Japan Wagamama Awards 2027 Announced: Empowering Teens to Turn the Wishes of People Close to Them into Solutions with Technology
The Japan Wagamama Awards (JWA) encourages young people ages 12 to 19 to discover an “Unspoken Wish”—a need or aspiration that has not yet been fully expressed—of someone close to them, such as a family member, friend, or someone in their local community.
Participants identify the underlying challenge, gather information, use technology to develop a solution, and then test and improve it through direct interaction with people in their communities.
IRODORI Inc. designs and operates JWA, a hands-on learning program for young people, in partnership with App Inventor. Participants begin by asking, “Whose wish do I want to help realize, and what is that wish?” They then move through the process of identifying a challenge, gathering information, developing an app, testing it in the community, and improving their solution based on real-world feedback.
Beginning with JWA2027, a new Japan Wagamama Awards Executive Committee will be established to further develop JWA as an educational model that is more closely connected with schools, communities, and society. The committee brings together experts from fields including education, foundational IT literacy, AI, EdTech, entrepreneurship, venture creation, and international education.
JWA2027 will be organized by the Japan Wagamama Awards Executive Committee, with IRODORI Inc. serving as the Secretariat and continuing to lead program design and operations. App Inventor will be a co-organizer, working together to advance learning through MIT App Inventor and connect participants with international learning opportunities.
Starting with One Person’s “Unspoken Wish”
JWA begins with the “Unspoken Wish” of one person close to them.
Through conversation, participants uncover difficulties, needs, or wishes that the person may not yet have been able to articulate. They investigate the context behind those challenges, develop hypotheses, and use tools such as MIT App Inventor and AI to turn ideas into solutions.
Participants then take their prototypes back to the person whose wish inspired the project and to others in the community, gather feedback, and make improvements…
Challenge Discovery → Information Gathering → Ideation → Development → Real-World Testing → Improvement
By experiencing this entire process in real-world settings, JWA aims to foster the foundational IT literacy young people need to use information and technology to address challenges in their own lives and communities.
JWA is therefore not simply a competition to determine who can build the most technically sophisticated app. Its focus is on creating opportunities for young people to identify their own questions, use information and technology to develop possible solutions, and take action by engaging directly with people and communities.
How Teenagers’ Projects Have Grown from One Person’s Wish into Community Action
Last year, several JWA projects that began with the wish of a single person grew into broader community efforts.
MyStick: Beginning with an Uncle’s Wish to Enjoy Eating Out with Confidence
Hakui High School, Ishikawa Prefecture – 2nd-year high school students, Team “Hakuikko-tai”
Rinne Tamura, Anna Kano, Shiho Kitano, and Arare Kumoi
The project began with the wish of an uncle who uses a walking cane: “I want to be able to enjoy eating out with confidence.”
The students visited 12 restaurants in Hakui City and investigated accessibility information, including steps, ramps, and restroom facilities. They then developed an app that allows users to check accessibility information before visiting a restaurant.
Through conversations with local businesses, some restaurants began making improvements to their facilities and customer service. Approximately 30 other high school students who connected with the project also joined the initiative. What began as an app inspired by one person’s wish developed into broader community action.
Kokyo: Beginning with a Mother’s Wish to Reduce Unwanted Solitary Eating
Kansai Soka High School – 2nd-year high school student, Karen Kochi
The project began with the experience of the student’s mother, who lives alone in Okinawa, and her wish to reduce unwanted solitary eating. Karen developed an app that enables family members living apart to share mealtimes.
Through conversations with her mother, community dining initiatives for children, and local residents, she continued developing the app and added features including AI-assisted conversation support. By presenting the concept to approximately 50 people and conducting a survey involving approximately 170 respondents, she expanded her perspective from one person’s experience to the broader social issue of solitary eating.
Both MyStick and Kokyo were presented at the Global Appathon Showcase, held as part of the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit in July 2026. MyStick received the Community Impact Award, while Kokyo received the Design Excellence Award.
New Executive Committee Brings Together Experts in Education, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
Beginning with JWA2027, the Japan Wagamama Awards will establish a new Executive Committee chaired by Kenji Ito, who previously chaired the Japanese government’s Committee on Foundational IT Literacy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Drawing on what JWA has learned to date, the Committee will examine JWA’s educational model, assessment methods, real-world implementation, and connections with schools and local communities.
Executive Committee members include:
Kenji Ito, Chair — Fellow, Sanko Gakuen; Director, Center for Human Capital Investment Research
Hiroaki Ogata — Director and Professor, Academic Center for Computing and Media Studies, Kyoto University
Yusuke Matsuda — CEO, Crimson Education Japan / Japan Representative, Crimson Global Academy
Masao Ishihara — Robert Rasmussen and Associates, Japan; MIT Master Trainer in Educational Mobile Computing and JWA2026 judge
Junichi Hasegawa — Executive Officer, BaySystec LLC; first President of Amazon Japan, Representative Director of the MIT-Venture Forum of Japan, and JWA2026 judge
Emi Makino — Professor, Center for Entrepreneurship, Chiba University
Kelly Shiohira — Director of Impact and Community Engagement, App Inventor Foundation, and JWA2026 judge
By strengthening collaboration among schools, communities, researchers, businesses, and international education networks, JWA aims to develop into an educational model that is increasingly open to and connected with society.
Japan Wagamama Awards 2027 Overview
Program: Japan Wagamama Awards 2027
Eligibility: Residents of Japan ages 12–19 as of March 2027
Participation fee: Free
Participants will begin through free introductory workshops offered across Japan, then take part in learning sessions and mentoring focused on challenge discovery, hypothesis development, MIT App Inventor, AI, and related topics.
Using MIT App Inventor, participants will turn ideas inspired by the wish of someone close to them into working app prototypes. They will then have the people who inspired their projects and others in their communities use their apps, and improve them through dialogue, testing, and feedback. Finalists will present both their process and outcomes at the final selection event.
Selected participants will also have opportunities to present the results of their community-based work internationally in collaboration with the App Inventor Foundation. Scholarships covering travel and accommodation will be provided so that young people can pursue international opportunities regardless of where they live or their economic circumstances.
Participants will continue to receive support for community testing and ongoing activities after the formal program concludes.
Schedule
September 14–December 6, 2026
Introductory workshops and application period
December 15, 2026–January 22, 2027
Learning sessions and mentoring for all entrants
January 22, 2027
Project proposal submission and finalist selection
January 27–February 27, 2027
Mentoring for finalists
February 28, 2027
Japan Final in Tokyo, with simultaneous online streaming
March 1–June 30, 2027
Community testing, validation, and improvement in preparation for the global event
Mid-July 2027
Participation in the MIT international education summit and global event
The Final Presentation is open to participants who advance through the first-round selection. Participation in the MIT international education summit is expected to be offered to the JWA Grand Prize winner, subject to final arrangements.
Applications and details:
https://awards.wagamamalab.jp/
About IRODORI Inc.
IRODORI Inc. operates under the vision of “creating communities where everyone can make the most of their unique strengths and take on diverse challenges.” The company works with local governments, businesses, schools, and other partners across Japan on community development and human-capital development initiatives.
For JWA, IRODORI is responsible for program design and operations, participant recruitment, development of the mentoring structure, and collaboration with schools and local communities.
Website: https://irodori-group.jp/
About App Inventor
App Inventor Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to use technology to address challenges close to them and build better communities and a better world.
Founded in 2022 by members of the team behind MIT App Inventor, the foundation arm develops educational resources and provides teacher training, appathons, AI education, and other learning opportunities for students and educators around the world.