Create freely with materials you like, and get to know yourself better.
Overview
We are often asked to put our thoughts and feelings into words. Yet things that are “somehow on our minds,” or feelings we cannot quite describe, can be difficult to express in language. As a result, we may stop trying to express them at all.
In this workshop, participants will use LEGO bricks, clay, oil pastels, paints, and other materials to give shape to thoughts and feelings that are hard to put into words. By talking with others about what they create, they will explore and deepen their understanding of themselves.
| 📂 Category | Motivation |
| 📌 Keywords | Creation, self-expression, dialogue, communication |
| 🎯 Objectives | To deepen self-understanding through creative activities. |
| 🌐 Language | Japanese |
| 👥 Target Participants | Graduate & Undergraduate Students |
| 🗓 Format | 2 sessions (4 hours x 2, attendance for all sessions required, in-person) |
| ✅ Past & Upcoming Sessions | #1; Saturday, December 12, 2026, 13:00-17:00 #2; Sunday, December 20, 2026, 13:00-17:00 Held for the first time in July 2026. |
| 📍 Venue | S6-309A, South Building 6, 3rd Floor, Ookayama Campus |
| 🌟 Recommended for | ・People who want to express their thoughts and feelings but do not have the opportunity, or lack the confidence. ・People who like or are interested in creative work. |
| 📊 Points | 8 points (4 points x 2 times) (Points to be awarded to students enrolled in the courses for credits. Please refer to the syllabus for details.) |
| 🎟️ Capacity | 9 participants |
Main Content
The workshop consists of two sessions.
In Session 1, participants will create freely using several materials, including LEGO bricks, clay, oil pastels, and colored pencils. They will explore how each material helps them express what they sense and notice the differences between them.
In Session 2, participants will first create with paints. They will then choose their own theme and use the material that feels right to them, or combine several materials. Afterward, they will display their work and receive comments through conversation with others. By putting the theme of their work and their creative process into words, participants will use what they have made as a starting point for understanding their own thoughts and feelings anew.
Facilitator
Yuta Murao
PhD student, Graduate Major in Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo,
Academy for Leadership (ToTAL) student
Yuri Matsuzaki
Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Academy for Leadership (ToTAL), Institute of Science Tokyo
Past Event Records
Voices from Participants
- I was able to express something about my inner self. I had expected the workshop to be just drawing, and I wasn’t confident in my artistic ability. But we also used three-dimensional materials such as LEGO and clay, and I think I was able to express what was inside me more fully than I had expected.
- It was fun to try so many different materials. I also really enjoyed seeing how other people looked at things.
- Because there were quite a few participants, I got to see and reflect on many different works. I really liked that!
- Above all, it was fun! I liked how the activities progressed from LEGO to clay to drawing. I’d love to do it again!
- It felt good to express something I couldn’t quite put into words. Hearing other people’s impressions of my work also helped me understand myself better. I liked being able to use so many different materials.
- I was able to express what I had in mind in different ways. I also realized that even if I start creating without a clear direction, a theme may eventually emerge, and I can find a lot to reflect on in what I’ve made.
