1. Well then, we are finally resuming the (novel) “The Road to X, or the SHS Story” (abbreviated as “The Road to X”). (Note: All 30 installments of “The Road to X” can be read in the “Article” section of SHS’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.) As mentioned previously, upon resuming, I will be changing the title to the (novel) “The Road to D, or the Story of Cowa.” Not only the name but also its content, or rather its nature, will change somewhat. In “The Road to D,” the main focus will be on what SHS is specifically doing or planning to do daily to achieve “D,” the ultimate goal of the Cowa Group (hereinafter referred to as “Cowa”). What is “D”? It refers to “Mode of Exchange D” advocated by Mr. Kojin Karatani, the honorary head of the Cowa Group. Ms. Audrey Tang (hereinafter referred to as Audrey), who deeply respects Mr. Karatani, defines it as “a pattern of exchange with strangers without expecting a return, or X.” The notation “D” shall mean “Mode of Exchange D = X” and also “a world where ‘Mode of Exchange D = X’ becomes dominant.” On the other hand, there is something called “Mode of Exchange A.” Audrey defines this as “a pattern of exchange with acquaintances without expecting a return = reciprocity (gift and return).” According to Mr. Karatani, this is most typical of the relationship between a mother and a child. The notation “A” shall mean “Mode of Exchange A” and also “an organization where ‘Mode of Exchange A’ is dominant.” “A” is a prototype (model, microcosm) of “D.” “Cowa” will first construct each of its constituent organizations (SHS, four certified children’s centers, eSOM, etc.) as “A,” and then expand this both domestically and internationally to make it become “D.” 2. Whether a student or a facilitator (not a “teacher”), being a member of “Cowa” (hereinafter referred to as “member”) means having the responsibility of “contributing to the construction of ‘Cowa’ as ‘A’.” Each “member” is required to be aware of their own role in fulfilling this responsibility, to cultivate the necessary abilities and qualities to carry out that role, and to actually do so. Such individuals, who “are aware of their own role in constructing an organization according to its goals, cultivate the necessary abilities and qualities to carry out that role, and actually do so,” are called “inquiry-based learners = agents” in the International Baccalaureate (IB) education. In “Cowa,” individuals who “are aware of their own role in achieving Cowa’s unique goal of first constructing each of its constituent organizations (SHS, four certified children’s centers, eSOM, etc.) as ‘A’ and then expanding this both domestically and internationally to make it become ‘D,’ cultivate the necessary abilities and qualities to carry out that role, and actually do so” are called “vagabonds.” This is because such “inquiry-based learners = agents” unique to “Cowa” are vividly expressed in Takehiko Inoue’s manga (art) “Vagabond.” “共育 (read as kyoiku) in “Cowa” is “co-education” aimed at “becoming a vagabond.” (To be continued)
