From Space!? Snacks That Make You Want to Learn.

Morinaga & Co., Ltd. launched its "Okashinnovation Project" to mark its 115th anniversary. As the project's first initiative, and with the cooperation of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the company released a new space-themed product series called the "Funky Free Research Series" starting July 19.

 

The project name is a portmanteau of "okashi" (sweets) and "innovation," aiming to "stimulate consumers' interest and creativity through the power of sweets." This time, using space as its theme and under the concept of "igniting children's curiosity through the fusion of sweets and space," the company will release three products in the "Weird Free Research Series": 〈What If Earth Were a Chocolate Ball?〉, 〈Create Weird Constellations in the Summer Night Sky!〉, and 〈Weird Astronaut Exam〉. It will also hold workshops utilizing these products.

The workshop "Create a Whimsical Constellation in the Summer Night Sky," scheduled to be held in Tokyo starting July 19, allows participants to map sweets onto a sheet depicting the summer night sky to create original constellations, bringing the universe closer to home. With summer vacation approaching, it is expected to attract attention from children struggling with their free research projects and their parents.

A press conference was held on July 17th, prior to the launch, at Morinaga & Co.'s headquarters building in Minato Ward, Tokyo. President Toru Arai explained the project's purpose: "We want to expand our business domain, focusing not only on the 'hardware' aspects of confectionery like taste and enjoyment, but also on its 'software' role as a communication tool, aiming for 'consulting close to everyday life'."

Chief Manager Kanemaru of the company's New Domain Creation Division explained the product concept and shared feedback from children who participated in test workshops. He also noted that while the new product development was realized through collaboration with JAXA, the initial impetus for the collaboration came from a consortium led by Dentsu Inc. New Business Creative Team. He expressed enthusiasm for future plans to focus on themes like business settings and seniors to deliver new proposals.

The "Funky Free Research Series" will be sold at SPACE EXPO 2014 (July 19 - September 23, Makuhari Messe), Morinaga Confectionery's Tokyo antenna shop, and online. For product information, purchase details, workshop schedules, and registration, visit the website below.

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Test Workshop Scene
The "Weird Science Projects Series" includes mini-booklets like the "Mission Book," "Night Sky Sheet," and "Astronaut Exam." It's packed with features to spark children's curiosity, such as using cardboard to represent the size of the Sun compared to a Chocolate Ball representing Earth, or creating original constellations by nibbling on snacks to adjust their size and mapping them onto a constellation sheet. After the test workshop concluded, we received letters from parents stating, "Using their heads, hands, and mouths to engage in this valuable experience has become a cherished memory for our child."