Cultivating the Future with "Kidpreneur Farm"—The Impact of a 30,000 Yen "Cultivation x E-commerce" Kit Sparking a

1 | Seeds of the Boom: Rising Prices and the Fusion of Learning

From 2024 onwards, the average price of fresh vegetables increased by 12% year-on-year. The rate of home gardening experience reached 34.6% among people in their 20s and 30s, and sales of seedlings and seeds at home improvement stores increased by about 1.3 timesnewsdig.tbs.co.jp. In this environment, cultivation kits for children have gained attention as a dual tool for "learning" and "household budget defense."

2 | What is Unicorn Lab?

• Hardware: A two-tier rack measuring 65×29×85cm, dedicated planters, plant growth LEDs, liquid fertilizer, seeds (lettuce, mizuna, etc.)

• Software: A smartphone-linked app visualizes temperature/humidity/water level. Harvest and sales are automatically recorded

• Business: Instantly set up a family-exclusive mini EC. Parents purchase with a PayPay transfer feel and deposit into a child's account

• Price: Main unit 32,780 yen + handling fee 5,900 yen. About 55% use the installment plan (600 yen deducted from monthly sales)newsdig.tbs.co.jp

3 | Kidpreneur Birth Story

Haruki Kadokura, a sixth-grader, rotated spinach in 20 days and earned 5,000 yen a month. "We abolished pocket money. Buying vegetables is more beneficial for the household," his mother says, feeling an annual savings of 20,000 yennewsdig.tbs.co.jp. He reinvests his sales, reads "seasonal needs," and increases green onion production for summer—truly hands-on training in supply and demand analysis.

4 | Educational Impact

5 | Why the Hardware Sells Despite Its High Price

• Fast Turnover: Lettuce can be harvested in 18 days and spinach in 20 days thanks to LED and proprietary liquid fertilizer. Even children who get bored easily can keep up

• Taste Optimization: Control of LED wavelengths suppresses bitterness, making it easier for children to eatnewsdig.tbs.co.jp

• Interior Design: The Nordic design in white×black fits the aesthetic sense of Gen Z parents

• Subscription Element: Seeds, fertilizer, and recipe PDFs delivered for 1,980 yen per month. Continuation rate of 78% (according to ITmedia)itmedia.co.jp

6 | Japanese Characteristics Seen in Global Comparison

7 | Startup Ambitions

Developer Amane Nagano (23) used the top prize from a business contest (10 million yen) as capital for mass production. By the end of 2025, a B2B version "Classroom Garden Pack" for elementary schools is planned, with trial sales in Singapore in 2026. BabyTech media praised it as "a pioneer of agri-food ICT seamlessly connecting home and school."babytech.jp.

8 | Challenges and Prospects

1. High Initial Costs: Rental models for low-income groups are key
   
   

2. Utility Costs: LED costs about 100 yen per month, but may feel burdensome depending on the region
   
   

3. Handling of Plant Residue: How to circulate liquid fertilizer drainage without environmental impact
   If linked with the government's "Child-Centered Society" policy and becomes eligible for subsidies, its spread will accelerate.

9 | For Readers Who Want to Start

• Step ①: Secure more than 3 hours of sunlight on a balcony or indoors

• Step ②: Compare hydroponic kits and soil planters, and choose the method that suits your purpose

• Step ③: Create a "business plan" with your child (procurement, pricing, promotion)

• Step ④: Visualize growth with an SNS diary, and don't forget to promote to the grandparent market

10 | Conclusion

Unicorn Lab is not just a cultivation gadget, but aplatform that transforms the home into a market. Children grow vegetables and dreams simultaneously, while parents act as both consumers and investors—a "family ecosystem" that can be seen as an important experimental ground for nurturing next-generation financial literacy and sustainable thinking.

List of Reference Articles

1. TBS NEWS DIG "Home Gardening Boom Even for Children: What is the Over 30,000 Yen Cultivation Kit That 'Earns Pocket Money'?" (July 1, 2025)newsdig.tbs.co.jpnewsdig.tbs.co.jp

2. ITmedia Business Online "Can Children Become 'Entrepreneurs'? The Interesting Mechanism of the 30,000 Yen 'Vegetable Cultivation Kit'" (August 27, 2024)itmedia.co.jp

3. BabyTech.jp "UNICORN: Children Grow Vegetables Hydroponically at Home and Sell to Family" (June 2024)babytech.jp