On November 26, 2024, a Grinnell College classroom came alive with cross-continental laughter and camaraderie as students connected via Zoom with a sixth-grade class from Shimoda Elementary School in Ota ward, Tokyo. A brief time-zone mix-up sparked laughter when the Grinnell students cheerfully greeted their counterparts with “Konbanwa!” The teacher smiled and gently corrected them, “Actually, it’s morning in Japan, so it’s Ohayou Gozaimasu.” However, this virtual meeting wasn’t just about language practice — it was an opportunity to showcase the Shimoda students’ remarkable achievement: getting their local school menu item, takopettan, sold in grocery stores as part of an initiative aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event, organized by Associate Professor and Department Chair of Japanese Mariko Shigeta Schimmel, included an English-language presentation by the Shimoda students and a Japanese Q&A session led by the Grinnellians. The connection was inspired by Schimmel’s interest in Ota ward’s designation as an SDG Future City, a system that promotes collaboration between schools, local governments and communities.
“Ota ward is one of the cities designated as an SDG Future City,” Schimmel explained. “Their elementary school program encourages interaction between schools and the government, creating a sort of triangle of collaboration.”
Initially, Schimmel had hoped for an in-person visit during Grinnell’s planned trip to Japan in March, but scheduling conflicts led to a Zoom meeting instead. “The school was very enthusiastic, even if we couldn’t meet in person,” she said. “The teachers especially saw this as a valuable opportunity.”
During the call, Shimoda students laughed and waved, forming heart shapes with their hands. When Grinnell students returned the gesture, the elementary schoolers leapt with excitement, dozens more recreating the gesture. After a bit of Zoom troubleshooting, the Shimoda students presented their takopettan project. Each child read a sentence explaining how they collaborated with a local grocery store to market their product, which included designing a mascot and composing a cheerful jingle to the tune of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer.”
Their dream? To see takopettan reach 7-Eleven shelves nationwide — and eventually, the world. One sixth-grade student exclaimed, “We want takopettan all over the world!”
After the presentation, Grinnell students enjoyed a recreation of a Japanese school lunch featuring takopettan, udon and orange slices. As the students ate, Schimmel gave a presentation on the cultural and historical significance of Japanese school lunches. She traced their origins to the Japanese government’s 1932 efforts to feed impoverished children, the introduction of milk and cheese to school meals during the American occupation after World War II, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Japanese schools today.
Unlike the prepackaged meals common in American schools, many Japanese schools prepare lunches on-site, and students eat in their classrooms at assigned seats. They even serve lunch to one another, fostering a sense of community. “Students are excited about locally designed food,” Schimmel said. “Schools talk about traditional local cuisine and try to introduce it through their kitchens. So there are a lot of things happening in Japanese school lunch.”
Professor Todd Armstrong, Russian, who also works with the Marcus Family Global Kitchen, reflected on the universal power of food to bring people together. “It’s smiles all around. Once you’re around food, your mood sort of improves. You know, you’re gonna share something with someone else. Makes the world a better place.”
He emphasized the nuances behind the culinary connectivity in achieving SDGs. “Smiles should be part of it. It’s not all of it, certainly, it’s a lot of hard work. Everybody has a food story, right, but not everybody has a good one, so you’ve got to work to make good food stories. We’re pretty privileged here, somebody else isn’t.”
The collaboration between Shimoda Elementary and their local grocery store demonstrates how small, community-driven initiatives can have a meaningful impact on global goals. For Grinnell students, this exchange was a joyful reminder of how cultural connection, sustainability and the shared experience of food can build bridges across continents. Takopettan is more than just a delicious dish — it’s a symbol of innovation, collaboration and hope for a sustainable future.
