PAPAMAMA-TOMO
School Culture Q&A Chatbot
PAPAMAMA-TOMO
School Culture Consultation Chatbot
Free
Toward Schools That Leave No One Behind
An AI Co-Creation Project Supporting Parents/Guardians with Foreign Roots
Adopted Project of JST RISTEX SOLVE for SDGs
As the number of foreign residents living in Japan increases, more children attending school and their parents/guardians are facing “invisible barriers” caused by differences in language, culture, and the school system.
Have you ever experienced this?
School notices are difficult to understand.
The meaning of school events is hard to understand.
The words used in the classroom are hard to understand.
Each issue may seem small on its own, but when they accumulate, they can lead to anxiety and isolation. We want to remove these barriers.
PAPAMAMA-TOMO can help solve it!
What should my child bring
to Sports Day?
PAPAMAMA-TOMO
AI Chatbot for Parents/Guardians
At school, children need a water bottle, towel,
and hat.
(AI Response)
Project Initiatives
This project will build an AI-powered multilingual support platform using Fukuoka City as a model region.
AI Chatbot for Parents/Guardians
“PAPAMAMA-TOMO Chat”
Learning-Support Dictionary for Students
“PAPAMAMA-TOMO Search”
Going beyond translation, it explains the background and meaning of school culture. In collaboration with local organizations and schools, we aim to create a “knowledge co-creation” support model that accumulates and shares knowledge gained through dialogue.
PAPAMAMA-TOMO
Chat
"Confusing customs, rules, and
Explaining "words" in an easy-to-understand way
Prototype Released (Beta)
PAPAMAMA-TOMO
Search
Simply upload your school handouts and we will provide you with an easy-to-understand summary of the main points of the content, as well as hidden rules and culture.
Prototype Released (Beta)
Supporting Dialogue Together with AI
Through the development of the AI chatbot “PAPAMAMA-TOMO” for parents/guardians and a learning-support dictionary for students, this project is building a support environment that explains school culture clearly in multiple languages. We value going beyond translation to explain the background and meaning as well. In collaboration with local support organizations and educational settings, we aim to create a “knowledge co-creation” support model that evolves in a participatory way while accumulating knowledge generated through dialogue.
Message from the Principal Investigator
As a researcher specializing in intercultural understanding and knowledge co-creation, I have explored what education should look like in a multicultural society. Through this work, I have recognized the “invisible barriers” that exist between schools and parents/guardians with foreign roots.
“School notices are difficult to understand, the meaning of events is unclear, and even when I want to ask for advice, I do not know where to turn.” Each question may seem small, but together they can become a major source of anxiety.
As a parent raising a child myself, I have personally felt the anxiety that comes from not understanding something. That is why this project uses AI not merely as a translation tool, but as a means of explaining cultural background and supporting dialogue.
PAPAMAMA-TOMO is a “co-creative” support model that connects parents/guardians and schools. Toward a society where children can learn with confidence, parents/guardians do not feel isolated, and schools and communities support one another, we will build a sustainable support system by linking research and practice.
Kyushu University
Xiaoyan Li
Future Plans
We aim to complete the prototype by the end of FY2026 and are advancing demonstration activities in collaboration with schools and local communities. In the future, we aim to build a model that can be used nationwide.
Partner Organizations
・Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education
・Yoshizuka Elementary School
・Higashi-Yoshizuka Elementary School
・Maidashi Elementary School
・Momochi Junior High School
・YWCA Happy School
・Fukuoka Community Heritage Language Classes (Vietnamese, Nepali, Chinese)
・NPO Tomoiki
・Miraian Children’s Cafeteria