Theme: Bricks, Foundations for a wonderful life

TEDxOkayama University "Bricks" 2025 has sucessfully finished!

Pictures of the event - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202716134@N08/albums/72177720325243501/

イベントは終了しました！

イベントの写真はこちら - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202716134@N08/albums/72177720325243501/

TEDxOkayama University "Bricks" 2025年 4月20日

TEDxOkayama Universityは、中国地方で初めての大学TEDxイベントのテーマ「レンガ：素晴らしい人生の基礎」を発表できることを誇りに思います。
私たちは、若者から年配者まで、素晴らしい成功する人生の基礎を築く考え方を受け継ぐよう刺激を受けたい人々のためにこのテーマを選びました。そして、TEDのコンセプトを通して、岡山を世界とつなげたいと考えています。
「未来には何が待ち受けているのか？夢や目標に向けて、どのように準備すべきか？変化を起こした人たちはどのように考えているのか？」
これらの質問は、TEDxOkayama University 2025のテーマ「レンガ：成功する人生のための基礎」を通して答えられます。このテーマを通して、参加者がより良い未来に向けて人生を変えることができることを願っています。
岡山大学津島キャンパス50周年記念館で、岡山にやってきたTEDxトークに参加して体験してください。

TEDxOkayama University "Bricks" 2025 April 20th

TEDxOkayama University is proud to announce the very first university TEDx event in Chugoku region with the theme “Bricks: Foundations for a wonderful Life”
We chose this theme for people who want to be inspired, both young and old, to inherit ways of thinking that will build their foundations for a great and successful life. And through the concept of TED, we wish to connect Okayama to the world.
“What lies ahead in the future? How should I prepare myself for my dreams and goals? How do people who have made a change think?”

These questions would be answered through our TEDxOkayama University 2025 theme “Bricks: The Foundations for a Successful Life”. Through this theme, we hope that our participants could transform their lives for a better future.
Join and experience the TEDx talk which has now come to Okayama, at 50th Anniversary Hall, Tsushima Campus, Okayama University.

50th Anniversary Hall
1 Chome-1-1 Tsushimanaka, Kita Ward, Okayama, 700-0082
Okayama, Okayama, 700-0082
Japan

Ai Taguchi

Representative Director, MAAHA Inc.

Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1998, Ai Taguchi developed a passion for chocolate from an early age. At 19, a journey to Ghana opened her eyes to both the rich potential and the challenges of the local cocoa industry. Determined to make a difference, Taguchi began sharing knowledge about chocolate making in Ghana, where chocolate itself remains uncommon, and took on the challenge of building a chocolate factory there. In 2020, she founded MAAHA Co., Ltd., followed by the launch of MAAHA CHOCOLATE in 2021. Her efforts have earned her recognition, including being named one of Newsweek's "30 Japanese People Contributing to the World" and Nikkei WOMAN's "Woman of the Year 2022. 1998年生まれ、岡山県出身。幼少期よりチョコレートに惹かれ、19歳でガーナへ渡航。現地の魅力と課題に気付かされる。その後、チョコレートが一般的でないガーナで、その味と作り方を伝える活動を始め、現地でのチョコレート工場建設も進めてきた。2020年にMAAHA株式会社を設立し、翌年にMAAHA CHOCOLATEを立ち上げる。Newsweek「世界に貢献する日本人30」、日経WOMAN「ウーマンオブザイヤー2022」受賞。

Hideaki Fukutake

Chairman of the Board, Benesse Holdings / Chairman, Fukutake Foundation

After working at Keyence and SMS, Hideaki Fukutake moved to New Zealand in 2009 and founded Still Ltd. Today, he manages several leading brands in the arts and creative industries across the country. In addition to his business ventures, Fukutake plays a key role in education and nursing care initiatives at Benesse Holdings. As chairman of the Fukutake Foundation, he is actively developing grant programs that support community building and cultural projects through contemporary art, architecture, and design. His work focuses on revitalizing the islands of the Seto Inland Sea—particularly Naoshima—by fostering artistic and cultural activities that connect people and place. キーエンス、エス・エム・エスを経て、2009年よりニュージーランドへ移住し、Still Ltdを創業。現地にてアートやクリエイティブ分野のトップブランド企業を複数経営。 ベネッセホールディングスにて教育・介護事業の推進、また福武財団の理事長として、直島を中心に瀬戸内海の島々における事業も幅広く手掛けている。現在は、現代アートや建築、デザインを通したコミュニティ創りや芸術文化活動、文化を通じた地域活動についての助成事業を展開中。

John Rucynski

Okayama University, Institute for Promotion of Education and Campus Life, English Teaching Division, Associate Professor

John Rucynski has been working as an English language teacher at the university level in Japan for the past 20 years. His main research passion is exploring the role of humor in foreign language acquisition and intercultural communicative competence. He has published widely about this topic and also given presentations at teaching conferences from New Zealand to Nepal. As a long-term resident of Japan, his other passion is serving as a bridge between Japan and the world. To this end, he has co-authored several English language textbooks focused on Japanese culture, regularly contributes articles to the website All About Japan, and recently edited A Passion for Japan: A Collection of Personal Narratives. 日本の大学で20年以上にわたり英語講師として教鞭を執る。主な研究テーマは、外国語の習得と異文化間コミュニケーション能力におけるユーモアの役割の探求。研究分野で多くの著書を出版し、これまでニュージーランドからネパールまで、さまざまな国で講演を行ってきた。長年の日本滞在経験を生かし、日本と世界をつなぐ活動にも注力。日本文化を紹介する英語教材の共同出版に加え、ウェブサイト「All About Japan」にも寄稿している。2022年には『A Passion for Japan: A Collection of Personal Narratives』を出版した。

Ken Takahashi

岡山大学学術研究院医歯薬学域 准教授

Ken Takahashi is an Associate Professor at Okayama University and CEO of Physiora, a startup pioneering the future of medical care through organ chip technology. He has developed innovative methods for culturing cells in microdevices to test drug effects and collaborates on research with Harvard University and institutions worldwide. Takahashi’s work extends to space medicine and regenerative medicine, driven by a vision of a future where humans and animals coexist in harmony. Beyond his research, he has completed an Ironman triathlon and served as a torchbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Passionate about supporting the next generation, he is dedicated to empowering young people to take on new challenges. 岡山大学准教授。臓器チップ技術を活用し、未来の医療を創るスタートアップ「フィジオーラ」代表。細胞を小さなデバイスで培養し、薬の効果を試す技術を開発。ハーバード大学をはじめ世界各国と共同研究を進める。宇宙医学や再生医療にも携わり、人と動物が共生できる未来を探求。研究者でありながら、アイアンマントライアスロン完走者、東京2020オリンピック聖火ランナーとしても挑戦を続ける。若者の挑戦を全力で応援中。

Matsuda Toshiyuki

Representative Director and President of Ryobi Holdings Co., Ltd.

Born in 1978 in Okayama City, Okayamda Prefecture, Toshiyuki Matsuda has served as the President and CEO of Ryobi Holdings since 2019. Leading a group of approximately 50 companies and 10,000 employees, he emphasizes the power of dreams in both leadership and corporate culture. Upon assuming his role, he encouraged employees with the message: "Have a dream!" His vision is to create a company where the most employees in the world pursue and achieve their dreams. Matsuda’s own management philosophy is deeply rooted in this belief, and in a magazine interview, he described Okayama’s new slogan as "Okayama is a country of dreams and a bright future." He hopes to inspire others by sharing the significance of dreaming big and to make those dreams real. １９７８年岡山県岡山市生まれ。２０１９年から両備ホールディングス代表取締役社長、およそ５０社、１万人からなる両備グループ経営の先頭に立つ。社長就任にあたって社員に送ったメッセージのひとつは「夢を持とう！」。夢を持ち、夢をかなえる社員が世界一多い会社を目指している。自身の経営判断も「夢」が起点になっていることが多く、ある雑誌のインタビューで答えた岡山の新しいキャッチコピーは「岡山は夢で未来も晴れの国」。今回のTEDでは、夢を持ち、夢を叶える素晴らしさを伝えたいと考えている。

Mika Umakoshi

ノートルダム清心女子大学文学部３年

Mika Umakoshi is dedicated to revitalizing her hometown of Okayama through various city, corporate, and research initiatives. She serves as a project manager and public relations ambassador at a community center, working to strengthen local community ties. Beyond her community work, she is an experienced emcee and narrator, using her skills to bring energy to Okayama. She is also active as a public relations staff member for the Okayama Prefectural Police and plans to obtain a social educator certificate. She is excited to talk about developing one’s own rich personal color at TedX Okayama 2025. 岡山県出身。地元・岡山を盛り上げるため、市や企業、研究チームと協働し多様なプロジェクトに取り組む。地域のつながりを強化をすべく、公民館で企画運営者や広報大使としても活動。また、その経験を生かして、司会者やナレーターとしても地元イベントを盛り上げている。岡山県警察の広報スタッフとしても活動中。現在、社会教育士の資格取得を目指している。

Shunki Kubo

Representative Director and President of ABABA Inc.

Shunki Kubo was born in 1997 in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, and graduated from the Faculty of Science at Okayama University. In his fourth year of university, he founded ABABA Co., Ltd., successfully raising a total of 1.8 billion yen in funding. Recognized by Forbes Japan as one of the “30 Under 30 Changing the World,” Kubo became the youngest member to join the Japan Business Federation. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, he appears as a commentator on Tokyo MX’s Hori Jun Live Junction. Kubo holds a teaching license in high school science, and his hobbies include watching sports. 1997年生まれ、兵庫県明石市出身。岡山大学理学部卒業。大学4年次に株式会社ABABAを創業し、累計18億円の資金調達に成功。Forbes 誌「世界を変える30歳未満の日本人30人」に 選出。最年少で経団連に加盟。東京MX『堀潤Live Junction』にてコメンテーターを務める。高校理科教員免許保持。趣味はスポーツ観戦。

Takafumi Terasawa

国立大学法人岡山大学 学術研究院教育学域 教授

Takafumi Terasawa is an expert in latent memory theory, AI, and big data, and holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Tsukuba. He developed Microstep Study (MSS), an e-learning system that leverages time-series big data to restore motivation in disengaged students and scientifically improve their scores on exams such as GTEC and EIKEN. Terasawa’s work has been supported by numerous large government grants and is being implemented in society. Recognized with the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award and other honors, he has pioneered accurate automatic evaluation and knowledge acquisition—such as kanji and English vocabulary—without human intervention. 専門は潜在記憶理論とAI、ビッグデータ。博士（心理学：筑波大学）。時系列条件がそろった時系列ビッグデータを集約し、意欲を失っている子どもの意欲を確実に向上させ、総合的英語能力試験（GTEC、英検）のスコアを科学的に向上させられるe-learning（マイクロステップ・スタディ：MSS）を開発。国の大型助成を多数受け、社会実装が広がる。文部科学大臣賞他受賞。漢字や英単語等の知識習得を、人の関与なく、正確に自動評価、自動完遂できる道を切り開いた。MSSと連動させ広告を配信できる新たな情報インフラも構築。広告費で貧困の連鎖を断ち切る道筋を生み出そうとしている。

Watanabe Yume

岡山大学大学院 教育学研究科 修士課程２年

Yume Watanabe is a second-year master’s student at the Graduate School of Education, Okayama University. Last year, she spent six months studying abroad in the United States, where her English naturally improved through everyday experiences, and she discovered the power of hands-on, practical learning. At this year’s TEDx, she will introduce the NaX Project—an initiative designed to promote experiential learning and make meaningful contributions to the local community. 岡山大学大学院 教育学研究科 修士課程2年。昨年半年間アメリカへ留学。楽しい日々を過ごすうちに、自然と英語が上達し、実践的な学びの偉大さを体感した。 今回のTEDxでは、実践的な学びと地域貢献を目指す「NaX Project」について語る。