Hidekazu Shoto, a teacher at Ritsumeikan Primary School, and Junpei Sakai, a teacher at Ritsumeikan Uji Junior and Senior High School, were selected for Forbes JAPAN's “100 Teachers Shaping the Future through Entrepreneurship Education” list, which was featured in the magazine's June 25, 2026 issue.
The feature recognizes educators across Japan who are taking innovative approaches to entrepreneurship education and fostering individuals capable of creating new value. In selecting this year's recipients, Forbes JAPAN recognized the educational practices of Ritsumeikan's affiliated schools, which foster students' ability to take on the challenge of creating value while learning proactively by way of inquiry-based learning and other educational initiatives.

In collaboration with Ritsumeikan Impact Makers Inter X (RIMIX), Shoto is promoting entrepreneurship education beginning from the primary school level. In addition, by collaborating with Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., he is enhancing practical learning through industry-academia co-creation, including the development of educational materials that integrate STEAM education with entrepreneurship education.
Sakai has developed and implemented a curriculum for the Period for Integrated Learning through Inquiry that emphasizes career education. Using this curriculum, he fosters students' ability to engage proactively in value creation while discovering connections between their own future and society.

Based on the R2030 Ritsumeikan Academy Vision, Ritsumeikan is committed to developing talent through an integrated educational pathway spanning every level from the primary school to the graduate school as it strives to become a next-generation research university and next-generation inquiry-driven academy centered on world-class research and education. Ritsumeikan will continue to promote the distinctive educational programs of its affiliated schools while cultivating individuals with an innovative mindset.

Comment from Mr. Hidekazu Shoto
I am deeply honored and delighted to have been selected for this list. In today's world, where what we take for granted can change from one day to the next, I hope to help students grow into people who can embrace whatever the future may bring. With that goal in mind, I will continue to advance entrepreneurship education.

Launched in June 2014 as the Japanese edition of the global business media brand Forbes, Forbes JAPAN curates articles from the U.S. and other international editions alongside original content produced in Japan for readers with a global perspective. Covering not only business and innovation but also lifestyle topics, the magazine delivers valuable content for both readers' professional and personal lives.
The online edition publishes new content daily, including articles from Forbes.com, features from the print magazine, and original articles by official columnists with expertise across a range of fields.

Position
Teacher, Ritsumeikan Primary School
Educational Producer, Office of Startup and Business Development Promotion, Ritsumeikan Trust

Profile
Shoto assumed his current position after teaching at a public junior high school in Kyoto City and Ritsumeikan Junior and Senior High School. Recognized for using Minecraft in his classes, in 2019, Mr. Shoto was the first Japanese primary school teacher to be selected as one of the top 10 outstanding teachers in the world for the Global Teacher Prize, which garnered 30,000 entries from over 150 countries. His other roles include edutainment producer for the Educational Edition of the Momotaro Dentetsu video game. His major publications include the book "Learn from the World's Top Teacher: An English Textbook that Will Change Your Child's Future" (Kodansha, Ltd.).

Mr. Jumpei Sakai, Ritsumeikan Uji Junior and Senior High School