Vegan Class and Exhibition Booth at an Elementary School (Kita City Environment Fair)

The 21st Kita City Environment Fair took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026. It was held at Kita City Oji Daiichi Elementary School in Tokyo.

The event brought together companies and non-profit organizations in Kita City that work on environmental protection. It gave children a chance to learn about the environment. Alongside classroom lessons, participating groups ran booths in the schoolyard. Visitors could try indigo dyeing, make pressed-flower bookmarks, and make soap from waste cooking oil.

VegeProject Japan gave a guest lesson to students in the classroom. We also ran a booth in the schoolyard to introduce vegan food and its low environmental impact.

Guest Lesson on Vegan Food and the Environment

We taught three sixth-grade (11-12 years old) classes. Many of the students’ parents also listened to the lesson with great interest.

We began by talking about why environmental problems matter and why we need to tackle them. Then we thought together about what each of us can do. One example we introduced was choosing where our protein comes from in our daily meals. Compared with animal protein, plant-based protein can be produced with less land and fewer resources. We explained that choosing plant-based protein can therefore reduce environmental burdens such as deforestation and global warming. We also told the students that a plant-based diet is kind to animals and good for our own health.

The students were surprised to learn that many familiar foods can already be vegan, such as tofu, vegetables, and nuts. They also learned that vegan options are increasing at restaurants, including restaurant chains. They reacted with surprise when we showed them vegan ramen and hamburgers. We also introduced our organization’s Vegan Certification mark. We encouraged them to look for the mark when shopping at supermarkets and elsewhere. It is an easy way to start noticing vegan options in everyday life.

The students took an active part in the lesson, and some shared their thoughts in their own words.

Survey Results

We ran an anonymous survey after the lesson. About 91% of students said the lesson increased their interest in environmental issues. About 87% said they would like to eat more plant-based protein. In the free-comment section, most students wrote that they had never connected the global environment with food before. Many said the lesson brought them discoveries and surprises. Some wrote that they wanted to change their behavior, and others said they had become interested in veganism. Here are some of their comments. More of the students’ honest impressions follow at the end of this article.

I decided to try not to eat fish or meat in order to protect the earth and animals. After learning this today, I want to tell my mom and dad about veganism too.

I learned that animals are suffering because of global warming, and I want to rethink my own eating habits to protect the earth.

I learned that vegan food is kind to animals. I love animals, so I’m glad I found out. I also learned that it is good for the earth. I became interested in this topic and want to look into it in more detail.

Exhibition Booth to Deepen Understanding of Veganism

At our booth in the schoolyard, we ran a quiz-style card-flipping game. It invited visitors to think about how our food choices connect to the environment, animals, and people’s lives. We also handed out a leaflet for learning about veganism. In addition, we displayed Vegan Certified products, the kind you can find in supermarkets and convenience stores. This showed that vegan options are close at hand in everyday life.

After the lesson, students who had become interested in veganism stopped by the booth one after another. So did parents who had watched the class.

This event was planned and run by the Secretariat of the Kita City Environment Fair Executive Committee (Kita City NPO & Volunteer Plaza). It was supported by Kita City, the Kita City Board of Education, and the Arakawa-Karyu River Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone involved. We are grateful to the organizers and to Kita City Oji Daiichi Elementary School, which gave us the opportunity to teach and exhibit. We also thank the parents and local residents who came to visit, our members and volunteers who helped at the exhibition booth on the day, and the students who took part in the lesson so enthusiastically.

Student Reactions to the Lesson on Environmental Issues, Food, and the Benefits of Vegan Eating (Excerpts)

I learned that we can get protein from plant-based foods too. When I shop at the supermarket, I want to try buying products with the VEGAN mark. I also became interested in the global environment.

 I learned that if everyone ate less meat, each animal could be raised with more care, and I want to reduce the amount of meat I eat. When I heard it would also help the global environment, I thought that was amazing.

I used to think veganism had nothing to do with me, but it is actually good for the environment, for animals, and for our bodies, so from now on I’m going to eat vegan meals.

In this lesson, I learned many things, such as that vegans are people who don’t eat animal products, and how food affects the environment. I was surprised that there are vegan hamburgers, doughnuts, and ramen. When I can cook meals by myself, I want to include vegan foods in them.

The lives of all animals should be equally precious, so I think it’s wrong that we cherish pets but don’t cherish animals raised for meat. So I decided to eat plant-based foods for the sake of animals. I also think it’s important for preventing global warming so that people can live happily.

This lesson made me interested in veganism and the global environment. From now on, I want to eat vegan meals and create an environment that is kind to animals. I also want to eat plant-based tofu and take care of the global environment.

I would feel sad and scared if someone ate me, so I think pigs and cows must be scared too. I want to eat tofu, soybeans, and other foods instead of meat every day.

I never really understood the benefits of plant-based protein like soybeans, but now I see that it has good points too. So I want to try plant-based dishes.

I had heard the words “vegetarian” and “vegan” but didn’t know what they meant, so I’m glad I learned today. For the sake of the environment and animals, I decided to try buying and eating plant-based foods.

I realized that global warming can improve a little by eating plant protein such as tofu. I used to not understand this and wasn’t very interested, but after hearing the talk I became a little interested in veganism. From now on, I’ll eat more vegetables, and if I find vegan food I’ll try it, to be a little kinder to the earth. I also decided to tell my family about this and occasionally eat plant-based protein foods together.

For almost all of the students, it was the first time they had heard that veganism is good for the environment. Some may have been puzzled by something so new. Even so, within a short 45-minute period, they listened, thought it over, and wrote down their impressions. We can only share a small selection here. Still, we could see that the lesson gave most students something new to think about. Taking part in this fair reminded us how important it is to communicate, and for everyone to think.