Learn words while playing! Wooden Hiragana Computer "Koropiuta" is on display at Tsutaya + to rave reviews!

Key Points of this Product

An unprecedented fusion of analog and digital educational toys
A number of people became interested in the Tsutaya + storefront
Now accepting reservations through crowdfunding until February 21, 2021

A new IoT educational toy "Koropyuta" (T.D.S. Replug Division, Inc.), which connects words and children, is currently on display at Tsutaya Home Appliances + (Plus) in Futakotamagawa Tsutaya (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo). Tsutaya Appliances+ is a next-generation showroom that opened in 2019, where visitors can experience unique products from around the world. We spoke with Daisuke Kisaki, a producer at Tsutaya Home Appliances+ who has curated many unknown digital home appliances, about the appeal of "Koropyuta".

(We spoke to...)

Tsutaya Enterprises, Inc.
Product Planning Unit New Business Team Leader, Product Department Tsutaya Home Appliances + Producer
Daisuke Kizaki

Wooden IoT educational toys that meet the aesthetics of the curators of Tsutaya Appliances+.

Editorial:What are the features of "Koropiuta"?

Kisaki:Koropiuta is an unprecedented wooden educational toy that combines the advantages of analog with digital technology. The Hiragana blocks are embedded with RFID tags, which when placed in the apple-shaped holes, read the characters and display them on a smartphone built into the device. Children can naturally learn hiragana and words while interacting with the technology of a digital picture book that links the blocks to their smartphones.

Editorial:It is an IoT educational toy, yet it conveys the warmth of gentle wood.

Kisaki:Yes, it is. For several years now, there has been a trend toward wood grain designs on home appliances such as air purifiers and humidifiers, but I think there is little precedent for a design like "Koropiuta" that brings the advantages of analog to the forefront. In today's society, where we cannot live without our smartphones, many people feel a kind of technology fatigue. In contrast to high-technology, which updates our lives, calming technology that harmonizes with human beings has been attracting attention in recent years. The good thing about "Koropiuta" is that it is designed in such a way that children can enjoy playing with analog (wooden blocks) as well, with digital technology playing only a supplementary role. I see a lot of potential for Calm Technology in "Koropiuta," which incorporates the natural material of wood (beech).

Editorial:What age group is "Koropiuta" aimed at?

Kisaki:Although the product is targeted at preschoolers, children who can read hiragana can play with it right away, and even those who cannot read yet can identify the shapes of the letters and roll the hiragana blocks. Some customers who saw the products on display said, "I wish there was an alphabet version, too. There is also a plan to allow parents to share applications and games they have created themselves, so depending on future content, I think this toy could become a toy that can be played by children as young as elementary school age.

Editorial:The response from customers in the stores seems to be very positive.

Kisaki:On Saturdays and Sundays, many customers with children come to Tsutaya Home Appliances, and since the exhibition started in early December, we have received a lot of interest. Many seem to be particularly attracted by the wooden material. In the case of digital products, most of the main bodies are made of plastic. From this point of view, "Koropyuta" is a rare product that does not compete with any of the products on display at Tsutaya Home Appliances+.

Mr. Kizaki is the father of two children. I was concerned that my children would become overly dependent on digital technology, so 'Koropiuta' was the perfect product for me to teach them the importance of analog.

Pre-orders are now being accepted through crowdfunding until February 21, 2021!

Editorial:How long will "Koropyuta" be on display here?

Kisaki:This product is seeking support through crowdfunding pre-orders. The deadline for pre-orders is February 21, 2021, and the actual product will be on display at Tsutaya Home Appliances+ during that period. We would like you to feel the touch and feel of the actual product before purchasing it. Early discounts and other special offers are available for those who make a reservation.

Editorial:I understand that if the target amount is not reached, not only will the product be unavailable, but its production will also be discontinued.

Kisaki:You are right. As a curator, I believe that we should not let an excellent product that is truly close to children's learning be buried. I hope you will support us to commercialize the product and deliver "Koropiuta" to as many children as possible!