summary
Conference name: “TUMO Gunma” Opening Ceremony
Date: June 1, 2025
Place: TUMO Gunma, 4F, G Messe Gunma, Takasaki, Gunma
Main Participants
Government of Armenia
Hakob Arshakyan, Deputy Speaker, Armenian National Assembly
Monika Simonyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Japan
TUMO Center
Sam Simonian, founder.
Silva Simonian Founder
Marie Lou Papazian, CEO
Pegor Papazian, CDO, etc.
[Government of Japan
Taro Kono, Former Minister of State for Digital Affairs
Digital Agency, etc.
Gunma Prefecture
Kazuta Yamamoto, Governor of Gunma Prefecture
Keiichi Uruga Deputy Governor, Gunma Prefecture
Gunma Prefectural Assembly Members, etc.
[JICA
Governance and Peacebuilding Department STI and DX Office
JICA Tokyo Takasaki Branch Office
Other
Press, etc.
Background and Objectives
JICA, together with the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, has been implementing the “Project for Strengthening High-Tech Industry Linkages in Armenia” since November 2023, with the aim of promoting linkages between Armenia’s high-tech industry and Japanese industry, and contributing to the promotion of Armenia’s high-tech industry exports.
As part of its activities, JICA collaborates with the “TUMO Center”, one of the leading STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Creative Education) institutions in Armenia.
The TUMO Center is preparing to open “TUMO Gunma” together with Gunma Prefecture, and JICA has been cooperating with the TUMO Center in introducing its study program to Japan.
In June 2024, we participated in the signing ceremony between Gunma Prefecture and TUMO Center for the conclusion of the TUMO Gunma agreement in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, and we are pleased to be present at the ceremony to celebrate the opening of TUMO Gunma.
Contents
What is TUMO Center and TUMO Gunma?
TUMO Center is a leading STEAM educational institution in Armenia for 12-18 year olds, founded by Sam and Silva Simonian, and provides state-of-the-art educational programs, including programming, at no cost to children and students in Armenia. Through its franchise, the company has 10 locations worldwide, including developed countries such as the United States and France.
TUMO Gunma was established as the first Asian franchise of the TUMO Center through the efforts of former Minister of Digital Affairs Taro Kono, Vice President of the Armenian National Assembly Arshakyan, Governor of Gunma Prefecture Kazuta Yamamoto, and others, to carry on the Center’s intentions and provide free STEAM educational facilities and training to middle and high school students in Gunma Prefecture. The center was established to provide free STEAM educational facilities and training to junior high and high school students in Gunma Prefecture.
- the opening ceremony
On June 1, 2025, the opening ceremony of TUMO Gunma was held at G-Messe Gunma in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture.
About 10 people from the TUMO Center in Armenia visited Japan, including the founders, Mr. Sam Simonian and Ms. Silva Simonian.
Gunma Prefecture Governor Kazuta Yamamoto delivers opening remarks
Mr. Kazuta Yamamoto, Governor of Gunma Prefecture, expressed his enthusiasm for the development of digital human resources, saying, “We would like to make Gunma Prefecture a ‘digital prefecture’ and promote other industries with the ‘digital creative industry’ as one of the pillars of Gunma Prefecture’s industries, and also to send the digital creative industry from Gunma Prefecture to Japan.
Pegor Papazian, CDO, TUMO’s executive director, said, “When we launched the TUMO Center, we did not imagine that it would be based in Japan, but we are happy that we were able to bring the TUMO Center to Japan, with which we have close ties, as the Armenian and Japanese words for “Ima” (now) have the same meaning. I am happy that we were able to bring the TUMO Center to Japan, where the Armenian and Japanese words for “Ima” have the same meaning.
Former Minister of Digital Affairs, Senator Taro Kono, reflected on his 2018 visit to Armenia and expressed his belief that the success of TUMO Gunma will strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and Armenia and lead to improved digital education and technology.
Hakob Al-Shakyan, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, expressed his hope that TUMO Gunma will be a starting point for expanding the TUMO Center’s education to other areas of Japan, and that more children will be able to receive education at the facility. He expressed his hope that TUMO’s proud STEAM education will be disseminated from Gunma to Japan.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony
Yumia Fujisaki, TUMO Gunma’s PR ambassador, and two local high school students talked about their expectations for TUMO Gunma from the perspective of students who actually use the facility, and their desire to use the facility to develop AI-based applications and video production. The students expressed their hopes for TUMO Gunma.
- preview
After the opening ceremony, a preview was held and G-messe staff explained the facility to the participants. In line with the concept of the facility, “After-School Mirai Revolution,” G-messe staff members explained the facility to the participants. The state-of-the-art PC and VR equipment, as well as the layout of the equipment and space, are modeled after the TUMO Center in Armenia.
JICA will continue to promote the ICT industry in Armenia by strengthening cooperation with Japan, including collaboration with TUMO Center and TUMO Gunma.
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