On Saturday, December 6, 2025, a workshop utilizing the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Method was held at Ebina City Hall as part of the “Dialogue with Citizens” event on fully inclusive education, hosted by the Ebina City Board of Education and the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education.
On the day, many people attended not only from Ebina City but also from various parts of Kanagawa Prefecture. Participants included educators involved in inclusive education from Kanagawa Prefecture and Ebina City, as well as Ebina City Superintendent of Education, Mr. Ito. Together with over 50 participants, we began by having each person express their thoughts and experiences regarding their “ideal learning” and “ideal education.” We then used LEGO® bricks to give shape to our dreams and ideals for achieving fully inclusive education, discussing the current situation and challenges. This time, in addition to the “Window Exploration Bag,” we also prepared extra bricks, gears, and minifigures.
This workshop reaffirmed the power of LEGO® as a medium, the potential of the bricks themselves, and the crucial role of the facilitator. Shaping thoughts into form to discuss, thinking while shaping, discussing while thinking, and thinking while listening to others’ narratives. Through this process, individual insights deepen, and learning emerges. When thoughts take shape, these insights and learning extend beyond the individual, spreading to other participants around the table and throughout the entire venue.
This workshop was not merely a place to shape ideas; it was also a place where “thoughts” themselves took form. Afterward, I had the opportunity to speak with many participants. While I was part of the organizing team, it was a precious and wonderful time that I myself enjoyed sincerely and wholeheartedly.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this workshop possible: the staff of the Ebina City Board of Education, especially the teacher in charge who invited us and meticulously prepared for the event; all the faculty and staff who worked tirelessly to make it happen; and every single participant who joined us.
The next step is figuring out how to translate these emerging thoughts into tangible actions. Personally, I intend to continue taking concrete steps toward fully inclusive education and society, starting with small, achievable actions close to home.
P.S.
The facilitation by the teachers and the “Workshop Lesson Plan” created by the responsible teacher for this workshop were immensely instructive. The practical structure and thoughtful design reflected insights and experience from the school setting throughout, providing me with valuable learning opportunities.
