PAPAMAMA-TOMO
School Culture Q&A Chatbot
PAPAMAMA-TOMO
School Culture Q&A Chatbot
Free
Schools Where No One Is Left Behind
AI Co-Creation Project for Parents with Foreign Roots
JST RISTEX SOLVE for SDGs Project
As Japan’s foreign residents increase, children and parents face more “invisible barriers” from differences in language, culture, and school systems.
Have you had moments like these?
School notices are hard to read.
School events are confusing.
Classroom words are hard to understand.
Small worries can build into anxiety and isolation. We want to break down these barriers.
PAPAMAMA-TOMO can help!
What should my child bring
to Sports Day?
PAPAMAMA-TOMO
AI Chatbot for Parents
At school, children need
a 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
“PAPAMAMA-TOMO Chat”
Learning Support Dictionary for Students
“PAPAMAMA-TOMO Search”
Beyond translation, it explains the background and meaning of school culture. With local groups and schools, we aim to create a “knowledge co-creation” support model that shares knowledge gained through dialogue.
PAPAMAMA-TOMO
Chat
Explains confusing
school customs, rules,
and words clearly
Prototype now live
PAPAMAMA-TOMO
Search
Upload a school handout
to get key points,
hidden rules, and
culture explained
In development...
Supporting Dialogue with AI
By developing PAPAMAMA-TOMO, an AI chatbot for parents and a learning support dictionary for students, this project builds multilingual support that explains school culture clearly. It goes beyond translation to share background and meaning, aiming for a participatory knowledge co-creation model with local groups and schools.
Message from the Project Lead
As a researcher in intercultural understanding and knowledge co-creation, I have studied education in multicultural societies. This work has shown me the “invisible barriers” between schools and parents with foreign roots.
“School notices are hard to understand. I don’t know what events mean. I want advice, but don’t know where to ask.” Small questions can grow into major anxiety.
As a parent myself, I know the worry of not understanding. This project therefore uses AI not only to translate, but also to explain cultural context and support dialogue.
PAPAMAMA-TOMO is a co-creative support model linking parents and schools. We aim to build a sustainable system where children learn with confidence, parents are not isolated, and schools and communities support one another.
Kyushu University
Xiaoyan Li
Next Steps
We aim to complete the prototype by FY2026 and are piloting it with schools and communities, toward a model usable nationwide.
Partner Groups
・Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education
・Yoshizuka Elementary School
・Higashi-Yoshizuka Elementary School
・Maidashi Elementary School
・Momochi Junior High School
・YWCA Happy School
・Fukuoka Heritage Language Classes (Vietnamese, Nepali, Chinese)
・NPO Tomoiki
・Miraian Children’s Cafeteria