Celebrating 25 years of Laurus’ pioneering commitment to nurturing future-ready, globally minded innovators

Neinei Shirakawa,
School Advisor,
Laurus International School of Science

Congratulations to Laurus International School on reaching its 25th anniversary in education. For a quarter of a century, Laurus has championed an integrated model that brings together global education, STEAM, and entrepreneurship — developing future leaders through hands-on, decision-based learning with real-world implementation. That kind of sustained commitment deserves real recognition. What makes Laurus especially distinctive is how it has remained deeply rooted in Japanese culture and values while situating them in a global context. That balance is rare, and it gives Laurus an identity that's genuinely its own.

Having the privilege of serving as an advisor at Laurus since 2020, what has struck me most is that Laurus is not simply focused on knowledge acquisition but to nurturing the intrinsic joy of learning and fostering genuine student agency. This is visible in the way each child is supported - with warmth, and with a real investment in their growth. The inclusion of entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology as core parts of the curriculum reflects a forward-thinking vision that meets the demands of today's world. Watching children explore and expand their interests in that kind of environment is something special, and seeing the opportunities that they have access to from such a young age inspires hope and admiration — and, frankly, a touch of envy.

In an age where AI is contributing to knowledge creation and even aspects of decision-making, what matters most is not merely the accumulating skills, but the ability to spot opportunities, choose meaningful challenges, and keep moving forward even in uncertainty. In my experience, that kind of intellectual stamina is deeply connected to whether someone has genuinely enjoyed learning. I'm confident that Laurus students, grounded in that foundation, will go on to identify their own opportunities, design their own challenges, and turn ideas into real-world impact.

Pursuing university education abroad is a natural next step in that journey. University admission is not the endpoint but a deliberate choice to step onto a bigger stage and take on more meaningful challenges. With the perspectives and skills developed at Laurus, students who take that leap will naturally find themselves engaging with problems of greater scale and complexity. As more graduates move into higher education and begin shaping their careers, I look forward to seeing Laurus students make their mark on the global stage and to being part of those moments of growth and challenge alongside them.

I remain fully committed to walking alongside Laurus in the years ahead, and to supporting a community that keeps producing the leaders who will shape what comes next.

Neinei Shirakawa,

School Advisor, Laurus International School of Science