High School Students' Cervical Cancer Prevention Awareness Event "High School Student Idea Festival" Held

The idea presentation event for the project "High School Student Idea Fest #Thinking About Cervical Cancer Together with Friends," co-hosted by the social action group for cancer survivors "LAVENDER RING" and Minato Ward, was held at the Minato Public Health Center on Saturday, November 9. This project aims to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention by soliciting ideas from high school students, collaborating with them to develop concepts, and bringing those ideas to life. This third iteration focused on the theme "Creating stickers to spread awareness among high school students that cervical cancer can be prevented through vaccines and screenings." Eleven groups comprising 30 high school students participated.

An orientation was held on Saturday, October 27th for applicants gathered through LAVENDER RING's website, SNS, and Minato Ward's outreach to high schools within the ward. The orientation included explanations of the theme and judging criteria, as well as input on basic knowledge about cervical cancer.

The basic knowledge input session featured two instructors: Dr. Kanako Inaba, an obstetrician-gynecologist and representative of the "Minpapi! Let's Learn About HPV Together Project" (General Incorporated Association "Association for Disseminating Information about HPV"), which aims to spread accurate knowledge about HPV infections; and Mr. Shigenori Doi from Minato Ward's Minato Public Health Center. They lectured on cervical cancer, HPV infection, and their prevention. Online sessions included personal experiences shared by Chiaki Hara, a talent who has personally experienced cervical and endometrial cancer and runs the patient support group "Yotsuba no Kai," as well as case studies on problem-solving presented by Saki Endo, a third-year university student who founded Lumiere, a voluntary organization focused on cervical cancer prevention and early detection.

LAVENDER RING members also provided input on expression techniques, including approaches to identifying challenges, methods for generating ideas, and creative examples addressing social issues.

Following the orientation, a Dentsu Inc. creator was assigned to each group to collaborate on refining ideas and presentation materials, leading up to the idea presentation event.

On the day of the idea presentation event, after each group's 3-minute presentation, the judges provided feedback. The judging panel consisted of Mr. Inaba, Ms. Endo, Mr. Hara, and Minato Ward Mayor Ai Seike. Ms. Mami Koga from the certified NPO Cancer Net Japan participated as an observer.

Judges: From left, Sakiko Endo, Chiaki Hara, Kanako Inaba, Ai Seike

〈Ideas Presented by High School Groups〉
Ideas included groups that independently gathered information and redefined the problem, ideas that focused on how to effectively communicate with high school students, and ideas that considered the psychology of the audience to encourage personalization.

A proposal to promote behavioral change, based on data from the Health Science Council (Subcommittee on Vaccination and Vaccines), which identified low vaccination rates and the reasons behind them: lack of information and safety concerns.

Despite HPV vaccines for cervical cancer prevention being available to males, this proposal focused on Japan's low male vaccination rate compared to other countries and the fact that Japan is the only country where males are not included in routine vaccination programs. It aimed to promote male vaccination, considering distribution to all-boys schools and using media like tissues and posters.

 A characterization using the uterus as a motif—something rarely seen in daily life—designed to resemble a smiling face upon closer inspection. An idea based on the observation that "creepy-cute things are popular" among high school students.

The participating high school students. Beyond the orientation information, they collected their own data and redefined the challenges themselves.

Mentor and LAVENDER RING staff member Masahito Nakagawa of Dentsu Inc. with the high school group members. After their presentation, they reflected, "We were able to say what we wanted to say."

After the event, Ward Mayor Seike remarked, "I was reminded once again how deeply high school students think about society. Also, as a public relations method, I believe it's effective not just to convey information, but to have the target audience think for themselves, as this project did."

The project was planned and managed by Ms. Seri Takishima and Ms. Kyoko Fukuda of LAVENDER RING at Dentsu Inc. Both experienced cervical dysplasia. Driven by the question of why HPV information wasn't available at the appropriate time for vaccination, and aiming to change Japan's situation—lagging behind other developed nations—they began their activities in 2021.

Moving forward, stickers will be distributed at participating high schools, Minato Ward facilities, Dr. Inaba's clinic, and Dr. Hara's Yotsuba no Kai. Additionally, participating high school students are scheduled to speak at "Hellosmile in Sanrio Puroland 2024" on Saturday, November 30.

This initiative, where local governments, LAVENDER RING members, and creators support participants in re-examining the causes of social issues and shaping concrete solutions, has already seen over 80 participants across three sessions. It appears the circle of people confronting social issues is steadily expanding.

High School Idea Festival Secretariat + Mentors
CD Seri Takishima (4CRP)
PL Kyoko Fukuda (GBC)
CW: Masato Nakagawa (BXCC)

CW Sana Kawasaki (1CRP)
AD Riko Ishizaki (1CRP)

Mentor
Satomi Kinoshita (1CRP)
Keiko Nakajima (4CRP)
Takahiro Hasegawa (4CRP)
Takuro Ito (BXCC)
Takayoshi Murakami (CXCC / DD)
Taiki Kawase (1BX)
Shinpei Murata (CBDC)
 

※Thinking Together About Cervical Cancer
https://lavender-ring.com/action/ideafes/