The first day, we took a guided tour to Akihabara city which is known as the trend-outlet for Japanese pop-culture. Digital Hollywood University is also located in the same area. Tasting of canned ODEN, visiting a famous Maid Café and many other shops were included in this tour. Akihabara offers a whole variety of Game/Animation related-items such as Gundam figures, Card-games, Character goods and more.

Instructor: Yoji Moriyama/MARUI Chief Buyer
The topic was about Japanese unique fashion style. Not only Kimono and Lolita fashion are now so fashionable around the world but also a variety of fashion styles like the combination of foreign brand, are getting popular among young Japanese people these days.

To see hand-on Japanese fashion, we went shopping tour to Shinjuku Marui One (shopping department). The place is known as Tokyo fashion hub, where you can actually buy and find Cool Japanese fashion such as Kimono, Lolita, and a lots more. Students enjoyed shopping and the atmosphere of shopping paradise.

Instructor: University teaching staff Mr. Shimazaki
Participants learned about J-Pop and V-Rock (Visual Rock band). Featuring participants’country of origin: UK, comparison analysis between UK music and Japanese music was made in order to grasp each music character.

Participants took a tour to the one of Japanese V-Rock bands’ live-stage in IKEBUKURO. Male musicians wore make-up and gaudy outfit matching with their unique style of rock music. The stage was filled with excitement and every one of them enjoyed the live performance.

Instructor: Mr. Nakano (Manga Industry Analyst)
Because people of all age read manga in Japan, it makes history of manga diversified and creates a strong relationship with the animation. This lecture was about understanding the unique character of manga as well as the hook of manga and how it attracts people throughout the world.

Mandarake shop has a huge line-ups including manga, coterie magazine, celluloid picture, and antique goods. The selection of manga starts from the very first edition to the latest edition. A fare number of limited edition manga, rare goods, and figure goods based on a manga character are also available. It’s the place of agglomerated Japanese pop culture.

Instructor: Mr.Okada(LIMA Japan Branch, Creative Consultant)
Using picture book and animation works as an example,participants studied the latest characters that are going around in Japan focusing on the its role and function in the market. Recommended shops to visit were also introduced in the lecture.

Welcoming all summer program’s participants,Sugiyama principal invited all them to lunch at a traditional Japanese soba shop called Kanda Yabusoba.

Visited Kanda Myoujinn shrine near by Digital Hollywood University. Participants enjoyed a historic Japanese architecture.Next stop was Tokyo Animation Center just one block away from the campus. Animation goods and a life size Character costume are displayed in there. On a weekend, a dubbing session which is recorded in front of a live audience is open to public.

In this program, not only participants learned Japanese Pop culture but also experienced Japanese traditional culture; Tea Ceremony. Tea Ceremony had been taken an important decree as arts of gracious etiquette. It’s one of traditional initiations that a participant can get a hold of Japanese sprit and mind.

Instructor: Mr. Hirabayashi (Interact Co: President)
Focusing on how video game is produced and its principals as well as the history of video game production.

As a special program, Bandai Namco tour was executed. The tour exceptionally took participants to a facility inside where rare arcade machines are displayed for try out. Additionally, Bandai Namco staff gave us a presentation on how to manage Video Gaming company.

Instructor: Ms. Konuma (Japanese garden association award)
Participants studied Japanese culture throughout the detail of Japanese garden. Japanese garden has a kind of special beauty made from a visual perception by placing a rock, a tree, a hill in a particular way. It creates visual illusion where a garden and river appear bigger and longer.

Hamarikyu garden is Edo era’s typical Japanese garden owned by a feudal lord called Daimyo. It’s called Tide pond and the only pond that infuses ocean water in the region today. Tide pond is designed to have pond atmosphere change by tidal action. Japanese garden in the middle of high-rises building is very unusual and exotic to foreign eye. All participants enjoyed summer breeze and a piece of Edo Japan.

Instructor: Mr. Azuma/TV Tokyo Animation Producer
Taking world hits animation like “NARUTO”and “GINDAMA” as an example, he introduced behind the scene story and process of making animation. Additionally, he explained a role of producer and a task of creating animation work.

Studio Parrott, the most well known animation studio in Japan, gave us an exceptional permission to visit their studio. Normally, we are not allow to see the inside of the production studio. Making the most of the opportunity, participant took pictures and spent valuable time seeing the production of “BLEACH” and “NARUTO” with their own eyes. As for Ghibli Museum, they watched the on-site original short-film produced by Ghibli. The whole Museum decorated with cute Ghibli characters enchanted visitors. Every participant enjoyed exploring from the first floor to the top floor tasting superb world of Ghibli.

On the last day, we had a session where each participant makes a presentation on what he or she learned throughout this program. Overall, we visited the most valuable places that tourist can never go in and had the best instructors form each field of Digital content. Some of places we visited are usually closed to all unauthorized people and the lectures were done by the leading experts who are still active in an industry. Interaction with Japanese students, staff, and volunteers made the program rich in detail in terms of cross cultural exchange. After the individual presentations and the closing ceremony, we had a farewell party to conclude this summer program.