President's Message

Tetsuya Ogawa
SILAS JAPAN（Founder & President）
e-Hoiku Co., Ltd. Director

Profile：
After graduating with a degree in Engineering, they opened a nursery school in 1987.
Applying an engineering perspective, they advocated for the creation of wooden toys and environmental design (Play Garden Theory).
In 1997, they introduced Science Education for Young Children (now STEAM Education) and practiced as a pioneer in inquiry-based education.
Since 2010, they have opened a consulting office and worked as a third-party evaluator in Tokyo.
They systematized reciprocal-oriented childcare (PCM Method) based on their practical experience and promoted educational DX (Digital Transformation) through e-Hoiku Co., Ltd.
In 2025, they established the STEAM Society (SILAS) with Canadian educators,and continue to explore the future of education from an international perspective.

The Society for Learning and Inquiry-Based STEAM (commonly known as SILAS) was established based on the earnest desire and strong sense of mission to "leave a solid foundation of learning for the future of our children in an unpredictable age."
In this era where the speed at which knowledge becomes obsolete is accelerating, we firmly believe that the ability for children to think independently, create, and engage in problem-solving is the key to carving out their future.
The greatest distinguishing feature of SILAS is its international framework.
Educators from Japan and Canada form the core, coming together across national borders.
Professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds and different educational systems share their respective knowledge, success stories, and challenges, thereby seriously exploring a more universal and effective approach to STEAM education.
This intercultural dialogue is the driving force that breaks down conventional educational views and produces truly innovative educational models.
SILAS aims not just for the transmission of knowledge, but for the establishment of educational methods that awaken children's fundamental spirit of inquiry and connect it to creative output.
We position SILAS's activities as a "forest" of learning where knowledge and experience organically connect, and new wisdom is born.
Within this "forest," workshops based on cutting-edge academic research and practical report meetings are regularly held, where teachers and researchers actively exchange opinions.
The insights gained are quickly reintegrated into Japanese educational settings in the form of concrete lesson plans and educational tools.
This continuous cycle of learning forms a strong foundation for nurturing children's problem-solving skills, cooperation, and self-esteem.
Through this platform for sharing wisdom across borders, we will expand the possibilities of education and contribute to the growth of children into resilient individuals, both mentally and physically, who are not afraid of change and can create their own future.
We hope that from this rich soil, the seeds of children's curiosity will grow strong.
We aim to collaborate with partners around the world to co-create an education worthy of the children who will lead the future.