We launched and published 'CanSta', a sustainable action platform created by students for students.

At Soka University, the university and students are working together to realize a sustainable society. In April 2026, student committee members of the SDGs Promotion Center took the lead in launching and publishing "CanSta," a booklet that proposes sustainable actions that can be easily incorporated into daily life. This unprecedented booklet, which combines a strong message with an engaging design, was distributed at the entrance ceremony and has been very well received by new students. We spoke with Shino Watanabe (4th year, Faculty of Business Administration), editor-in-chief of "CanSta," and Sena Koyano (3rd year, Faculty of Law), deputy editor-in-chief, about the background and details of its creation.

Could you tell us about the circumstances that led to the publication of 'CanSta'?

Ms. Oyano: Soka University has an "SDGs Student Committee" composed of representatives from the student council, student association, and dormitory representatives, and they have decided to produce a booklet for students in order to realize the university's goal of a sustainable campus.
Ms. Watanabe, Mr. Oyano, and I were representatives of the Soka University branch (ASPIRE SOKA) of "ASPIRE Japan," a student organization of the United Nations Academic Impact, and served on the "SDGs Student Committee." Through repeated discussions among the members, we submitted a draft to improve the booklet, which led to us taking the lead in moving forward with the project.

What kind of magazine is 'CanSta'?

What were some of the enjoyable and challenging aspects of the production process?

I understand that "CanSta" was published as an ebook, distributed to new students at this year's entrance ceremony, and even mentioned in the president's speech. What kind of response did you receive?

Ms. Watanabe: When I saw the new students taking the booklet out of their bags on the day of the entrance ceremony, my heart was filled with joy. A junior from my hometown told me, "I was really surprised by how stylish it is," and I was moved that the approachable design and the ingenuity that made it something people wanted to pick up, which we had aimed for, had been conveyed.

Mr. Oyano, my juniors were quite surprised too. It seems they found the style of the booklet distributed by the university quite refreshing, and I think they felt like it was a gift. It was the reaction we were aiming for. I feel confident that this booklet will serve as a starting point for a change in awareness and lead to action.

Do you feel that your previous learning and activities have been put to good use in the production of 'CanSta'?

Ms. Watanabe: I believe that my experience learning about SDGs and social issues through lectures and project-based learning, as well as my practical experience, allowed me to acquire knowledge about SDGs and proceed with production without losing sight of the essence of what I wanted to convey.

Ms. Oyano's previous experience compiling proposals for solving social issues into reports and presentations proved helpful in selecting and prioritizing the information she wanted to convey.

This was the first time that Watanabe-san, Koyano-kun, and I had worked together as a team, but the fact that we both had experience working in small groups to formulate hypotheses, conduct on-site interviews, and then verify and present our findings was a huge advantage. Thanks to that experience, we were able to have in-depth discussions even with time constraints, and we were also able to manage our schedule thoroughly.

Mr. Oyano, that's right. The planning skills needed to get things done within a limited timeframe were very helpful.

Ms. Watanabe, I believe that one of the valuable takeaways from working with 'CanSta' was the opportunity to gain a kind of "pre-work experience"—seeing how to perform at a high level with people I was meeting for the first time, despite my demanding schedule.

Please tell us about your future goals and things you would like to work on.

Ms. Watanabe's job search, which she pursued alongside the production of "CanSta," has successfully concluded, and she has secured a position at a major financial institution. Before graduation, she plans to acquire as many financial qualifications as possible and build a foundation of business knowledge through books and newspapers. After joining the company, she aspires to become a leading figure in society, possessing a strong belief in forging her own path.

Ms. Oyano is scheduled to study at the University of Warwick in the UK as an exchange student from the Faculty of Law from the end of this year to next summer. While there, she plans to further explore international politics and global issues, which she is studying in her faculty, and also participate in local communities and engage in dialogue with citizens.

Are there any plans to publish issue 2 of 'CanSta'?

Mr. Watanabe, we don't have any plans at the moment, but if we can increase the production staff a bit more, I'd like to do it. When that happens, I'd like Mr. Oyano to take on the role of editor-in-chief... (laughs)

Ms. Oyano, if there are people who picked up this issue of 'CanSta' and say, "I want to make something like this too!", then it might be possible.

Please give a message to your juniors who are aiming to enter Soka University.

Ms. Watanabe, I believe Soka University is a university with very strong organizational power. No matter what activity you're doing, there are always people who will cooperate, people who will spread the word, and people who will notice that message and change their perspectives. And there are many organizations and groups that accept each individual's diverse interests and expand their possibilities. Let's greatly expand our potential at Soka University!

Ms. Oyano, I'm in the Faculty of Law, and what's appealing about Soka University is that even within the Faculty of Law, you can gain knowledge that changes your values regarding sustainability and the environment. University is the step before you enter society. That's why you should immerse yourself in "interesting" learning. In fact, I was able to encounter interesting learning at this university. I hope you will read lots of books, talk with friends, and have the best student life at Soka University.