On November 5, less than two months away from the end of 2010, Mewe Hashimoto (Sagamihara-city, Kanagawa), a commercial facility run by Sumisho Urban Development Co., Ltd., held a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The tree was displayed in the inner garden (hanging garden), a popular open ceiling space occupying the fifth to eight floors. It's a perfect spot for visitors relax and take a rest during their shopping, adventures.

This year, 10 students of the neighboring Kanagawa Prefectural Aihara High School, located on the other side of Hashimoto Station (JR/Keio), collaborated in the Christmas tree project, helping set the theme and direct the design. They had had more than 10 meetings in six months ago, finally getting the last ornament in place on the day of the ceremony. This event was planned by Keita Hirasawa, the general manager of Mewe Hashimoto, within the Sumisho Urban Development. With the earnest wish of encouraging students to dream, he made the event possible after a year of planning and preparation.

Mewe Hashimoto and Aihara High School have carried out various joint projects to date. For example, vegetable waste from Mewe's restaurants is used to feed chickens kept by the school's animal husbandry department students. And students themselves sell eggs laid by those chickens at "Challenge Shop Aihara Dream Factory," a time-limited store that opens at Mewe Hashimoto several times a year. With guidance from professional sales staff, students try various sales ideas and have managed to gain a solid customer following. Looking up at the shining Christmas tree decorated in pink, Mr Hirasawa expressed his wish for the future: "I'll be glad if students themselves provide us with their ideas for projects."