Our Purpose
How can we create a new educational experience that vitalizes people through sparking more imagination rather than loading them with more knowledge? How can we design the experience to be more empathetic and flexible to an individual’s needs?
Our purpose is not to challenge or to revolutionize the current system, but to empower people to become more prepared to face the current world’s needs. In a world that faces more uncertainties than ever, individuals encounter internal challenges such as confidence and self-actualization, as well as external challenges such as school and career.
The name of our organization, “TOKIHA,” comes from a Japanese word “Tokihanatsu 解き放つ” meaning to unleash, free, or liberate. Though what constrains each person is different and personal to the individual, we believe the feeling of being freed from those rigidities is universal. TOKIHA creates a space where we can experiment and build ways for individuals to face their challenges head on and share that feeling of liberation together.
Our Vision
In the turmoil and beauty of our changing world, we recognize that the desire for change and liberation can be found universally among all cultures and groups. This desire can even carry beyond summer camps.
For now, we are starting small. We are focusing on Japan and its cultural and societal framework with Japanese junior high and high school students and their communities. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are planning to gradually resume our previous capacity with two summer camps in Japan and expand to a few more locations while sustaining the quality of the program in coming years.
Our Team
Our Endorsers
Sophi Martin, PhD
Senior Manager and Lab Lead, Deloitte Client Accelerators | Previously Innovation Director, UC Berkeley Blum Center
“The camps have had a profound effect on past participants. TOKIHA campers were allowed space for introspection, a critical component for personal growth and development...I can attest to their creativity, tenacity, and passion for helping Japanese youth achieve their highest potential is genuine and continues to grow...TOKIHA camps are a unique and very special opportunity for Japanese youth to engage with US-based students and to grow their own capacity as global citizens.”
George Scharffenberger
Master of Development Practice Program Director at UC Berkeley
“Camps have common objectives such as self-discovery, entrepreneurship and enhanced team skills, but each is a unique collection of workshops and activities, built around a theme such as environmental protection. Since my first encounter with TOKIHA’s leaders two years ago, I have been impressed by their creativity, focus and commitment. The results for both US and Japanese students have been nothing less than transformative...I encourage schools, local governments, youth groups and business leaders to consider partnering with TOKIHA to bring the benefits of TOKIHA Camps to the youth of their community.”
