ISVD Partners with Character Brand and High School Student Organization to Support the "Chikaki Project"

The Institute for Social Vision and Design (ISVD) collaborated with the creative character brand "PeeChickPaa (FRIENDS)" and the high school sex education group "Sekuteru" (セクテル) to provide design support for "Chikaki" (チカキー), a student-led anti-groping project. This initiative, in which young people took the lead in addressing sexual violence prevention, has been recognized for its social significance by numerous stakeholders, including government officials.

Project Overview: Supporting a High School Student-Initiated Anti-Groping Keychain Project

The project began with a remark by a male high school student member: "What can we do to reduce groping?" Recognizing the prevailing tendency for anti-groping awareness to focus primarily on women, the team conceived the anti-groping keychain "Chikaki" as a countermeasure in which people of all genders could participate.

Sekuteru, the project's originator, is a group of three male high school students with international backgrounds working to improve sex education. They planned and promoted the project in collaboration with the creative brand PeeChickPaa.

Through crowdfunding on CAMPFIRE, the project attracted 205 backers and raised approximately 1.42 million yen (142% of the target goal), with fundraising concluding at the end of September 2024. The purpose of the project is to distribute Chikaki keychains free of charge to high school students, thereby raising awareness about the problem of groping (chikan).

ISVD's Role: Design Direction and Fostering Student Ideas

ISVD played an important role in the project as a design partner. Participating as an advisor from the project's inception, ISVD provided support in setting the design direction and selecting motifs. The student members themselves felt that "it would be difficult to create something that balances both a strong message and good design with our own drawing skills," and with ISVD's support, the collaboration with PeeChickPaa, known for its unique character designs, was realized.

ISVD served as a bridge to the designers, coordinated design review sessions, and ensured that the message and vision embodied in the keychains remained consistent.

For example, ISVD provided expert guidance on how to depict hand motifs associated with groping and what words to accompany them, helping to visually express the project's vision of "a preventive measure in which all genders can contribute."

Additionally, to create an environment where the students could freely share and develop ideas, ISVD supported brainstorming through workshops and meetings, encouraging the students' initiative while advancing the project. Through this hands-on support from ISVD, a design product that fully reflected the students' enthusiasm and creativity was completed.

Social Significance and Response: Young People Leading the Way

This project carries significant social meaning as an initiative in which young people took the lead in creating concrete measures against sexual violence. In particular, sex education professionals have expressed admiration, stating: "I am deeply impressed that male high school students are working to improve society through sex education."

Traditionally, anti-groping measures have tended to place the burden of self-defense on women, who are more likely to be victims. This project is groundbreaking in demonstrating that everyone, including men, can play a role in "preventing perpetration." In contemporary society, education and tools for preventing sexual violence before it occurs are indispensable, yet they remain inadequate. This is precisely why the crowdfunding campaign initiated by these high school students holds such great significance.

The project also served as an important opportunity to communicate the importance of the groping problem and comprehensive sex education to the broader public. During the project period, active communication through the social media accounts of Sekuteru and PeeChickPaa drew widespread endorsement and supportive comments. In the crowdfunding completion report, the student team expressed their gratitude: "Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement. Your contributions will enable us to deliver our message to even more high school students."

The figure of 205 backers reflects the many people who resonated with the project's mission through social media and crowdfunding, indicating a high level of public interest. It is a compelling example of how the influence and enthusiasm of young people are beginning to drive social change through digital platforms.

Future Prospects: Collaboration with Government and Industry, and Broader Social Impact

Building on the success of the Chikaki project, there are growing expectations for further collaboration with government agencies and private enterprises. For example, various possibilities exist, such as expanding keychain distribution to high school students in partnership with schools and local governments, or incorporating the keychains into anti-groping campaigns in collaboration with railway companies and the police. The project team is currently preparing for the production and distribution of Chikaki keychains following the close of fundraising, and is also planning events and workshops to raise awareness about groping.

If government agencies and businesses participate in these efforts, the ripple effect across society will grow even greater.

Chikaki itself is a product expected to have significant social impact through widespread adoption. When large numbers of students carry keychains bearing anti-groping messages, it can exert psychological pressure on potential perpetrators, conveying that "we are being watched by those around us." Anti-groping campaigns have similarly noted that "wearing a keychain can deter potential offenders and help prevent groping before it occurs."

If products like Chikaki are widely adopted in schools and communities, they can serve as a powerful social message deterring groping itself. Furthermore, because this initiative was created primarily by young people, it holds strong potential for empathy and ripple effects among peers, and is expected to contribute to a shift in consciousness among the next generation.

ISVD remains committed to actively supporting initiatives that leverage the power of design to address social challenges, as exemplified by this project. Drawing on the insights gained through this collaboration, ISVD will continue to work with government agencies and educational institutions to contribute to building a safe and compassionate society. ISVD will continue to provide design-oriented support so that creative solutions such as Chikaki can take root in society and help realize a world free from groping. Together with society as a whole, we will continue to champion the challenges of young people and work toward a future in which everyone can live with peace of mind.