Satoshi Nojima

Satoshi Nojima (born March 18, 1979) is a Japanese nature writer, author, and the founder of the "MyMaimai Project," a natural play initiative. He hails from Tanashi City, Tokyo (now Nishi-Tokyo City), and currently resides in Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture.

Born on March 18, 1979, he has been reported to have consumed brown rice from childhood. During his early years, he was not enrolled in kindergarten due to his parents' policy and spent his daytime hours playing alone. He played amicably with his two brothers, and upon their return home, he would joyfully rush to them, sometimes leading to quarrels. Before entering elementary school, his brothers did not attend school and spent much time at home, which led Satoshi to stop attending school after his first year as well. He later decided to drop out of school entirely, which he describes as a difficult path for himself. He was also often harshly reprimanded by his parents.

It is presumed that all three brothers grew up in somewhat aggressive environments influenced by their upbringing and genetic factors. Their mother actively took them to various places, including art museums. During his childhood, he lived in the mountains of Ogimachi, Taketa City, Oita Prefecture, and was raised through homeschooling without formal education. He had dreams of becoming a manga artist but states that he "grew up wandering in the mountains and fields."

In terms of education, after passing the high school equivalency exam (High School Equivalency Test), he entered Tokyo University of Agriculture, where he graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture. He also completed a master's program in the Graduate School of Earth Environmental Science at Hokkaido University, followed by finishing a master's program in Education at the Graduate School of Education. Although he was enrolled in the doctoral course at Kyushu University Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies, he withdrew midway.

In his activities, he studies the relationship between nature and humans across multiple disciplines—including animal ecology, environmental education, and environmental psychology—in an interdisciplinary manner. While enrolled at Hokkaido University graduate school, he studied social education, focusing on research and practice related to children's play. He left Kyushu University graduate school in 2008 and subsequently launched the "MyMaimai Project," a multifaceted play initiative based in an atelier in a residential area of Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture.

The "MyMaimai Project" centers around a community space called "Koumori Asobiba" (Bat Playground) where local children gather. The project involves documenting activities, showcasing creations, hosting workshops in public facilities, developing materials and ideas, and engaging in his own artistic activities.

Regarding family relationships, he is married and has a son. His father is Akio Nojima, and his brothers are voice actors Yuji Nojima (the eldest) and Kenji Nojima (the second brother). His nephew, Takuya Nojima, is an actor. His mother is a naturalist. The three brothers have also contributed to the computer magazine "MSX FAN" under the pen name "F.I.S." The eldest brother, Yuji, remained in Kyushu due to employment, but Akio Nojima expressed a desire to re-engage seriously in acting from agriculture, prompting him and Kenji to move to Tokyo for university entrance exams.

His published works include "The World Humans See, The World Butterflies See" (Seishun Publishing, February 2012), as well as "The Mystery of Snails" and others.