In Japan, the term “F4 star” refers not to the Four Heavenly Kings or Meteor Garden, but to the country’s “F ☆☆☆ certification standard.” This “F4 Star” rating is established by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism and certified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. It represents the highest level of environmental health standards in Japan and is recognized internationally as one of the healthiest environmental certifications.
In this article, we introduce Japan’s first container kindergarten, starting with the concept of “F4.”
Project Details:
Project Name: Xiaocang Xu Kindergarten Renovation Project
Location: Hachio City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Architectural Design: Hibino Design Co., Ltd.
Structural Design, Construction, and Decoration: Dalian Jijia Modular Technology Co., Ltd.
Prefabricated Housing Production: Suzhou Jirun Modular Building Technology Co., Ltd.
Floor Area: 1856.32 square meters
Building Area: 984.97 square meters (new two-story container kindergarten: 620.61 sqm + existing gymnasium: 364.36 sqm)
Container Units:
- 13 units measuring 12192 × 2438 × 2896 mm
- 19 units measuring 6058 × 2438 × 2896 mm
- 2 units measuring 3000 × 2438 × 2896 mm
Features: Typhoon and earthquake resistant; building materials comply with Japanese JIS and F4 star standards
Completion Date: January 30, 2016
The Xiaocang Xu Kindergarten has attracted significant media attention, often referred to as the OA Kindergarten. Hibino Design Co., Ltd., with over 40 years of experience, has designed more than 350 kindergartens, daycare centers, and recognized children’s parks across Japan. Known collectively as the “City of Children” (youji no shiro), their designs have won numerous international awards, including the International Architecture A+ Award and IAI.
A Kindergarten Designed for Every Child
Tokyo SM Kindergarten
OB Kindergarten
All of the above are projects designed by Hibino Design.
The Past and Present of Xiaocang Xu Kindergarten
Xiaocang Xu Kindergarten, a 50-year-old facility, urgently required renovation to improve its earthquake resistance. Originally, the site included a teaching building and a sports center.
Planning Diagram
Structural Diagram
Functional Areas:
- First floor: 8 nursery rooms and bathrooms
- Second floor: Office, pantry, storage, and changing rooms
The new building is situated in the open space adjacent to the sports center, integrating seamlessly to form a cohesive structure.
The choice to use shipping containers was driven by the designer’s vision for short-term construction aligned with sustainable development goals. This approach significantly reduces CO2 emissions while creating an eco-friendly, educational environment for children.
Production and Construction: Attention to Detail
Most kindergartens designed by Hibino utilize wooden structures that easily meet the “F4 star” criteria. However, working with shipping containers posed a greater challenge because Japan enforces strict regulations on prefabricated construction, especially concerning material testing standards for children’s environments. Therefore, all materials used—including paint, foam, gypsum board, and wood—adhere to the “F4 star” standards. This meticulous attention to detail has earned high praise from the Japanese public.
Completed Production, Overseas Delivery
On-site Assembly Begins
The blue rain cover ensures comprehensive waterproof protection during sealing.
The roof features a secondary steel structure topped with colored steel panels.
Distribution Box
The garden house begins to take shape.
A Playground Full of Imagination
The old structure has been replaced by a modern container design. The main building preserves the rugged exterior of the container, allowing children to connect with its industrial feel, while the interior is warmly finished with wood, providing a cozy contrast.
Hibino Design Company’s core philosophy is guided by two important principles:
- Integration with the local environment to encourage children to embrace nature. The kindergarten includes abundant greenery throughout the grounds, maximizing environmental protection and providing an immersive ecological education.
- Stimulating children’s imagination through innovative design that unleashes their natural curiosity.
During construction, existing trees were preserved, allowing children to continue enjoying and learning from their natural surroundings. This approach fosters ecological education by maintaining a connection to the environment and the community’s history.
The gymnasium has been structurally reinforced for seismic resistance, with renovations preserving the original roof to maintain familiarity for the children.
The nursing room and teacher’s lounge open to the outside, allowing passersby to view activities inside the kindergarten, fostering transparency and community engagement.
The bathrooms are designed to be child-friendly, with fixtures adapted to their height.
Only a kindergarten designed with such care can truly be called a playground for young children. Unfortunately, a misleading phrase has circulated in recent years: “Don’t let your child lose at the starting line.” This has become one of the most misguided statements parents hear in the field of education.
Much of this project’s success is due to the contributions of Dalian Jijia Modular Technology Co., Ltd. and Suzhou Jirun Modular Building Technology Co., Ltd. (GEKEA), one-stop providers of modern green modular buildings. With factories in Dalian and Suzhou, these companies have years of experience in modular building design, production, decoration, transportation, and installation. Their collaboration with Japanese teams for over six years has brought rich expertise to the container kindergarten project.
Container construction is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide. From hotels and shopping centers to residences and kindergartens, container buildings are recognized for their environmental friendliness and cost efficiency. Notably, Japan—known for its strict standards on children’s facilities—has embraced products from Chinese suppliers, showcasing the strength and innovation of Chinese manufacturing in the integrated construction sector.
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