Commemorating the Cute Sensitive Design Award/Excellence Award! Online seminar report by Midori Hattori, author of “Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Materials and Tools”♪
Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. Press release: November 12, 2024 Commemorating the Cute Sensitive Design Award and Excellence Award! Online seminar report by Midori Hattori, author of “Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Materials and Tools”♪ Commemorating the Japan Society of Kansei Engineering’s “Cute Kansei Design Award – Excellence Award”! We held an online seminar by Midori Hattori, author of “Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Materials and Tools”♪ Co., Ltd., a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo/President: Hiroaki Miyahara) Gakken (Shinagawa, Tokyo/President: Tatsuya Nanjo) is the owner of the Japan Society for Kansei Engineering, and is the author of the “Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Tools” (Author: Midori Hattori). In commemoration of winning the “Cute Kansei Design Award – Excellence Award” at the event, an online seminar using this book was held on November 4, 2024 (Monday, holiday) with the author as a lecturer.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-110c662e4555c6a5fe76b8f8281813e4-1298×879.jpg ▲A morning online training session using the “Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Materials and Utensils” to commemorate winning the “Cute Sensitive Design Award Excellence Award.” Hattori Midori Sensei. On the day of the event, the event was divided into a morning session and an afternoon session, with nine groups of participants ranging from elementary school students to adults. Everyone entered the online venue by the start time, and everyone’s enthusiasm was evident. Since they had the audio turned on, I could feel the excitement, and it was hard to believe that it was an online venue. Some girls even participated with their mothers carrying their babies in slings! It was very heartwarming to see the baby watching his older sister create with great interest. I hope you enjoyed it. Once everyone had arrived on time and the moderator had given his greetings and explained the online course, Mr. Midori Hattori’s course began. In this workshop, we made white and pink “Strawberry Milk” out of the three cats. Mr. Hattori intentionally uses light blue akleine (wool felt) to explain and teach, considering that it is difficult to see overlaps and boundaries when folding white akleine (wool felt) on screen, partly because it is online. Thank you. The explanation was very easy to read and understand.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-7cdb27baf98ef06e25c51bf7fde6bfa1-2000×1246.jpg ▲The afternoon online seminar. Hattori Midori-sensei actually made it using light blue Acreine. Everyone was looking at the screen intently as the creator of Nyankoro explained how to make it. Along the way, everyone enthusiastically worked on their creations, asking questions about things they didn’t understand and receiving advice from Mr. Hattori on how to make them cute and what to do if they needed to make minor adjustments. Most people were able to complete it within an hour and a half.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-674f2d35062a0a707d68795d8180e7a7-1298×977.jpg ▲The morning online training session. The small children are having fun making it with the help of their mothers. The dog is the host, and the cat is the staff avatar.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-42fe08a9978f319df115bf0ab8f5c25a-1300×742.jpg ▲The afternoon online seminar. Although we were a small group in the afternoon, both of us were completely absorbed in making it. At the end is a question corner. One of the participants asked, “My ears have gotten longer, what should I do?” Hattori-sensei looked at the cat the questioner had created and said, “The ears are very nice, so I think you can leave them as they are, but if you’re concerned about it, you can add some wool to the face to balance out the whole thing.” “It would be a good idea to get things in order,” he advised. Being able to have this kind of interaction is one of the charms of online courses. Everyone seems to have found it very helpful. Everyone’s works are very cute and attractive masterpieces. The level of completion was so high that even Mr. Hattori was surprised. At the end, take a commemorative photo with a big picture of the Nyankoro that everyone made! The smiles and the works were very nice, and everyone was great. Did you enjoy it?
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-16e6162448d705e6849d614b878accc6-1298×728.jpg ▲Commemorative photo of the morning online seminar. Everything is wonderful!
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-964a66a9fcfe38a743f908843aedf9be-1298×730.jpg ▲Commemorative photo of the afternoon online seminar. I also like that each one has a different expression! Finally, a review of picture books that come with kits.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-ee49dc8863ea3f08ac9db94ffd647f7d-1300×955.jpg ▲Commemorating the “Cute Sensitive Design Award Excellence Award” “Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Materials and Utensils” Even beginners can easily make Nyankoro (bottom left, production example) ★★★Product attractive points★★★ 1. “Cute” & “Easy!” An innovative challenge project that even elementary school students can make
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-a6b10f757514148ea16d3d60db0b1840-1139×1266.jpg ▲Package cover. The target age is clearly stated as elementary school students and above. Materials kits for “wool felting crafts” have been available for a long time, but because they use needles, many products are recommended for ages 16 and up, but this book has been released as a project for children. This book was made possible by the author and editor’s desire to spread the joy of handicrafts to children by creating something with their hands. First of all, in order to get children interested, Hattori Midori devised a cute and easy-to-make character called Nyankoro, which was created using ingredients from three kittens, and also created other characters such as “Strawberry Cake,” “Macaron,” and “Chinkoro.” We made it possible for elementary school students to create their favorite sweets and animals, such as conger eel and hamster. 2. Comes with a book that introduces detailed instructions on how to make it and the individuality of the characters (packed with ideas such as 4-panel comics and how-to pages that will make children want to make it!)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-259a6ae0cd627dee44de98c17955af38-929×719.png ▲“Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Materials and Tools” kit. There is a book in the top of the box that can be flipped open and removed.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-fe30e5048a19048cbc7ab13a576c6e10-1079×1210.jpg ▲Cover of the book in the “Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Materials and Tools” kit The kit contains a 36-page book. In addition to detailed instructions with photos, the book includes a four-panel comic introducing Mitsugo’s cats “Tora,” “Nike,” and “Strawberry Milk,” and the recipe page is structured as a story, making it fun to read like a picture book. This is a book full of ingenuity.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-6ec798d6eaa0cf59f2b5012cf3db915c-1299×1436.jpg ▲From the picture book and 4-panel comic in the kit. We introduce the individuality of the characters so that you can get attached to the characters you can create with the kits. 3. A new material called Akleine The material used in the kit is Akleine, which was developed by Hamanaka. Compared to the conventional 100% wool natural material, Akleine has the following advantages: it has brighter colors, clumps with fewer stitches, is less expensive, and because it is a synthetic fiber, it does not attract insects and is easier to maintain. Because it can be shaped in a short time, it is an easy-to-handle material for beginners in wool felt crafts and elementary school students. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-709096096edcfdf51f2ba8628d553434-1299×986.jpg ▲Appendix kit. Contains materials to make the three kittens “Tora”, “Nike”, and “Strawberry Milk”. The lining is made of acrylic “Acreine”, and even children can easily mold it. [Author
introduction] [Author of this book: Midori Hattori] Director of the Wool Felt and Clay Promotion Association. Lecturer at Shinshu University Faculty of Textile Science and Technology. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Sculpture. After working as a three-dimensional designer at Sanrio Co., Ltd., established Posh Vale Co., Ltd. As a clinical artist, he is also involved in art therapy and modeling education for children with disabilities. “Nyankoro Ensoku Biyori” “Sagaso! “Kisetsu no Gyoji 12 Kagetsu” (both by Gakken), “Made with Montere’s sweets! Author of many books, including “Sanrio Character HAPPY Snacks” (Shufunotomosha). ◆Official website: https://www.pochevert.co.jp/ ◆Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/midorihattori/ ◆X (old Twitter):
https://x.com/midorihattori [This book was supervised by Masayoshi Kamijo] Professor in the Department of Advanced Textile and
Sensitivity Engineering, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University. His specialized research field is kansei engineering. We specialize in sensitivity measurement, which evaluates people’s sense of comfort by measuring the physiological reactions of the brain, heart, muscles, facial expressions, and body movements. We are currently researching technology to create new words (evaluation scales) that can convey to others how excited we are, and to create products that allow people to live comfortably. ▶
http://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/faculty/textiles/ [Product Overview] Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/6908/2535-6908-bbe2de8d4b02bb0ae4a1c9be115804e1-1139×1266.jpg “Fluffy Mitsugo Nyankoro Kit with Wool Felt Materials and Tools” Author: Midori Hattori Release date: August 6, 2020 Price: 2,035 yen (tax included) ISBN: 978-4-05-750755-2 Gakken Publishing site: https://hon.gakken.jp/book/1575075500 Nyankoro Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/nyankoro.gakken/ [Click here to purchase this book] ・Amazon https://amzn.asia/d/9lsnyTc ・Rakuten Books
https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/16367466/ ・Seven Net
https://7net.omni7.jp/detail_isbn/978-4-05-750755-2 ■Gakken Inc. https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/ ・Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo ・Date of establishment: January 13, 2009 (trade name changed on October 1, 2022) ・Capital: 50 million yen ・Address: 2-11-8 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416 ・Business content: Publishing/content business, global business, medical/nursing publishing content business, Developing a garden/school/professional personnel business, classroom -related business, EC/online business, and advertising business ■GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
https://www.gakken.co.jp/ ・Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara ・Date of establishment: March 31, 1947 ・Capital: 19,817 million yen ・Sales: 164.1 billion yen, 75 consolidated subsidiaries (September 2023) Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market Information (Stock Code: 9470) ・Address: 2-11-8 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8510 ・Telephone number: 03-6431-1001 (main) ・Business description: Holding company that develops education and medical welfare related businesses, founded in 1946 Education field: Classroom and cram school business including “Gakken Classroom”, Publishing and content business such as learning materials, School business, etc. Dementia group home business, “ Global: Activities and business development in over 150 countries