“Keep the Future Warm”: A Teacher’s Surprise and the Magic Bottle That Keeps the Heat of Youth Alive

Hello from the TIGER MAGAZINE editorial team.

Since 2023, Tiger has been running the “#KeepTheHeatOfYouthAlive Vacuum Bottle Campaign” for graduating students. Today, we would like to share the highlights of the bottle presentation ceremony held at Tamana Girls’ High School in Kumamoto Prefecture on Monday, March 2, 2026.

What is the “#KeepTheHeatOfYouthAlive Vacuum Bottle Campaign”?

The “#KeepTheHeatOfYouthAlive Vacuum Bottle Campaign” is an initiative that gifts custom-designed bottles to graduating students across the country.

The campaign originally began out of a desire to help students create lasting school memories, especially those who were unable to casually meet friends or enjoy traditional school events like sports festivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the campaign is aimed at graduating students nationwide, carrying the heartfelt wish that “the memories of youth and the bonds with friends will never cool down, just like a drink in a vacuum bottle, but will stay warm long after graduation”.

About Tamana Girls’ High School, This Year’s Selected School

Chosen from over 100 applications, this year’s recipient is Tamana Girls’ High School in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Having celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, Tamana Girls’ High School is home to 600 students from all over Japan who study specialized knowledge and the latest skills across its General, Business, Culinary, Nursing, and Advanced Nursing courses. The school is also known for its vibrant extracurricular activities. The brass band, in particular, is a powerhouse, having won gold at the All-Japan Band Competition for 12 consecutive tournaments. Members gather from across the country, primarily from the Kyushu region, and most of them live in the school dormitories.

We received a passionate message from the head teacher of the graduating class, who has watched over the students: “I want them to remember the passion they built up over their three years of high school throughout the rest of their lives”. Moved by this sentiment, we decided to hold a surprise bottle presentation ceremony.

The Bottle Presentation Ceremony Kicks Off with a Teacher’s Surprise

On Monday, March 2, 2026, just one day before the graduation ceremony, the bottle presentation began with comments from Mr. Inoue, the very teacher who applied for the project, addressing the graduates and current students gathered in the gymnasium.

“While researching what I could do for our graduates, I learned about the ‘#KeepTheHeatOfYouthAlive Vacuum Bottle Campaign’ run by Tiger Corporation, famous for its rice cookers and bottles, and applied in secret. Only one school wins, and guess what? Tamana Girls’ High School was selected!”

The unexpected surprise drew loud cheers from the students, a mix of sheer astonishment and joy.

The Heart Behind the Custom Bottles

A total of 232 bottles were prepared for the students and teachers. The logo featured on the bottles was designed by an alumna of the school for its 100th anniversary.

The bottles feature a white body with a gold logo designed to complement it. Both colors were chosen in a slightly muted tone. This color scheme was carefully thought out by the teachers, embodying their wish that the bottles would “blend in naturally, not just during school days, but even when brought to the workplace,” and that the students would “use them for a long time, along with their school memories”.

The student representative who received the bottle commented, “I want to pack three years of memories into this bottle and keep doing my best,” and, “Starting in April, everyone will be working hard in their respective paths, so I will do my best while staying hydrated with this water bottle we received”.

A Surprise Performance by the Brass Band for the Graduates

The bottle presentation ceremony wasn’t the only highlight of this event. The younger members of the brass band gifted a surprise performance to the graduating seniors.

The piece they played was a memorable song to which the third-year students had performed a dance at the sports festival. The performance by the brass band, boasting 12 consecutive gold awards, was not only impeccably well-ensembled but also featured a brilliant, powerful, and soaring tone. It was evident that they had practiced tirelessly with their graduating seniors in mind.

Not only the graduates but also the teachers clapped along and danced to the music. It was a moment where one could truly feel not only the bonds between the students but also the strong connection between the students and their teachers.

Comments from Mr. Inoue, Tamana Girls’ High School

We received a few words from Mr. Inoue, the teacher who applied for this project.

“I believe these graduates have experienced not only joyous moments but also many hardships over the past three years. As a teacher, I have constantly watched them strive and push through adversity. I wanted to do something for these kids, which is why I applied for this campaign. When we were selected, I honestly couldn’t believe it—my hands were shaking when I read the email. The other teachers teased me, saying I had ‘used up a lifetime’s worth of luck’ (laughs)”.

“Regarding the bottle design, we had decided from the start to include the school emblem. A flashy color might have been fine, but we wanted something that would fit in even at a workplace—something they could use for a long time—so we were very particular about the color scheme”.

“Our students are truly genuine, wonderful kids. They always take the initiative to liven up events, but their reaction this time exceeded my expectations. Seeing their happy faces makes me feel so glad that we did this”.

Teachers and Students: A Heartwarming Time Born from Bonds Cultivated Over Three Years

This “#KeepTheHeatOfYouthAlive Vacuum Bottle Campaign” was filled with a heartwarming atmosphere, born from the teachers’ passionate desire to “do something that will become a lasting memory for the students” and the strong bonds nurtured between teachers and students over three years.

Actually, a message card was enclosed with each bottle. The words written at the bottom of the card—”The power to care for someone. The power to see things through. The power to carve out a new path. You, who possess all of these, are indispensable to the society of tomorrow. Be true to yourselves, and be proud. Take that passion into the future”—were penned by Mr. Inoue, who applied for the campaign. This detail, too, reflects his deep affection for his students.

The milestone of graduation also means “parting” from the familiar school building and friends. However, the brilliance of the bottles, meticulously designed by the teachers, will surely never fade with time.

“#KeepTheHeatOfYouthAlive!”

We hope that the bottles gifted along with this slogan will continue to warm the future of each and every graduate forever.