For the Next Generation

Sugimoto: I'm personally involved in building a children's museum in London. London is a big city, but it doesn't have a dedicated children's museum. RiSuPia at Panasonic Center Tokyo is a great example for us.

Ohtsubo: In Japan, too, it is becoming a serious issue that fewer and fewer students major in science, math and engineering fields. However, it's not really important whether or not they have a science background, or whether or not they can produce products—the most important thing for a manufacturing company such as ours is that people are interested in our products. It is a very crucial point. I want plenty of young people with enthusiasm for manufacturing to join us to work as a team. A prerequisite for having enthusiasm for manufacturing is to have an interest in how a product works or how a product is made from an early age.

Born: RiSuPia is a very good place for children to get hands-on experience with the latest technology and learn that they can create it themselves. To offer such a place for the next generation is another contribution to society. If Panasonic did not use its technology or expertise to create RiSuPia, children would not have had such opportunities to experience the latest technology.

Ohtsubo: We have only one RiSuPia in Tokyo at this moment, but many government officials from foreign countries who visited the facility have asked us to build one in their countries. We would like to fulfill such requests if possible.

At the science museum RiSuPia, children can experience the true fascination of math and science.

Note :
This dialogue was held in April 2008. The organization and other names were those effective at the time The Panasonic Report for Sustainability was released. Please note that some of the names previously used differ from the current names.