What 'Asobousai' Aims For Is 'Human Connection' [Seeds of the Future @ Takasu]

On August 17, 2022, at the Takasu Civic Center in Wakamatsu Ward, Kitakyushu City, we were requested to hold 'Asobousai,' an event where people learn about disaster prevention through play, as part of the 'Seeds of the Future' project!!

The theme set for the event was 'Let's Connect with People.'

'Asobousai,' which started with a mix of dad jokes and school festival-style crafts, now has over 30 programs.
Because it can be implemented by anyone anywhere, and because many young human resources like students are being developed, we receive many requests to hold it.

I feel that there is a high need for disaster prevention awareness, which is also a regional issue.

A question I am often asked there is,
'Why did you decide to start Asobousai?'
that is.

The immediate answer is,
'The goal is multi-generational exchange within the community.'

I developed 'Asobousai' programs one after another as a strategy that could be tackled not only by the senior generation who lead regional activities, but also together with children and the young child-rearing generation.

This time, the request was one that returned to those origins.

Usually, we prepare many booths and have people enjoy various games, but prepared to have a tight schedule, I developed a program with a focus on 'people connecting.'

1. Icebreaker: 'Greeting by Touch'

It was done at the previous icebreaker in Akasaki, and since it was interesting, I copied it!! (lol)

'With children in the center,'
local residents also participated in about the same number as the children.
Let children greet adults, and adults greet children!

I would like to do a high-five, but for fear of infection, we did an arm-touch!
The person who was able to 'greet' the most people in 30 seconds is the winner!

The result was...!
'I lost track of how many people' (lol)
It seems there were so many that they couldn't count them all (lol)

2. Self-Introduction Folk Dance

We had the local residents form a circle and face outward.
We had the children form a circle outside of that, facing inward.

In 40 seconds, they introduce themselves to each other.
Let's appeal well so that they can remember your name properly!
Both children and adults were talking skillfully.

When the time is up, the children shift to the side, and everyone goes around the circle.

I got the hint from the 'Chatting Folk Dance' that was held in Nogata and other places.

Since there are rarely opportunities to have deep conversations, the gentle expressions of the adults who participated were particularly impressive.

I was also very impressed by the university students who were helping with crowd control, as they crouched down to talk at the children's eye level.

When I was talking about this at home, I was told, 'Ah, you mean speed dating, right?' (laughs).
That's the title of a certain matchmaking show, isn't it? Maybe that's a better name? (laughs)

The kids probably don't even know what a folk dance is! (laughs)

3. Birthday Card (Advanced Version)

Now that everyone has introduced themselves, it's time for an advanced game!

It's a sorting game!
First, let's line up in alphabetical order by name!
The front of the venue is 'A', and the back is the 'Wa' row.
Ready, set, go!!

'Since I'm XX, you go over there.'
'If that's your name, you need to go further that way!'
The local residents skillfully led the children who didn't know where to go.

Alright!! You've lined up, haven't you?
Next, let's line up by birthday! Ready, set, go!!

Since it was the second time, it went much faster!!
After checking to see if everyone was in the right place,
Who has the closest birthday!!!
It's a 6th-grade boy who is about to turn 12.
We all sang 'Happy Birthday' together♪

(Later, when I spoke to him individually, I apologized for surprising him so suddenly, but he said it was totally fine and told me that he was going to go buy his birthday present with his family today. It became a happy memory!)

Finally, the super advanced version!!
'Please line up by address!'

Town name, block number, and house number.
The adults from each neighborhood took the lead, and they lined up very quickly!

The power of neighbors is amazing!!

4. Memorization Game with Neighborhood Teams

This is a classic Asobousai activity.
I have them memorize 10 disaster prevention items that should be kept at home.

It's not about testing individual memory, but if you share what everyone in the team remembers, you can get the whole list!

Since we clarified who the neighbors were in the sorting game earlier, I'll have them form teams based on that.
Now, let's all try to remember!!

5. Freely 'Asobousai'

The second half is the usual free-play Asobousai!

Everyone is free to play at each booth!

Also, we had them run the '80% Likely to be Okay' game as a guerrilla activity.

Everyone enjoyed themselves freely and harmoniously!

6. Asobousai Circuit

Finally, the concluding 'Asobousai Circuit'. We divide the children into groups of a few people and think of the venue as a square.

They go around the square, and there are Asobousai games at each destination that they must clear to proceed. The first one to complete a lap wins!!

The games from the earlier free-play Asobousai continue into this. Here are the 4 games to clear!

・'80% Likely to be Okay' game
・Where Does the Disaster Go? Empty Can Ball Toss
・Map Puzzle
・'Borrow a Person' Race

Hmm?
'Borrow a Person' Race?
This is a first!!

Draw a card.
The card contains information about 'a person like this' who you want to help you.
You know how there's a 'scavenger hunt'? This is the 'human' version of that!

We had been told in advance by the director about the skills and daily activities of the local residents, so various things were written on the cards.

You draw that card and call out, 'Please help me!'
It's a game that makes both the children who rely on others and the adults who are relied upon happy.

But, you have to hurry against the clock!!! (laughs)

Click here for details!

We developed the program by putting into this game the feelings that felt like a compilation of the day.

And so,
it became an Asobousai workshop themed around 'human connection'.

The foundation of disaster prevention is the local community.
Connecting people with one another is, above all else, disaster response capability and disaster prevention.

It was so much fun,
and once again, it was an Asobousai that served as a place for multi-generational exchange!

Thank you for watching again today!!