I won't give you the answer. But let's think about it together. —Rintaro | Self-Introduction

"Am I really on the right path?"

—To you, who carries such hesitation.

Without rushing for an answer,
there is a form of learning where we cultivate questions together.

Hello, I am Rintaro from Shoya Juku.

In this note, I write about my daily realizations and thoughts on education for

children struggling with learning,

parents feeling anxious,

and everyone who aspires to learn. I share my daily insights and thoughts on education.

🧑‍🔬 Learning from Coral Reefs

—My starting point as a researcher

I am a researcher specializing in coral reef environments and coral reef conservation. The coral reef sea I encountered in Ishigaki Island during my university days—

I was captivated by its mysterious beauty and felt strongly that I wanted to protect this world.

However, passion alone cannot protect anything. So, I decided that "it starts with knowing," and I began to learn.

Eventually, as I pursued the path of a researcher, I realized my true wish:


"I want to create a society where coral reefs and people coexist."

But that is a future I cannot achieve on my own.

That is precisely why—

I want to nurture people to whom I can entrust that future.

When I thought that,
"education" began to move within me.

🧭 Thinking together, not teaching

Over the past 20 years, I have stood in various educational settings, including university lectures, guidance for comprehensive selection admissions, career counseling for high school students, children's science classes, and kendo instruction.

I also studied pedagogy in graduate school and am a specialist with a Master's degree in Education.

What we value at Ishiya Juku is
not "teaching the answers."

Children ask,

"Why do I have to study?"

"How do I decide my future?"

That is not a dismissive attitude, but

"I want to know the meaning"

"I want to be convinced"

astraightforward voice from their heart.

I do not give such children the correct answer immediately.

Instead, I say,"Let's think about it together"to them.

By holding onto their questions and
putting them into words little by little,
I nurture the children's"ability to think and choose for themselves."

🧒 Witnessing the moment a child changes

One student preparing for a correspondence high school entrance exam
could not grasp the intent of the essay questions
for the comprehensive selection process,
and was just listing their own opinions.

I kept asking them

"Why do you think that?"
"What do you want to convey?"

and continued to pose questions.

Then, little by little,
they became able to shape their own words,
and eventually passed the university of their first choice through the comprehensive selection.

Their back was filled with confidence.

Also, there was a child who left an impression in Kendo.
An elementary school student who was depressed because they couldn't win,
made efforts and won their first tournament.

At that moment, their eyes changed,
and they eventually grew to the point of standing on the stage of the national tournament
as a representative of Tokyo.

"Changing through one's own power"

The backs of children who have experienced this
are truly strong and reliable.

🌱 Rising up through the child's own power

Even while hitting walls,
children nurture the small will that has sprouted inside them
with their own power.

It is not just me alone who supports that first step.
It is thanks to the presence of people who believe,

such as parents, school teachers, and adults in the community,
“You can do it”
that children are able to stand up.

I want to be someone who, without rushing or making assumptions, offers questions and gently nudges them forward.

📘 Learning becomes the "power to live life"

Learning is not just about increasing knowledge.

It is about fostering the ability to ask "Why?" and "How?", to think for oneself, to choose, and to express.
That becomes a great strength for living in a society without clear answers.

Children who can think, choose, and act in their own words through learning

can carve out their own lives.


That is why I want to help support the future through learning.

🪸 A tangible contribution to society that I can make

Neither coral reefs nor the future of children can be protected by one person's strength alone.
However, supporting the desire to "want to learn" is something I can do right now.

People grow through learning,

and those people in turn support someone else — creating such a cycle.



I believe that is a tangible contribution to society that I can make.

🌸 Thank you for reading until the end.

Thank you.

Precisely because we live in an era without clear answers,

I believe that the presence of an adult who "does not rush for answers, but thinks together"

expands a child's sense of security and their options.

In this note, I continuously share thoughts on education, entrance exams,
as well as daily learning and life realizations.
I post these regularly.

If you resonate with these thoughts—.

Pleasefollowme,

and I would be happy if we could

walk this 'learning journey' together from here on.

Thank you for 1,300 likes.

I will continue to be by your side through my words.

Click here for Rintaro's previous articles on education, learning, and research!👇

Click here for information on Ishiya Juku!👇