Jun The first person we interviewed was Keita Nishiyama, president of CURIO School Corporation. At the Curio School (https://curioschool.com/), Mr. Nishiyama provides a place for hands-on learning centered on “design thinking” that fosters “creativity” for elementary, junior high and high school students. (Junya Koike, a member of the Meet to Lead, went to CURIO school when he was in elementary school.)
Now, let’s ask him questions!
Why have you chosen your current job?
After studying design at university, I worked as a consultant to support the development of new businesses and products using design thinking. However, my client companies were so stubborn that my work didn’t go as planned.
I thought that learning design thinking from a younger age would be helpful to have flexible ideas, so I tried teaching middle and high school students about design thinking. Then, I felt that it was more satisfying, so I started CURIO SCHOOL.
What are you careful about when teaching design thinking to middle and high school students?
First, learn and think about the subject Then, try making it. The process of learning and becoming interested by looking back is important in design thinking.
But it’s hard to do that process without any experiences, so I’ll start by encouraging them to try and look back. However, sometimes junior high and high school students don’t have the motivation to do it at first, so we pay attention to motivating them and increasing opportunities to try.
You give classes to elementary school students with different themes every month. How do you come up with a theme?
As for the theme, we do what we like, so it’s not so hard to think about it.
However, I am careful because I want students to have an interest in society, so I am thinking of bringing themes from various fields in a balanced manner, not from one field.
Do you have any advice for middle and high school students who want to do something but don’t know what to do?
I suggest that you do what you have to do now. In an aside, I think that it is better to go to university in a local area rather than in Tokyo.
I think it is difficult to concentrate on one thing in Tokyo because you can’t decide on many things. But in rural areas, you can focus on the field you are learning and explore the essence.
I think the process of exploring the essence of learning can eventually be applied to other things. So anyway, I think it’s important to focus on one thing at some point.
How do you observe your surroundings?
I’m a hot-tempered person, but basically I try to ask questions about things that irritate me and find ways to improve them by thinking of the reasons behind them.
If I am not satisfied with the service of a company, I may file a claim, but in that case, I will propose an improvement plan as well.
What was the most difficult thing after you started your own business?
It’s still tough! It’s very hard to balance education and earning money. Education takes time to produce results, so it’s hard to get paid. That’s the problem.
What are your future plans in the business?
We are going to do a 3-year program at a private junior high school. For three years, we will provide an opportunity to learn design thinking.
Also, we are doing a project to connect junior and senior high school students and companies, and we will put more effort into it.
What do you value in your daily life?
I try not to think too much and try to be a little stupid. I am conscious of “Prototype & Test” in design thinking because I cannot learn by myself without doing it.
Editor’s Postscript：
What I (Junya Koike) felt was that it’s very difficult to choose a lifestyle that suits you and put it into practice.
Mr. Nishiyama quit his job as a consultant to establish the Curio School, but I think it was a big decision. As for education, it takes time for the results to come out, so his company may not be able to grow quickly.
Also, I thought it would be difficult because it would take a lot of time as the future plan is on a 10 year basis.
However, since he is doing what he likes, he may not think it is tough after all.
Mr. Nishiyama, thank you for your cooperation in the interview!!!
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