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SPEAKINGA talk at Tokai Shofu High School in AichiAt Aichi Prefectural Tokai Shofu High School, our executive director, Soka Horii, gave a talk on turning your own formative experience and your own drive into policy that moves society.
SPEAKINGSpoke at a council member study session in Yashio City, SaitamaAt Yashio City Hall, we spoke at a council member study session titled "Opening the Future of Local Assemblies: Standards for Evolving Local Councils through a Citizen's Perspective."
PROJECTLet's talk about the world, here in Soka — Dokkyo University students × the Mayor of SokaWhat you saw abroad, what you felt on exchange, the cultures you met. Why not bring what the world taught you back to the future of Soka?
PROJECTWe held our 2026 general meetingWe held our 2026 general meeting at the Ginza Community Hall, with every member together in one room.
SPEAKINGSpeaking at "High School Students Ask Japan's Leaders: Hints for How to Live"Our executive director, Soka Horii, appeared as a commentator at "High School Students Ask Japan's Leaders: Hints for How to Live", held at the Ikeda Civic Cultural Hall.
RECRUITDeadline approaching: online briefing for the fourth cohort"A world where young people can put a TEIGEN to society." What is behind TEIGEN JP? What do we actually do? Who is here? Is it all right if you have never done anything like this?
RECRUITApplications open for the fourth cohort of QuestionersTurn your question about society into a TEIGEN. TEIGEN JP is recruiting the fourth cohort of Questioners to run the 2026 year with us.
PROJECTA committee has been formed to write the five-year vision
SUPPORTThank you — the crowdfunding target has been metTwenty-six people gave a total of ¥279,000 — 139% of the target — to "High school students take over the assembly chamber: hosting Mock Ward Mayoral Election 2026"…
REPORTWinning team of the 2026 Mock Ward Mayoral Election pays a courtesy visit to the Mayor of AdachiThe four members of the winning team from Mock Ward Mayoral Election 2026, together with the operations section, paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Yayoi Kondo at the Adachi Ward Office.
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election 2026: reportWe held Mock Ward Mayoral Election 2026 — The Other Side of the Ballot Box. Thirty-three middle and high school students from across the country took part, along with seven members of the Adachi Ward Assembly…
SUPPORTCrowdfunding opensSixth period, the gymnasium. Heads down. A voice carrying: "Elections matter!"
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election 2026 — The Other Side of the Ballot BoxTEIGEN JP's unmissable spring event is back. "I had no idea an election was this close to me." A hands-on program where you argue seriously with politicians and other students, think it through, and vote…
PROJECTOsouji-tai: Protect Your Neighborhood — reportThe Clean Education Division delivered the outreach class Osouji-tai: Protect Your Neighborhood to three fifth-grade classes at Adachi Municipal Adachi Elementary School.
PROJECTThe Clean Education Division is foundedTEIGEN JP is founding a Clean Education Division, treating cleaning time in elementary schools as time in which children build a social sense at the age when character forms, and working to make that understood.
REPORTTaking part in the fifth Kasa Festival at Bunkyo UniversityWe staffed the Adachi Election Administration Commission's booth at the fifth Kasa Festival, held at Bunkyo University's Adachi campus.
SPEAKINGSpeaking at Summer Conference 2025Our executive director, Soka Horii, spoke at Summer Conference 2025, hosted by Junior Chamber International Japan: "What civic education changes about a town and its future — toward a society where young people are heard".
MEDIAFeatured in a special issue of Senkyo ShikiMembers appeared in a special issue of Senkyo Shiki, published by the Adachi Election Administration Commission.
AWARDAward of Excellence at the fourth NEO AwardsOur executive director, Soka Horii, competed in the fourth NEO Awards, hosted by Earth Day Tokyo at Marui Yurakucho, and received the Award of Excellence.
PROJECTThe 2025 general meetingWe held the 2025 general meeting in Adachi. This year we welcomed a large intake of new members interested in civic education, and…
SPEAKINGGuest speaker at the Adachi 100-Person MeetingOur executive director, Soka Horii, appeared as a guest speaker at Adachi 100-Person Meeting Vol. 2.
SPEAKINGIn conversation with Mercy Tembon, then Vice President of the World BankOur executive director, Soka Horii, joined a discussion on youth participation and youth councils worldwide, arguing that these need to be connected to actual institutions.
RECRUITRecruiting the third cohort of QuestionersFor anyone who keeps asking. TEIGEN JP, which turns two this June, runs the Mock Ward Mayoral Election, outreach classes in elementary, middle and high schools in partnership with government, and…
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election 2025: report, part 3Part 3: the vote and the count. After a fierce round of stump speeches, students, assembly members and observers cast mock ballots. Real polling equipment was set up, and in the tension…
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election 2025: report, part 2Part 2: the stump speeches. Teams worked flat out on policy ideas, campaign sashes and presentations, exactly as in a real campaign, right up to the moment…
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election 2025: report, part 1Part 1: drafting policy and arguing it out. Middle and high school students from across the country split into six groups and began preparing their campaigns, each with a university student facilitator…
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election 2025: reportWe held Mock Ward Mayoral Election 2025 — The Other Side of the Ballot Box. Forty-six middle and high school students from across the country took part, along with seven members of the Adachi Ward Assembly…
PROJECTA civic education program at Kohoku High SchoolWe staffed a civic education program at Tokyo Metropolitan Kohoku High School, run by the Chuo University society Vote at Chuo!! and the Adachi Election Administration Commission.
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election 2025 — The Other Side of the Ballot BoxFor anyone who still feels politics is a long way off: the Mock Ward Mayoral Election is back. A day on the side of an election you never normally see, in groups with politicians and people you have not met…
SPEAKINGAttending the Youth Leader ForumWe attended the Youth Leader Forum for the Kanto-Koshinetsu-Shizuoka region, hosted by the Association for Promoting Fair Elections, in the seat allocated to Tokyo.
REPORTTaking part in the fourth Kasa Festival at Bunkyo UniversityWe staffed the Adachi Election Administration Commission's booth, "A Vote for the Future", at the fourth Kasa Festival held at Bunkyo University's Adachi campus.
REPORTMeeting the Executive Director of the Toronto Youth CabinetOur executive director, Soka Horii, met Stephen Mensah, Executive Director of the Toronto Youth Cabinet, at Toronto City Hall in Canada…
AWARDThrough to the finals of The World Scholar's CupOur member Ikeda competed as part of a team at The World Scholar's Cup 2024 Dalian Global Round and qualified for the finals…
RELEASEWe are changing our nameFrom 1 June 2024, TEIGEN at Fifteen becomes TEIGEN JP, with a new logo.
MEDIAFeatured in Adachi Kyoiku DayoriTEIGEN at Fifteen was featured in issue 87 of Adachi Kyoiku Dayori, published by the Adachi Board of Education.
RECRUITWe are recruiting2024, under the banner "overwhelm". TEIGEN at Fifteen is looking for the people who will make the next wind with us.
REPORTCourtesy visit to Prime Minister Fumio KishidaAs the winning team of the first National High School Policy Championship, hosted by Junior Chamber International Japan, TEIGEN at Fifteen paid a courtesy visit to Fumio Kishida, the 101st Prime Minister, at the Prime Minister's Office…
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election: review, part 3A photograph with the people we did this with — six parties, six colors.
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election: review, part 2The stump speeches at last. With the superintendent of education, the chair of the election commission and many other observers watching, six parties gave six very different, young and forceful speeches. "Let's build a ward high school…"
PROJECTMock Ward Mayoral Election: review, part 1Part 1: icebreaker and discussion. After the groups formed, a serving ward assembly member joined each team as an adviser, and students and members put questions to each other…
PROJECTReport on the Mock Ward Mayoral ElectionTEIGEN at Fifteen held its civic education program, Mock Ward Mayoral Election — The Other Side of the Ballot Box. Forty-four middle and high school students from across the country took part, along with eight members of the Adachi Ward Assembly…
AWARDNHK President's Award at the 70th High School Students' Speech Contest, national roundOur executive director, Soka Horii, competed in the national round of the 70th High School Students' Speech Contest for International Understanding and Cooperation, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Association of Japan, and received the NHK President's Award.
PROJECTStudent event: Mock Ward Mayoral Election — The Other Side of the Ballot BoxThe Mock Ward Mayoral Election is happening. A day on the side of the ballot box you never normally see, run with the Adachi Ward Assembly and the election administration commission, in groups with people you have not met…
AWARDSpecial Prize at the 70th High School Students' Speech Contest, Tokyo roundOur executive director, Soka Horii, competed in the Tokyo round of the 70th High School Students' Speech Contest for International Understanding and Cooperation, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Association of Japan, and received the Special Prize.
REPORTCourtesy visit to Yayoi Kondo, Mayor of AdachiAs the winning team of the first National High School Policy Championship, TEIGEN at Fifteen paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Yayoi Kondo at the Adachi Ward Office.
REPORTCourtesy visit to Speaker Tetsuya KudoAs the winning team of the first National High School Policy Championship, TEIGEN at Fifteen paid a courtesy visit to Speaker Tetsuya Kudo at the Adachi Ward Assembly.
AWARDFirst place at the inaugural National High School Policy ChampionshipAt the first National High School Policy Championship, hosted by Junior Chamber International Japan, we received 2,612 votes and were named the winning team.
SUPPORTPolicy Championship finals: one last askTEIGEN at Fifteen is competing in the finals of the first National High School Policy Championship, which close tomorrow.
SUPPORTPolicy Championship finals: please voteTEIGEN at Fifteen is competing in the finals of the first National High School Policy Championship, which begin tomorrow.
AWARDThrough the main round of the inaugural National High School Policy ChampionshipTEIGEN at Fifteen competed in the main round of the first National High School Policy Championship, hosted by Junior Chamber International Japan and held at the National Diet Building, and was selected among the top three teams…
RELEASEHelloName: TEIGEN at Fifteen. Idea: turn "why?" into force, and make the wind.
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This section is our own primary record. For third-party coverage, see Media Coverage.
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Press inquiries
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Organization Profile
Organizational profile
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A student organization working on civic education and teenage participation in public life, driven by the gap in who gets opportunities. Its mission: every teenager should get to meet the person they have not yet become. Founded in Adachi, Tokyo in 2023 and now planned and run by around forty high school and university students from Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures. Its programs include the Mock Ward Mayoral Election — staged in the ward office and the assembly chamber, taking participants from drafting policy through candidacy to the count — Osouji-tai, which builds ownership of shared space through cleaning, and outreach classes run with government and schools. More than 1,000 people have now learned how democracy feels from the inside. TEIGEN JP put a policy proposal to then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Prime Minister's Office, won the inaugural National High School Policy Championship (supported by the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Ministry of Education), and received the NHK President's Award at the 70th High School Students' Speech Contest (United Nations Association of Japan).
A student organization working on civic education and teenage participation in public life, driven by the gap in who gets opportunities. Our mission: every teenager should get to meet the person they have not yet become. Around forty high school and university students from Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures run it. Our programs include the Mock Ward Mayoral Election — held in the ward office and the assembly chamber, taking participants from drafting policy through candidacy to the count — and Osouji-tai, which builds a sense of ownership over shared space through cleaning. More than 1,000 people have now learned how democracy feels from the inside.
Fact Sheet
FACT SHEET
| Official name | TEIGEN JP |
|---|---|
| In English | TEIGEN JP |
| Founded | 1 June 2023 |
| Executive Director | Soka Horii, first year, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University |
| Location and area of activity | Based in Adachi, Tokyo; active mainly across Tokyo, with national expansion in view |
| Activities | Hands-on civic education (the Mock Ward Mayoral Election and outreach classes), community cleanup education, institutional research on a youth council model, and youth advocacy |
| Members | 38 as of June 2026, drawn from 22 schools and universities, from first-year high school to first-year university. |
| Selected record | First prize, inaugural National High School Policy Championship, supported by the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Ministry of Education (2023) / NHK President's Award, 70th High School Students' Speech Contest, United Nations Association of Japan (2023) / courtesy visit and policy proposal to the then Prime Minister (2023) / in conversation with Mercy Tembon, then Vice President of the World Bank (2025) / more than 30 media appearances and over 1,000 people reached across all programs, including outreach classes / six events with 240 participants in total — three Mock Ward Mayoral Elections and three deliveries of Osouji-tai. All figures as of July 2026. |
| Main partner institutions | Adachi Ward Office, Adachi Ward Assembly, Adachi Board of Education, Adachi Election Administration Commission and more than fifteen others (Duskin Co., Ltd. cooperated in the development of our cleanup education curriculum) |
| Press inquiries | contact@teigenjp.org (please put [PRESS] in the subject line) |
Biography
Executive Director's biography
Use these as they are, at whatever length you have room for.
Soka Horii SOKA HORIIFounder and Executive Director, TEIGEN JP
Born 2007, from Adachi, Tokyo. First year, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Founded TEIGEN JP in his first year of high school and co-created the Mock Ward Mayoral Election — civic education in which teenagers draft policy and go through the candidacy process — with Adachi Ward, Setagaya Ward and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government among others. He has made a policy proposal to the Prime Minister of Japan and appeared in conversation with a Vice President of the World Bank and the Mayor of Ashiya. Honours include first place nationally at the National High School Policy Championship (supported by the Cabinet Office and MEXT) and, at the High School Students' Speech Contest (hosted by the United Nations Association of Japan), the Special Prize in the Tokyo round and the NHK President's Award in the national round. He specialises in youth political participation and closing the opportunity gap.
See other lengths and the English version
Executive director of TEIGEN JP. Runs the civic education program Mock Ward Mayoral Election.
Born 2007, from Adachi, Tokyo. First year, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Founded TEIGEN JP in his first year of high school and co-created the civic education program Mock Ward Mayoral Election with Adachi Ward, Setagaya Ward and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government among others.
Soka Horii. Born 2007, from Adachi, Tokyo. Graduated from Ikubunkan Global High School, where he served as Head Student, and spent about a year studying in Ontario, Canada. Founded TEIGEN JP in 2023, in his first year of high school. As its executive director he co-created the civic education program Mock Ward Mayoral Election — in which teenagers go from drafting policy through to the vote count — with Adachi Ward, Setagaya Ward and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government among others. Nine awards and selections as of June 2026, including the top prize (first nationally) at the inaugural National High School Policy Championship (supported by the Cabinet Office and MEXT), and the Special Prize in the Tokyo round and the NHK President's Award in the national round of the 70th High School Students' Speech Contest (United Nations Association of Japan). A frequent speaker: a policy proposal to then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida; in conversation with Mercy Tembon, then Vice President of the World Bank; and with Ryosuke Takashima, Mayor of Ashiya, and education reformer Kazuhiro Fujihara. First year, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, specialising in youth political participation and closing the opportunity gap, and researching the institutional design of a youth council model.
Born 2007, from Adachi, Tokyo. First year, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Founded TEIGEN JP in his first year of high school and co-created the Mock Ward Mayoral Election — civic education in which teenagers draft policy and go through the candidacy process — with Adachi Ward, Setagaya Ward and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government among others. He has made a policy proposal to the Prime Minister of Japan and appeared in conversation with a Vice President of the World Bank and the Mayor of Ashiya. Honours include first place nationally at the National High School Policy Championship (supported by the Cabinet Office and MEXT) and, at the High School Students' Speech Contest (hosted by the United Nations Association of Japan), the Special Prize in the Tokyo round and the NHK President's Award in the national round. He specialises in youth political participation and closing the opportunity gap.
Media Coverage
Media Coverage
More than 30 items in total (as of June 2026).
Brand Assets
Logo files
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Rapid Comment
Topics we can speak to
When something happens in these areas, we can comment both from practice and from institutional research.