Nissha Printing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Nissha”) sponsors the children’s workshop Machikusa Mikke! (Wild-plant Hunt) in a continuous effort since fiscal year 2010 to meet its commitment to environmental protection and next generation support set forth in the Nissha Basic Social Contribution Policy. Organized in collaboration with NPO Kids Meet Artists (Director: Haruka Idegami), the program aims to develop in children an interest in the environment and unleash their creativity and imagination.

In the workshops, children observe weeds (Machikusa) that generally go unnoticed in daily life, guided by artist Shinpei Shigemoto, the Machikusa Designer. The children give these weeds original names of their choice and photograph them with a digital camera. At times they make presentations of each other’s newly invented names or print out the photographs and decorate them in original cards.

On May 14, 2016, Nissha sponsored Kyoto Rakuhoku Machikusa Mikke! (Wild-plant Hunt in Rakuhoku, Kyoto), organized by NPO Kyoto Rakuhoku Moritomizunokai composed of thirty shrine and temples in Rakuhoku Kyoto. The workshop was held at Kyoto Municipal Kurama Elementary School (The principal Mr. Masato Taguchi), which is located near the Kibuneguchi Station of Eizan Railway, and has a long history more than one hundred years. Fourteen children from a first grader to a sixth grader participated on that day.

At first, Mr.Takai Kazuhiro, Kibune Shrine chief priest (Director of NPO Kyoto Rakuhoku Moritomizunokai) had greetings on behalf of the sponsor side. And then children jumped out in school grounds with a digital camera of the one per person. They hunted for weeds (Machikusa) and photograph them and gave them original names. After that, children made a presentation of their own Machikusa with the original names in the classroom. “Kuraima-ka nobori gusa” (Climbing grass, the Climber family), “Momiji Propeller” (Maple Propeller), “Mimamori oyako” (Family clover watching on us )－,the participant cheered for the unique names and the photographs. The children made their only one Machikusa cards in the world with the photographs.

Nissha plans to continue in its initiative to support future generations.