current conditions faced by cacao farmers in relation to international social issues, and the other through the dairy industry as it connects to local industries and daily life.

Included in the material are case studies of Meiji’s initiatives such as the 'Meiji Cacao Support', which assists cacao farmers, and the 'Meiji Daily Advisory', which promotes sustainable dairy farming practices. Moreover, the curriculum provides a unique 'Questioning Perspective Tool', guiding students to analyze themes from diverse academic disciplines including history, economics, science, culture, and the environment. This tool encourages students to discover new questions organically, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of the subjects at hand.

Background to the Material Development

This initiative is timely and aligns with the new educational guidelines emphasizing the importance of students identifying their own challenges, gathering information, and collaborating with others to derive solutions. However, educators have voiced challenges regarding students' ability to set their own questions actively.

Meiji has a long history of promoting food education, with nutritionists visiting schools to enlighten students about healthy eating habits, the food production process, and the social issues surrounding agricultural practices. In the 2025 academic year alone, around 270,000 participants engaged in this educational outreach, highlighting Meiji's commitment to cultivating connections in the educational sector. As societal changes accelerate, there is an increased demand for middle and high school students to face social issues responsibly, using food as an entry point to nurture their own questioning abilities.

Through this educational resource, Meiji aims to contribute to the development of the next generation of leaders who will support the future of sustainable food systems, further promoting their commitment to sustainability within their business operations.

Details of the Educational Resource

Title: Question-Making Skills: Learning from Meiji's Sustainability Cases to Make Social Issues Personal
Target Audience: This resource is designed for comprehensive learning and inquiry sessions, SDGs education, and career education, each expecting approximately 50 minutes per class.

Content Structure: The course consists of two themes tailored to students' interests:
1. Global (Chocolate) Edition: Focusing on the world’s issues through chocolate, addressing the current situations of cacao farmers while exploring international social problems.
2. Local (Dairy) Edition: Investigating our future through milk, examining local industry and its connections to daily life.
3. Common Tool: The Questioning Perspective Tool helps to learn how to pose questions across human, social, and natural sciences.

Instructor's Guidebook: The guidebook includes:

• - The educational goals and key points of application.
• - What can be learned during this class (fundamental skills in inquiry-based learning).
• - Examples of instructional frameworks.
• - Instruction on using the Questioning Perspective Tool.
• - References to Meiji's sustainability initiatives.

How to Apply for the Resource

Interested educators can access the resource on the Meiji website starting August 25, 2026. All materials will be supplied in digital format. Applications are limited to teachers in middle and high schools, with no upper limit on the number of requests from eligible institutions. This resource promises to unlock new potential for inquiry learning among students, fostering critical thinking about significant social issues.

For more information on Meiji’s food education initiatives, please visit: Meiji Food Education