On Friday, October 31, third-year high school students organized a mock election event called WOW (World of Voting) for first- and second-year junior high school students.

This lesson was part of a high school project-based learning class and aimed to establish an educational model for thinking about elections and voting. The mock election featured a unique and fun theme: “Which popular character would you vote for if they ran with their own campaign promises?” Candidates included famous characters like Tanjiro Kamado and Doraemon.

The junior high students experienced voting using real ballot boxes and followed the same process as in actual elections. After the votes were counted, the event reached an exciting climax as the most popular character was announced. Following the vote, there was a learning session where students reflected on the characters’ personalities and traits in connection with political party principles and policies. Although actual voting is still in the future for these students, the experience offered a valuable opportunity to learn the importance of “thinking and choosing for oneself.”

The third-year high school students took the lead in planning and running the event, ensuring it was fun and easy to understand for their younger peers. Many of the junior high students shared enthusiastic feedback such as, “It was fun!” and “It felt like a real election, and I was nervous!” making it a joyful and engaging learning experience for all.