Report: Final Presentations & Award Ceremony of Kwansei Gakuin SDGs Youth Ideas 2025 - Crescents Go Sustainable!
-- For the First Time, Elementary, Junior High, and High School Students Participated! --
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the Kwansei Gakuin Sustainability Promotion Headquarters hosted the final presentations and award ceremony for the SDGs Idea Contest, "Kwansei Gakuin SDGs Youth Ideas 2025 - Crescents Go Sustainable!". The event welcomed 98 attendees.
Presentation Category: University and High School Students' Presentations and Awards
In its third year, the contest expanded participation to include not only Kwansei Gakuin University students but also high school students from Kwansei Gakuin Senior High School and Osaka International School of Kwansei Gakuin. During the application period (June 30 - September 5), 27 ideas were submitted, and after preliminary screening, 8 ideas advanced to the final round.
On the day, presentations were delivered under the theme of "the realization of a sustainable society", with proposals covering diverse perspectives such as resource circulation, education, welfare, and disaster prevention.
Finalists and Their Ideas
Title of the idea |
Summary |
Presenters |
Sanda City: Circulation Model for Non-standard Vegetables - Connecting Agriculture and Food through Students |
Collaborating with local farmers to collect non-standard vegetables and sell them at low prices to restaurants. Utilizing subscriptions and crowdfunding to promote resource circulation and community building, contributing to food loss reduction. |
3rd-year KGU School of Policy Studies student, 4th-year KGU School of Law student, 4th-year KGU School of Business Administration student |
Senior Facilities × Elementary & Kindergarten - New Intergenerational Exchange through New Sports |
Senior facilities and schools collaborate to hold "new sports" experience sessions, fostering intergenerational exchange to reduce seniors' loneliness and address educational disparities among children. |
2nd-year KG Senior High School students |
End-of-life Planning × SDGs: Tsunaguya |
Students collect items no longer needed from elderly residents in the later stages of life and redistribute them through reuse, reducing loneliness and burden for seniors while providing students with hands-on resource circulation experience. |
Benedict Seminar, KGU School of Sociology |
EduHeart - Where Learning Grows |
An educational platform combining AI-driven personalized learning with volunteer mentors' emotional support, aiming to overcome economic and educational disparities so every child can keep learning and dreaming. |
11th-grade OIS student |
Don't Waste, Circulate - Creating a Lifestyle Where Circulation Becomes the Norm through Small Innovations |
Collecting citrus peels from restaurants and schools, fermenting them into "fragrant soil" with relaxing and insect-repelling effects, making resource circulation and environmental impact reduction enjoyable. |
Urano Seminar, KGU School of Business Administration |
Thinking about the Earth's Environment 100 Years from Now with the 'Future Weather Forecast Bulletin Board' |
Installing a "Future Weather Forecast Bulletin Board" on campus to visualize temperature and disaster risks 100 years ahead in a weather forecast format, inspiring students to realize their actions can change the future and encouraging eco-friendly behavior. |
Urano Seminar, KGU School of Business Administration |
Co-creating Future Engineers: The Inquiry Accelerator for Junior and Senior High School Students × KGU Robocon Group AiMEiBA |
Matching junior/senior high school students' inquiry-based learning with university students' technical expertise to co-create practical projects, fostering next-generation innovators through role-model support. |
4th-year KGU School of Engineering student |
Pictograms for People Requiring Assistance during Disasters |
Developing pictogram cards that allow individuals needing support to communicate their situation and needs at a glance during disasters, promoting quick assistance and mutual understanding in shelters and public facilities. |
2nd-year KG Senior High School students |
Student ideas were evaluated by the following judges, based on four criteria:
1. Basic Understanding
2. Originality
3. Feasibility
4. Empathy
（Titles omitted）
- Hisanobu SASHIRO （Director, SDGs Promotion Division, Hyogo Prefectural Government）
- Yoko OKUYA （Brand Marketer, Patagonia Japan）
- Masaya KATSUNO （Section Manager, Environmental Plant Sales, Energy Solutions & Marine Company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries）
- Chika SAKA （Professor, KGU School of Business Administration / Committee Member, Kwansei Gakuin Sustainability Promotion Headquarters）
Additionally, representatives from the following three supporting companies attended the contest:
（Titles omitted）
- Tatsuya HIROOKA (Executive Director, Saraya Co., Ltd., attending as proxy for President Yusuke Saraya)
- Shinji SHIMODA (President, Shimoda Iron Works Co., Ltd., absent due to urgent business)
- Masao NISHIKAWA (Chairman, SEKISEI CO., LTD.)
At the award ceremony, the following prizes were presented: Grand Prize (¥150,000), Excellence Prize (¥100,000), Encouragement Prize (¥30,000), and Supporting Company Prizes (¥50,000 each). These awards are intended to support the implementation of the winning ideas.
Awards (Presentation Category)
|
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【Grand Prize】
「Co-creating Future Engineers: The Inquiry Accelerator for Junior and Senior High School Students × KGU Robocon Group AiMEiBA」 |
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【Excellence Prize】
「Pictograms for People Requiring Assistance during Disasters」 |
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【Encouragement Prize】
「Thinking about the Earth's Environment 100 Years from Now with the 'Future Weather Forecast Bulletin Board'」 |
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【Supporting Company Award：Saraya Co., Ltd.】
「Pictograms for People Requiring Assistance during Disasters」 |
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【Supporting Company Award：Shimoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.】
「Thinking about the Earth's Environment 100 Years from Now with the 'Future Weather Forecast Bulletin Board'」 |
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【Supporting Company Award：SEKISEI CO., LTD.】
「Sanda City: Circulation Model for Non-standard Vegetables - Connecting Agriculture and Food through Students」 |
Judges' Comments
The four judges highly praised the participants' strong awareness of social issues and their proactive approach, offering words of encouragement: "We hope this opportunity will inspire even greater efforts going forward."
They also conveyed the message that whether we aim for "a future that maintains today's good conditions" or "a future that overcomes today's challenges," in either case, our responsible actions hold the power to shape that future.
The judges noted that many proposals reflected not only a personal commitment to the SDGs--treating them as "one's own issue"--and taking action already, but also incorporated a business perspective, which was particularly impressive.
The commentary concluded with a powerful message:
"Each individual's actions are a source of hope for a better society. We encourage you to continue refining your expertise and education while putting into practice the spirit of 'Mastery for Service.' "
Grand Prize Winner's Comments
The 4th-year KGU School of Engineering student said:
"I am deeply interested in nurturing engineers and professionals who can contribute to organizations and society. I am honored that my idea was recognized, and I hope to work towards its realization as a meaningful initiative from a science and engineering perspective."
Work Category: Awards for Elementary and Junior High School Students' Artworks
This newly established category invited creative works under the theme "Sustainable Initiatives I Wish My School Had", receiving 287 entries from Kwansei Gakuin Elementary School, Junior High School, Senior High School, Senri International School, and Osaka International School.
The following three individuals served as the judges:
（Titles omitted）
- Motoo NAKAMICHI （Chancellor, Kwansei Gakuin Educational Foundation / Head, Kwansei Gakuin Sustainability Promotion Headquarters）
- Yasutoshi MORI （President, Kwansei Gakuin University / Deputy Head, Kwansei Gakuin Sustainability Promotion Headquarters）
- Janette McIntosh（Professor, School of International Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University）
KG SDGs Campus Supporters (student group accredited by the Sustainability Promotion Headquarters) also provided support in the judging process.
Awards (Work Category)
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【Grand Prize】 「School Bus Powered by Leftover Lunch」（6th-grade KG Elementary School student） |
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【Excellence Prize】 「Banana Paper」（5th-grade KG Elementary School student） |
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【Excellence Prize】 「Energy Generator (without carbon dioxide)」（6th-grade Osaka International School student） |
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【Excellence Prize】 「Energy off button and leaderboard」（8th-grade Osaka International School student） |
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【Encouragement Prize】 「Sustainable Eco KG Machine」（3rd-grade KG Elementary School student） |
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【Encouragement Prize】 「Edible Containers to Eliminate Waste」（5th-grade KG Elementary School student） |
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【Encouragement Prize】 「Lighting the Future of Shibuya & KG with a Single Step」（6th-grade KG Elementary School student） |
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【Encouragement Prize】 「Old Clothes Card」（6th-grade KG Elementary School student） |
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【Encouragement Prize】 「Flower Guard-phant & Ecolophant 」（6th-grade KG Elementary School student） |
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【Encouragement Prize】 「Cyber-bullying preventer」（4th-grade Osaka International School student） |
Judges' Comments
Prof. Hiroyoshi MIWA (Vice-President, Kwansei Gakuin University) took the stage on behalf of President Mori and read out his comments:
"In this inaugural category, we received many proposals that accurately captured key points for promoting sustainability. Participants' strong interest in social issues and their daily efforts were highly praised by the judges. Many works focused on themes such as electricity, water, food, and clothing, emphasizing recycling and innovative approaches. In addition, a proposal addressing online bullying was particularly striking, as it reflected an understanding that health and well-being are also essential values of sustainability. We look forward to the students' continued high level of awareness and engagement."
Prof. Janette McIntosh then offered her comments, mixing Japanese and English:
"There were many entries with heart, with a desire to communicate your care for the environment, but also, for your friends and family to learn about the issues and take part in your initiative from idea into action. I was impressed by your ability to think of others and interest in building capacity and community, and your detailed planning abilities. I sincerely hope that, as part of the Kwansei Gakuin community and the support given, you continue to learn and apply yourselves for creating a sustainable future and confronting the challenges of climate change."
Grand Prize Winner's Comment
6th-grade KG Elementary School student said: "I am very happy that my idea, inspired by a small realization in daily life, was recognized. I hope to continue thinking about the future of our planet, cherishing each day."
Closing remarks
Chancellor Nakamichi stated that "promoting sustainability requires both a transformation of awareness and technological innovation," and, drawing on experiences from his stay in Germany, noted that both aspects were evident in the students' presentations.
He concluded with words of encouragement, urging students to continue engaging with this theme and contributing to society under the guiding spirit of "Mastery for Service."
After the ceremony, a reception was held, providing a valuable opportunity for students, faculty, and staff of the Kwansei Gakuin community to connect.
Organizational Structure
- Organizer： Kwansei Gakuin Sustainability Promotion Headquarters
(Secretariat: Chancellor's Section, General Affairs Department, Kwansei Gakuin Educational Foundation) - Cooperation： NPO Japan Medical Care Association (JMCA)
KG SDGs Campus Supporter (Kwansei Gakuin Sustainability Promotion Headquarters' official student organization) - Supporting Companies： Saraya Co., Ltd., Shimoda Iron Works Co., Ltd., SEKISEI CO., LTD.
- Endorsement： Hyogo Prefecture, Nishinomiya City, Sanda City, Kobe City
