For the young innovators of Pasay City National Science High School, winners of the 2024 SEAMEO-Japan Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Award, the journey to Japan was more than an academic reward — it was an opportunity to share ideas that connect science, community, and lifelong learning.

Under the theme “Promoting Lifelong STEM Learning through Community Engagement,” the school’s programme Project Vinculum stood out for its creative approach to linking classroom science with real-world applications that benefit local communities. As part of their recognition, four students and three teachers travelled to Japan to represent the Philippines in a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Tokyo and to Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan, where they shared insights from their project — an approach that resonated strongly with Japan’s own philosophy of inclusive and sustainable education.

Beyond the formal engagement, the group explored Japan’s dynamic landscape of science, culture, and innovation, discovering how creativity and accessibility shape learning at every level.

• Toshio Kashio Memorial Museum of Invention
  
  

  A hidden gem celebrating the genius behind Casio’s most iconic creations. Inside, calculators, cameras, and digital watches tell stories of persistence and imagination — proof that great inventions often begin with simple ideas and a daring question: “What if?”
  

• The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)
  
  

  A futuristic space where learning feels like play. From humanoid robots to exhibits on space and sustainability, every corner invites visitors to touch, experiment, and wonder. Here, the students saw how Japan transforms complex science into something everyone can experience — regardless of age or background.

• Saitama City Omiya Kita High School
  

  A UNESCO Associated School and one of Japan’s Super Science High Schools, the visit offered another highlight. Filipino and Japanese students exchanged perspectives on STEM and sustainability, discovering that while their contexts differ, their aspirations are shared — to use science not only for progress, but also for inclusion and community development.

The Inclusivity and Sustainability of Tokyo

Long before hosting the 2020 Paralympic Games, Tokyo had already envisioned a city where everyone could move freely, live with dignity, and thrive in balance with the environment. The New Barrier-Free Law of 2006 and the Universal Design 2020 Action Plan have transformed the capital into one of the world’s most accessible and sustainable urban spaces — improving transport systems, public facilities, and information design to serve people of all ages and abilities while promoting long-term resilience.

Today, around 95% of Tokyo’s 700 railway stations have elevators and accessible toilets, and 94% of public buses are wheelchair-friendly. Energy-efficient systems and eco-friendly materials are integrated into these upgrades to reduce environmental impact. Every crossing in the city features audible traffic signals, while tactile paving lines almost every pavement to guide the visually impaired. Even television programmes include optional subtitles for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing — a quiet testament to how inclusivity and sustainability are woven into everyday life.

This spirit of accessibility extends to learning spaces as well. At Miraikan (The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation), the exhibition “Park of Aging” helps visitors understand the physical and sensory changes that come with age, fostering empathy and awareness through interactive and sustainable educational experiences.

At Omiya-Kita High School in Saitama, inclusivity has long been part of the school’s story. In the late 1990s, students campaigned for the construction of an elevator and wheelchair ramps to assist a classmate with muscular dystrophy, collecting hundreds of signatures and petitioning the Omiya City Board of Education for support. The original newspaper article about this movement is still displayed at the school — a reminder that compassion, inclusion, and sustainability can be nurtured through education.

From public transport to classrooms, Tokyo’s commitment to universal design reflects a broader philosophy: that accessibility and sustainability are not only about infrastructure, but also about mindset — creating a society where participation and shared responsibility for the future are possible for all.