"Momotaro Dentetsu: Education Edition" Announcement
Free to Play for Schools and Educational Institutions Nationwide Starting This Winter
- Binbo-gami Omitted for First Time in 35 Years since First Game -

Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. is delighted to announce that it has created a browser-based version of "Momotaro Dentetsu Kyoiku-ban Lite ~Nihon-tte Omoshiroi!~" (hereinafter referred to as "Momotaro Dentetsu: Education Edition"), and will begin offering it for free to schools and educational institutions starting in 2023.

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Momotaro Dentetsu is a board game series that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for more than 30 years since the first game was released in 1988. Many players credit the series for sparking their interest in geography and economics through its gameplay in which the player assumes the role of the president of a railroad company who aims to make it the richest in Japan by traveling the country and buying up properties.

In response to this feedback, we are currently developing "Momotaro Dentetsu: Education Edition," which can be played on web browsers and tablets, so that it can be used as a teaching tool in schools. We also plan to offer this title for free so that as many educational institutions as possible will be able to incorporate it into their curriculum. The features of "Momotaro Dentetsu: Education Edition" are as follows.

  • 1.Regions and play time can be set according to curriculum needs
    In addition to the default setting of the entire country of Japan, seven regions from Hokkaido to Kyushu/Okinawa can be individually selected according to curriculum needs. Teachers can choose to focus on a specific region or adjust the play time so that their lesson can be finished in a standard class period.
  • 2.Geographical information display function allows for fun while learning
    When you stop at a station, basic information about that station and prefecture is displayed. You can also use the magnifying glass feature on various building and food icons on the map to learn about actual buildings, specialties, tourist attractions and historical sites.
  • 3.Gameplay elements rebalanced to prioritize educational needs
    Gameplay elements that could lead to trouble between children, such the ability to block a player from using an attack card, have been omitted. In addition, adjustments were made to prevent excessive fluctuations in money (funds). Most notably, the Binbo-gami, who can have a severe detrimental effect on a player, has been omitted.
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According to curriculum needs, you can choose to play in all of Japan, or choose from seven regions spanning Hokkaido to Kyushu/Okinawa.
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Read about the specialties, tourist attractions and historical sites at and around the station where you stop. Whatever your interests, you can learn while having fun.

When developing "Momotaro Dentetsu: Education Edition," we consulted with Mr. Hidekazu Shoto, an elementary school teacher who was selected as one of the top ten teachers to receive the Global Teacher Prize in 2019.

  • <Mr. Hidekazu Shoto's remarks>
    In today's overstimulated society, it's becoming increasingly difficult for children to maintain their desire to learn. Now more than ever, it's important to create an environment where children don't even realize that they're learning, rather than making them study harder. Entertainment is the key to capturing people's hearts and minds. In fact, the use of entertainment in the world of education is attracting a lot of attention today. This is called "edutainment (entertainment + education)" and Momotaro Dentetsu is a pioneer of the genre. My hope is that edutainment will become more widespread and that "Momotaro Dentetsu: Education Edition" will lead to more children having fun while learning.

In addition, Mr. Akira Sakuma, the original creator of the Momotaro Dentetsu series, made the following remarks on the development of "Momotaro Dentetsu: Educational Edition."

  • <Mr. Akira Sakuma's remarks>
    Ever since I started working on Momotetsu, I've always wondered if it could be used as a teaching tool. At long last, I think I pulled it off with the story I wrote for "Momotaro Dentetsu: Educational Edition." I'm looking forward to students getting perfect grades in geography and shocking their teachers.

We are currently preparing to introduce "Momotaro Dentetsu: Education Edition" to schools nationwide from 2023. We have established an inquiry window on the teaser site released today, so please contact us if you are interested in introducing Momotaro Dentetsu to your educational institution.
URL:https://www.konami.com/games/momotetsu/education/

Konami Digital Entertainment will continue its efforts to provide quality education to all people through its IP in order to achieve a sustainable society.

language :日本語/English