The 2nd Yume Jitsugen Partnership Public Presentation Contest Held!High School Students Share Their Passion as Future Leaders of the Community

Local High School Students Compete by Presenting Their “Dreams”

On Sunday, March 23, 2025, the 2nd “Yume Jitsugen Partnership” Public Presentation Contest was held at Plaza Verde in Numazu City. This year, eight high school teams from the region participated, each presenting their own vision of a “dream” in the form of concrete, actionable ideas. The venue was filled with youthful energy and enthusiasm, making for a lively and inspiring event.

Takeyuki Oga, Executive Director of Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd., delivers the opening remarks at the start of the contest.

Students from Nihon University Mishima High School present their travel app “VOYAGE.”

Students from Hiryu High School speak on the theme “We want to create a fuel that saves engine-powered cars!”

Judges listen intently to the high school students’ presentations, their expressions serious.

Purpose and Prizes of the Competition

This competition, hosted by Yamaken Metals Co., Ltd., was created to give high school students a platform to present their “dreams they wish to achieve.” The team that earns the highest score—based on evaluations from both the judges and fellow participants—will be awarded up to 1 million yen to help realize their dream, along with the opportunity to participate in the company’s exclusive “Super Internship” program. While the inaugural competition in 2024 featured four participating schools, this year’s event has doubled in size, with eight schools taking part: Izu Sogo High School, Hiryu High School, Nihon University Mishima High School, Izu Ito High School, Numazu Chuo High School, Numazu Higashi High School, Mishima Kita High School, and Chitoku High School.

Admission ticket for the event, designed by the students themselves.

Students wait for their turn with nervous expressions.

Diverse Themes and the Creativity of High School Students

The presentations showcased a wide range of themes, such as “developing a fuel to save engine-powered cars,” “revitalizing the community with student-led guided tours,” and “creating a mutual prosperity system to support Shizuoka’s food industry.” The students’ ideas stood out for their flexibility and creativity, characteristic of their age. In last year’s competition, the team from Nihon University Mishima High School won the grand prize with an innovative idea to use crayfish in salmon farming. This year as well, the passion in each team’s presentation conveyed the exciting potential of fresh, original ideas.

Grand Prize Awarded to Chitoku High School Team

This year’s grand prize went to the team from Chitoku High School. Growing up in families involved in fishing and agriculture, the students were keenly aware of the challenges faced by their local industries. Drawing on the concept of “mutual prosperity,” they proposed a care food kit that utilizes imperfect vegetables and underused fish. Their outstanding presentation aimed to create a new distribution and food system that is inclusive of the elderly and people with disabilities.

Students from Chitoku High School (left), winners of the Grand Prize, and students from Nihon University Mishima High School (right), winners of the Audience Award, pictured with Mr. Toshikazu Oga, President of Yamaken Metals.

High Media Attention with TV and Newspaper Coverage

The event attracted coverage from television stations and newspapers, with a prominent feature in the following day’s Shizuoka Shimbun. The dynamic efforts of the high school students, along with the strong support provided by the sponsoring company, drew widespread attention. The sight of a company earnestly backing the fresh ideas and initiative of young people left a lasting impression on many.

Footage from the event was also featured on TBS NEWS DIG.

https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/1806749?display=1

Broadcast footage from TV Shizuoka.

Approved by the Media Creation Department, IT Business Division, Sangyo Shimbunsha.

Authorized by the Editorial Bureau Management Division, Shizuoka Shimbun.

Future Outlook of Yamaken Metals

Yamaken Metals Co., Ltd. plans to continue supporting the limitless potential of high school students and younger generations, aiming to give back to the local community and industry. By fostering the dreams and passions of youth, and helping them take bold steps toward the future, the company sees this competition as a powerful platform that is expected to grow and evolve even further in the years to come.