Japan’s first national facility dedicated to sharing the history and culture of the Ainu people, Upopoy, opened in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on Sunday, July 12, 2020. It consists of a folk museum, an interactive field museum, and an Ainu coexistence park, and has drawn attention as a base for reviving and developing the fading Ainu culture. What JKD was in charge of this time was the highlight of Upopoy’s nighttime program starting on Saturday, July 18, 2020: a large-scale show combining projection mapping and lighting. It depicts the Ainu creation myth through a delicate yet dynamic hand-drawn full animation running for just under 14 minutes, synchronized with soul-stirring music and sound design. The visual work is projected mainly onto the walls of the dome-shaped Experience Exchange Hall, as well as the surrounding hills, river, and statues. Lighting placed throughout the vast grounds is tightly synchronized with the music and mapped visuals, creating a mystical spatial experience that draws viewers into the story. Among the audiovisual works JKD has produced so far, this is one of the top three. The music is by OKI, a musician internationally acclaimed for his work with the OKI Dub Ainu Band, and Kuniyuki Takahashi, also based in Sapporo and known worldwide for his activities. To pursue truly authentic expression, the four animators, Ryoji Yamada, Hana Ono, Yutaro Kubo, and Tatsuhiro Ariyoshi, took part in this serious collaboration. The opening and ending motion was handled by Shotaro Tomiyama and Ko Kudo of the JKD visual team, and the overall visual direction was by Shane Lester. The story unfolds through the Ainu creation myth in a vast site facing a beautiful lake. We believe we were able to create an experience that draws viewers in. If you ever have the chance to visit Hokkaido, please be sure to see it.

In a light sleep, a vision of Johann Sebastian Bach seen in a dream, and the irregular cluster of images that appeared along with it.

Ending theme for the TV anime #Peach Boy Riverside. This song depicts farewells at life’s turning points and the inner conflict of continuing to chase one’s dreams through the motif of a “train.” It was created with the night portrayed in a positive light.

We created a concept movie for “EXPO WORLDs – Osaka-Kansai Expo OPEN DESIGN PROJECT.” As multiple “worlds” resonate with one another to co-create a new future—EXPO WORLDs is an open design project that aims to infuse the entire Osaka-Kansai Expo venue with the color and vitality of “life,” while designing for open participation. To visualize the philosophy and vision of this project, we built a world through visuals and sound and expressed it as a movie. People, nature, and technology meet, overlap, and resonate. Please take a look at this landscape of co-creation.