Young People's Limitless Potential: What the Power of "Ba-zukuri" Taught Me
- Aya Matsuyama
- Sep 1
- 3 min read
When we interact with young people, we often forget about the immensity of their potential. Adults tend to view them through the lens of their own experience and knowledge. However, their very "immaturity" is their greatest strength—their potential to make powerful contributions to the world. A soft heart that hasn't been coloured by anything and a powerful energy that isn't bound by anything are proof that they are a bundle of possibilities.
I recently had the opportunity to host a program for young people called "Possible World," which explores their possibilities. This program truly embodies the philosophy of "ba-zukuri (the Japanese concept for creating a safe, meaningful and collaborative space)" for fostering learning, which I wrote about in my recently published book, マナビの紡ぎ人の心得 (an English version is under production, titled "A Guide for the Weavers of Learning"). Through this program, I had the valuable opportunity to connect with the young people as a "guardian of the ”Ba."
Unexpected Encounters and the Power of "Ba-Zukuri"
The participants in the program were not confirmed until the last minute. To my surprise, young people of unexpected ages gathered together. From a standard training program design perspective, this was a difficult situation from the start. However, I took these unpredictable circumstances as a great opportunity to challenge my own mindset. I even woke up at 3 a.m. that morning to refine the session design using what I'd learned from meeting each young participant and observing their relationships with one another on the first day. I made adjustments while imagining their learning process and the opportune moment for their "kizuki" (a profound a-ha moment). My goal was to face each person on the same level, regardless of their age or position. Once the program was over, I realised that this attitude was the key to opening their hearts and unlocking their hidden potential.
During the program, we lived together in a space without mobile phones. I felt just how important this "digital detox" was in drawing out their true "child-likeness" and maximising their potential. There were smiles, playful interactions, and countless simple conversations.
Furthermore, the communal living—"sharing meals and living spaces"—a practice cherished in Japan since ancient times, forged a strong bond of trust not only among the young people but also with the staff. Those casual, unintentional conversations and bonds formed from spending time together can't be created in a one-off session. This is what elevates dialogue into something deeper and richer. It is, in essence, the true meaning of ba-zukuri that I wanted to convey in my book.
The Joy of Witnessing an "Kizuki"
"Possible World," a program focused on my favourite themes of "possibilities" and "Kizuki", planted a small "seed" in the hearts of the young people. The project-based learning session the next day became the place to nurture that seed. Though it was a condensed session and it was difficult to follow the detailed learning process, their final presentations showed e definite blossoming of growth, each at their own pace and in their own direction.
In that space, where local community members had gathered as the audience, what we saw was a genuine confidence—without pretending to be someone else or trying to act grown-up. And a clear sense of self-awareness as a global citizen who wants to contribute to society. In that short amount of time, they truly found the light that sleeps within themselves and gained the courage to take a step forward on their own.
Our Potential
Potential is truly limitless.
And to nurture that potential, it is essential to have a "Ba" where each person can feel safe to express themselves and have inner "Kizuki." I believe that we adults have a role to continue creating these Ba where young people can shine in their own unique way for the future. What I strongly and deeply felt during this "Possible World" was that the unshakeable first step is for each of us adults, as "Ba's guardians," to maintain the attitude of facing young people on the same level.
